Road to Casablanca (24 page)

“Take your time!
 
I will be here.”

 
“Are you ready to go, or do you want to see some more?”

Cindy was so impressed by how attentive Erick had been to her all day and flattered he was willing to do more if she wanted him to.

“Erick, I’ve had a wonderful time today and I thank you so much for everything.
 
I am actually all shopped out for now, though—that is, if you are.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek, then her lips.

“I am.
 
Let’s go home, Mrs. Redmund.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

When Cindy finally arrived back in her room, packages in hand, she was shocked to see another floor-length gown hanging from her bathroom door.

“Oh, my!”

She picked up the gown and started to examine it.
 
This one was a striking copper color with tulip sleeves and a plunging front and back with nothing holding it together.
 
The color matched some of the streaks of her highlights perfectly.
 

She had to know how this got here, how Erick could possibly have arranged it was amazing to her, so she immediately picked up the phone and called him.

“Hello?”

“Erick, Cindy.”

“Hi, gorgeous.
 
What’s up?”

“I was about to ask you the same question.”

There was a strange silence on the phone and Cindy knew Erick must be thinking he was in the dog house.

“What are you talking about?”

“The copper dress in my room.
 
Do you know where it came from?”

Erick chuckled.

“Like it, do you?
 
I had that one made myself.
 
I know you’ll be smokin’ hot in that one, baby, and I want nothing less from you tonight.
 
We’ve got another star studded event planned, don’t ya know?”

“Well, I just wanted to say I absolutely love it, and thank you again.”

“Does it fit?”

“I don’t know.
 
I just saw it a minute ago.”

“Well, just so you know I didn’t size it to fit.
 
It’s a bit on the skimpy side for a reason, so don’t panic when you try it on, okay?
 
You’ll look great in it, I just know it.”

“Okay, so until tonight…”

“I’ll be over in just a bit to get you. Bye.”

As promised, within the hour a smiling Erick showed up at Cindy’s door in a tux and carrying two long black velvet cases.

“Hi!
 
You look so handsome in your tux.”

Erick whistled and smiled at her.

“Not half as good as you look in that dress.
 
I knew it would show off those gorgeous eyes and that sexy body, but it is far better than even I had imagined.”

Cindy felt heat rise in her cheeks and a pang move through her heart.

“Thank you.
 
I love it.
 
You were right, a bit skimpy, but nice fit, huh?”

“Oh yeah, that’s for sure.”

Erick stood awkwardly in the doorway as they smiled at each other.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want to come in?
 
I thought we were in a hurry.”

Cindy pretended not to notice the boxes. She wasn’t quite sure she could handle any more gifts or luxuries today; it was all so much already.

“Yes, I’d like to for just a minute, if that’s okay.”

Makeup, a blow-dryer, towels and brushes covered her bathroom countertop, but Erick seemed not to notice.
 
He walked across the room and put the boxes down on the table near her balcony window, as Cindy followed closely behind.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, just a little something for my precious.”

The first box contained a long, braided rose-gold chain; the second a matching bracelet, earrings and a ring.

Cindy couldn’t help gasping at the sight of them.
 
They were obviously quite expensive.

“Oh my, Erick, you shouldn’t have.”

“That’s exactly why I did, my darling.
 
May I?”

He reached out and slipped the necklace tenderly around her neck, following it up with a kiss behind each ear that sent chills up and down Cindy’s spine.

“Thanks….”

Cindy could barely utter the words as he reached for her slender wrist and put the bracelet on it, running his tongue up the tender part of her arm and back to her neck.

Last, he slipped the stunning ring on her right hand.
 
It was a fine complement to the wedding ring occupying her left hand.

“Now you’re ready to go.”

He kissed her deeply before spinning her around to the closet mirror, wrapping his arms around her, and putting his cheek next to hers so she could smell the musky cologne she loved on him.
 
They were certainly a striking couple; even Cindy saw that now.
 
She felt sure everyone must notice it, too, whenthey were together.

“Thank you, Erick; I just don’t know what else to say.”

“Say you’re ready to go and we will be off to the special surprise I have planned.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

They opened the door and stepped into the hallway and Erick took two steps and stopped, got his card key out and opened his door.
 
Cindy had not yet been in his suite so she assumed it best to wait in the hall for him.

“Did you forget something?”

“No, close your eyes a minute, will you?”

Cindy did as he asked and soon felt his warm, strong hands clutching her forearms as he pushed her and she fought him.

“Trust me.
 
Just walk, will you?
 
I promise I have you and you won’t fall or anything.”

“Okay.”

Cindy took about five steps when Erick released her arms and wrapped himself instead around her waist.

“Open your eyes, princess…”

The first thing she saw was the elegantly dressed men with the guitars and violins who began to play a sweet soft melody the instant her eyes opened.

Then there was the elegantly adorned table, complete with white orchids, fine china and candlelight.
 
Cindy gasped and the sheer beauty of the place caused tears to well up in her eyes.

“Oh Erick, it’s beautiful.
 
So, so beautiful.”

“The event isn’t until later, and I was tired of running in to people we know around town, so I thought private night at home would be in order, Mrs. Redmund.”

Cindy turned around and wrapped her arms around Erick, kissing his lips.

“Thank you.
 
I love it.”

The music played as the waiter came and helped Cindy to her chair and she and Erick held hands as wine was served and they looked out into the sunset and the night sky that quickly replaced the daylight.

“Dinner is served.”

The waiter brought out two separate plates, much to Cindy’s surprise.
 
She was expecting another hand held meal, but instead, was thrilled to see what was in front of her.

“Steak!”

“Yes, I thought we needed to bring a bit of the States back to the occasion, don’t you think? I thought you might be getting a bit tired of eating couscous with your fingers.
 
I know I was.”

“Honestly, I was craving something like this for days.
 
The food is wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but you know….”

“Don’t worry about it, you and I both needed a good grilled piece of beef, believe me.
 
I thought it would be a welcome change, especially since we’re here by ourselves tonight.”

Cindy stared at him for a moment and picked up her wine glass and held it up in the light.

“To you, for always knowing just the right things to say and do.”

“No—to you, for being the right thing for me.”

They both sipped and cut eagerly into their steaks.

“You like?”

“Very much. And you?”

“I love it.”

The way he was looking at her made Cindy wonder if he was talking about the meal or something else, but she continued to eat quietly and enjoy the lovely music.

After dinner they walked outside, where dessert was served on Erick’s private balcony.
 
As Cindy got up and started looking around, she couldn’t help but notice his suite was twice the size of hers.
 
She was impressed by the grandeur of the place.
 
She though hers was good enough, but this place seemed like a palace to her.

 
“Hey, by the way, you never told me you had all this in here.”

Cindy’s eyes scanned the room from floor to ceiling, taking in every single detail of the spacious and richly decorated surroundings with an unobstructed view of the entire valley.

“Uh, hello!
 
How many times did I ask you to open the door between our rooms and come in?”

“A couple, I suppose.”

 
“You’re right, but you never took me up on it now, did you?”

“No, I guess I didn’t.
 
Shame on me for missing out, I guess.”

Erick poured her a glass of champagne.

 
“A toast.”

“And to what are we toasting this time?”

Cindy took the champagne flute from him and held it to her lips.

“To our wonderfully blissful marriage.”

Cindy laughed as she sipped.

“I’ll drink to that.”

Erick looked like he wanted to tease her but somehow couldn’t as he stared into her eyes with a serious look on his face.
 
“I am really enjoying this.”

“Me, too. I wish it never had to end.”

“That makes two of us.”

He sipped again as the waiter came to remove the dishes. The last edge of the sun dipped completely out of sight and darkness fell over the valley; only the stars illuminated the night sky.

“Another toast.
 
To you, the best traveling companion…and wife…I’ve ever had! The
only
wife I’ve ever had, actually.”