Page 108 of Layla

Epilogue

Layla

“I could get used to this,”I murmur, sliding the sunglasses down further on my nose to better see the phenomenal view before me.

John reaches over to tweak my waist. “You do realize you live in LA, right? They have beaches and sunshine there, too.”

I make a scoffing noise, gesturing at the backdrop of green mountains and waving palms. “I’m sorry, but LA is not even on the same level.”

I look over at him to see that he’s smirking. Teasing me. “You’re right,” he agrees. “It’s breathtaking.” But his eyes are on me, not the view, and I can’t help but blush a little. His smirk grows. “Let’s go back to the room.”

I laugh. “We literally just left the room.”

He shrugs. “Yeah, but today is our last day of peace.”

He’s right, and I groan a little at the thought. Tomorrow the rest of the band will arrive on the island for the big wedding. John and I came out a few days early to enjoy a bit of vacation time before all the craziness starts and it went by way too fast.

“Just think,” he continues in a sullen voice. “Tomorrow I’m going to have to share you.”

I laugh, scooting closer to him on the beach blanket. “We’ll still have plenty of time alone.”

He’s pouting now. “She’s going to expect you to help her with all that bridal stuff.”

I roll my eyes. “Bridal stuff is romantic. You really think I’m the one anyone would turn to for help withthat?”

“You make a good point.” He pulls me closer, nestling me into the crook of his arm so my head rests on his broad chest. His broad, naked, even-more-tanned-than-usual chest. I sigh happily.

“I fucking love Hawaii.”

“And I love you.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “In fact, I could love you quite a bit more thoroughly if you’d come back to the room with me.”

“You can’t love me right here?”

He snorts. “Not the way I’m planning on. Unless you want to get arrested.”

“Heaven forbid mister law and order do anything inappropriate in public.”

“That’s it,” he mutters, kneeling suddenly. Before I can ask him where he’s going, he’s scooped me up off the blanket and begun to march towards the waves.

“Don’t you dare,” I say sternly, even as I snuggle a little closer in his strong arms.

“I’m sorry, Layla, but you’ve teased me for the last time.”

I burst out laughing. “Yeah, right. That is not a habit you’re going to be able to break me of.”

He strides confidently into the water. “We’ll see.”

Once we’re chest deep in the gentle waves, he stops. “Hmm. That wasn’t really as effective as I thought it would be.”

“Maybe because this lagoon feels like bathwater?”

He nods. “Oh well.” Then he dives in the rest of the way, still cradling me in his arms as we slip below the water. I keep my arms hooked tightly behind his neck, unwilling to let him go. We surface a few minutes later and I finally release him so I can push sopping hair away from my face.

“You gonna leave it like this?” he murmurs, picking up a rainbow hued strand.

“Think it’s too loud for someone else’s wedding?”

He doesn’t respond for a moment, eyeing the strand intently. “You could go back to pink,” he finally says, his gaze warm as he meets my eyes. “That’s the color it was when I first met you.”