Page 69 of Escape To Paradise
“It’s part of the reason why I didn’t go back,” Joe confessed.
“Well, you should come back. He’s better now,” I told Joe.
“I’ll try next time. But can I trust you, or are you biased too?” Joe asked me.
“You can trust me.” I winked at him.
Joe was an affable man with a big personality. I was starting to like the people Maverick surrounded himself with. After our lunch, we bid Joe goodbye. Maverick wanted to take me around town to visit the shops. Admittedly, every time we went to town, we only had one goal—to buy groceries and supplies. It was different to just walk around town and enjoy the atmosphere.
We went to an ice cream shop. I got two scoops of peanut butter and chocolate, while Maverick got strawberry and banana. I tried his ice cream, and he tried mine. Then, we went into the shops and even visited a spice shop. Grenada was known as the spice capital of the Caribbean. I bought a box of twelve different spices.
We picked up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and drove back to Maverick’s place. When we got there, we took a dip in the pool before we had our dinner. I tried to avoid swimming close to Maverick. The urge to kiss him was still strong, and so was the urge to have sex with him.
During dinner, we feasted on the chicken. It was well-seasoned. Maverick paired it with salad and wine.
“Tomorrow may be my last day here. I have to go back to the yacht to prepare for the next charter. And also, to book my flight back to the States.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a couple of weeks.” I sipped the red wine. From the taste, I could tell it was expensive.
Maverick paused before saying, “I want to go with you.”
“I’m a big girl. I can go by myself.”
“I promised you. I’d be there for you. I’ll make sure your ex doesn’t screw you over.” He sounded stern.
“I don’t think he will.”
“I want to be there for you. As a friend.” Maverick sounded so sincere and determined. I couldn’t say no to him.
“Okay. I mean, we’ll go to Savannah, then to Colorado to visit my friends.”
“Good. I’d very much like to meet them.”
On my last day in Maverick’s villa, we spent it by getting a massage. He hired masseuses that went to the villa with their massage table. They gave us a Swedish massage and hot stone massage. Maverick tipped the masseuses after our one-hour long massage. Afterwards, we just sat on the couch next to each other and drank tea. Maverick turned on his TV, and we ended up binge-watching a TV show. But I might’ve dozed off and when I woke up, it was already eight episodes long, and I was on Maverick’s chest. He just allowed me to rest on his chest.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to turn your chest into a bed.” I was embarrassed.
“You can use me as a cushion, a pillow, or a bed anytime, Harper. I don’t mind.”
“I don’t want to go to bed yet. Is there anything else we can do around here?”
Maverick started thinking. “We can go in a hot tub.”
“That sounds like a great idea. Maybe even with a glass of wine?”
“If you like.”
I got up and went to my room to change into my bikini. Maverick removed his shirt and just wore swimming trunks. He handed me the wine glasses to carry while he carried the wine bottle. I followed him as he led me to the hot tub. It was in one of the unoccupied villas.
This villa was bigger. Aside from its own hot tub, it had a small lap pool overlooking the oceanfront. Maverick turned on the lights; the villa was not fully furnished yet, but the king-size bed was already added.
“Why don’t you stay in this villa instead?” I asked him.
“It’s meant for a couple, you know. King-size bed, bigger kitchen. It’s a honeymoon suite. There are three other suites such as this.”
I looked around. It looked fancier with its marble floors, bigger tv, all stainless-steel appliances. I saw an odd chaise lounge. So I pointed it out to Maverick.
