The Sunstone Brooch : Time Travel Romance by Katherine Logan (comprehension books .TXT) 📗

“I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in / I’ll never meet the ground / Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us / We’re far from the shallow now.”

As the song drew to a close, Remy added the bass drums, kicking in with crashing cymbals…

“Crash through the surface / where they can’t hurt us / We’re far from the shallow now…”

Ensley was dazzled by their rendition that transformed music into raw emotion, and her heart thudded in time with the beats. The electrified air zipped and zapped around her and Austin, pushing them closer until she was almost in his lap.

When the last note faded, Austin said, “Let’s go to the room.”

When she didn’t move, he picked her up. “If I don’t have you on top of me in thirty seconds, I might have a heart attack.” He carried her through the house to the adult wing, and Ensley punched in the code. Before he opened the door to their suite, he told her to close her eyes.

“And don’t open them until I tell you.” The door swung open, and he carried her into their room where it smelled like a rose garden and logs crackled in the fireplace. She’d never had turn-down service start a roaring fire or bring roses.

He set her on the bed. “Now, open your eyes.”

Someone sneaked into their room, sprinkled red rose petals all over the floor, and left a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket. Lighted candles burned on every surface, and soft jazz played on invisible speakers.

“How? When? Who?”

Austin chuckled. “When Rick heard we were on our way back, he sent me a text and asked if we were ready for our big night. I told him yes, and he took it from there. All of this”—he swept his arm to encompass the room—“is a tradition.”

“It’s a great tradition, but Rick was singing, so he had to have cohorts. Who are they? I’ll have to thank them tomorrow.”

Austin picked up the bottle, popped the cork as smoothly and silently as a sommelier, and filled two glasses. “When you see them at eight thirty tomorrow morning, you can do just that.”

“What? Ted and Laurence did this?” She glanced around the room to check out all the details to be sure she hadn’t missed anything. “My, God! This has reset my opinion of them. So going to dinner in Richmond was a ruse?”

Austin handed her a glass. “They were out by the pool listening to the concert. ‘Island in the Stream’ was their signal to go light the candles.”

“What if we had left after David played ‘Summertime?’”

“I would have encouraged you to stay.”

“And how would you have done that?”

“I would have gone up on stage and sung to you. Rick and I have several duets we used to sing. I could have revived them to give Ted and Laurence enough time to get the job done.”

“Really? Well, I’m sorry I missed that.” She sipped, and the bubbles felt like pearls on her palate, exploding with flavors that stood out against a rich background of ripe fruit and exotic wood. One of the things JC taught her all those years ago was how to describe sparkling wine. And she lifted her glass, pausing for a moment to offer a silent toast to him.

Drink to th’ hearts so loving and true, and never may we be ungrateful.

“Tomorrow, I’ll show Ted and Laurence the respect and appreciation they deserve.” She scooted off the bed and took her glass to the bathroom. “Don’t let the candles burn out while I get ready.”

She stripped out of the dress and shoes and jumped into the shower. It was crazy to take another one, but after weeks of being dirty, she might never feel clean enough again. After moisturizing her skin until it was silky to the touch, she brushed her hair and teeth and slipped on the sexy nightie she also bought at the mall. As aroused as they were, she doubted she’d wear it very long.

When she walked out of the bathroom, Austin was lying on the bed, propped up on his elbow while he scrolled through messages on his phone. His hair was wet, and he had a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Did you take a shower?”

“If you were going to smell fresh, so was I. I went next door.” He dropped his phone on the bedside table, sat on the edge of the bed, and gazed at her with adoring eyes. “I want to go slowly, but I’m not sure I can.”

She strolled toward him with her lips slightly twitching. “I’m so ready for this. I might not want you to go slow.”

“This first time, we should. I don’t want to hurt you. But slowing down will be tough. I’ve wanted you since the very first time I saw you on horseback holding your rifle, ready to shoot us if we gave you any trouble.”

“And I would have.”

“I don’t doubt it. My first thought was, ‘What a woman!’ And I couldn’t wait to get my hands on you.”

She reached the foot of the bed and dropped the lacy bordello jacket she wore over a long, white silk gown with a V front and back, thin shoulder straps, and four-inch feathered bedroom slippers.

“I’m glad you didn’t try anything. I would have run in the opposite direction.” But right now, there was only one direction she wanted to go. Straight to him.

“You can thank Remy for that. He warned me if I touched you, he’d beat the shit out of me.”

She stopped in front of Austin. “I believe he meant that.”

Austin put his hands on her hips. “He did, but part of it was retribution for being such an ass to him.”

“It took me a little bit longer to react to you because you were acting like a jerk.”

“How much longer?”

“Until you dunked the pillow. It was a brilliant way to let everyone know you’re an okay guy, and while you might not be able to