One Winter Weekend

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I n the lobby, Christmas music was playing softly, and Scott took a moment to admire the nativity scene by the front desk. He hadn’t paid it much mind before, but now he thought wistfully of the romantic Christmas break he’d planned and how things had run downhill so fast. There didn’t seem to be much for it but to admit defeat and head back home.

Maybe I can arrange a more romantic proposal back home, he conceded. It won’t be as good as Venice, but it will be better than nothing.

Scott climbed into bed as quietly as possible, thinking Rachel was already asleep, but to his surprise, she rolled over to face him and said quietly, “Remember our first date?”

Scott was surprised by the question. “How could I forget?” he said, snuggling up to her. He had planned the day for nearly two weeks, down to the restaurant reservation, tickets to a movie starring her favourite actor, and dessert at a local hotspot he knew she’d been dying to try.

It had taken no small shortage of planning and a considerable chunk of his wallet, but he’d managed to pull off the best first date he could imagine, and Rachel had been delighted.

Now she rested her head on his arm, closing her eyes. “And remember when you put together that surprise birthday party for me at that new nightclub, and I had no idea you’d invited my best friends because they were all sworn to secrecy?”

“It wouldn’t be a surprise otherwise,” he protested, and she smiled.

“You always go to such lengths to make things perfect,” she said sleepily. “But I’m happy just spending time with you. Isn’t that enough?”

“I guess,” he said reluctantly, nuzzling her cheek.

She opened her eyes and gave him a wry look. “It’s not, though.”

“It’s not that,” Scott sputtered, trying to put his feelings into words. “It’s just that…well, I feel like you deserve the best of everything. And I know how much you love Italy, and Venice is supposed to be such a romantic city…and I wanted you to have the time of your life on this trip. That’s all.”

“I did have a lot of fun,” Rachel said, rolling over to tuck her back against him. He curled around her, enjoying the softness of her skin. “But I’ve had fun because I was here with you. It wouldn’t have mattered if it was a five-star trip if I was alone. Everything—the dinners, the bell tower, touring the Basilica—it was all amazing because I was sharing it with you.”

Scott buried a sigh in her hair. “I’ve had an amazing time with you, too. I just wish I could have created more perfect romantic surprises for you. That was part of the whole point of coming here.”

“Well,” Rachel said, sounding suspiciously less sleepy, “I have a little romantic surprise of my own …”

“What’s that?” Scott ran a hand down her side, lingering on her hip, and was surprised when she suddenly pulled his hand around to rest on her stomach.

“I was going to wait to tell you until we got home. I was surprised you didn’t say something about me skipping the wine and the seafood.”

For a moment Scott could only stare down at her in shock, and she rolled onto her back, peering up at him in concern. “Babe? Say something. You’re worrying me.”

Scott racked his brain, thinking of the perfect most romantic thing to say. Instead, all he could blurt out was, “I can’t believe you climbed all those stairs in the tower yesterday!” and Rachel started laughing and pulled him down for a kiss.