The California Club (47 page)

'Give me the deal clincher!' I challenge him.

He takes my hands and looks me directly in the eyes. 'Lara, I swear, every day I will find a new way to love you more.'

My eyes gleam with tears.

'I can't breathe without you.' He leans in and sighs into my hair.

As I go weak he clasps me to him and his mouth merges with mine – warm to wet, soft to strong – then he pulls away and explores my eyes with his.

'Lara, do you love me?’

I can't believe he needs to ask.

'I've told you so every single day since I met you,' I smile. 'Just not out loud.'

'Tell me now,' he urges.

Ten years I've waited for this moment, dreamed of it.

'Elliot,' I say his name, loving that I can say it in the way I've always wanted to. 'Elliot, I love you!'

My heart has a fiesta with streamers, whistles and glitter-bombs – the works! I said it!

'I love you!' I say again, laughing at how good it feels.

'I love you, Lara! Truly.' He says it to me, caressing my face. 'I always have. I just needed The California Club to show me that.'

I start to tell him that it was all just a fantasy but then change my mind – turns out I got my wish after all.

'Helen's right,' I sigh. 'There is magic in the air here.'

Suddenly the lights flicker and fizz until the only illumination comes from the moon. Elliot's arms close tighter around me. And then, though I have both hands entwined in his damp hair, his towel tugs loose and falls to the floor.

'What the—?' he laughs.

I smile as my hands slip down each silk-covered nugget of his spine, down to the muscular curve of his beautiful bottom. Sneaking a look around me I whisper to Marilyn Monroe and Kate Morgan:
Thanks, girls – I think I've got it from here …

Want more romantic adventure in your life? Read on…

Belinda Jones is a former magazine journalist turned bestselling author of funny, travel-themed novels. Her real-life road trip memoir - On The Road To Mr Right - made the Sunday Times Top 10 alongside her hero Bill Bryson.

Belinda currently lives on San Diego’s paradise island of Coronado with her dog Bodie and innumerable Navy SEALS.