Coffee Cup Confessions - Trish Williford Page 0,34

under your clothes. Bring your towel, sunblock, and GoPro.”

“Can I have a hint of what we’re doing?”

I can tell she’s excited, and I’m not sure I can hold off on the reveal until we’re on the shuttle.

“We’re going snorkeling in an area that is quite popular with the sea turtle population.”

“No way!” She hops from her chair and squeals. “Shut up! We’ll see turtles?”

“It’s a really good possibility.”

She jumps into my lap and hugs me, and I’m laughing from her giddiness.

“I will cry if I see a turtle.” She grabs the sides of my face and kisses me. “Thank you,” she whispers against my lips.

I lean forward and capture her mouth again, this time deepening the kiss. These kisses are turning more heated each time, and it’s becoming harder to keep my desires for more at bay. She must feel the same because when I pull away, she whimpers at the loss of contact.

She stares at me for a long beat before standing quickly and retreating back to the room. “I’m going to get ready. Do we have time for breakfast?”

“Yes, if you hurry.”

She shuts the bathroom door behind her, and my head falls against the chair. If she was that excited for just the possibility of seeing turtles, how is she going to be if we actually do?

“Jake, this is the most amazing moment of my life.”

Misha is surrounded by two large sea turtles and three very small sea turtles, all of which have been hanging with her for the last half hour. The smile on her face is like no other that I’ve ever seen. If her jaw and cheeks aren’t sore right now, I’d be very surprised. I’ve taken so many pictures that she’ll be able to make a scrapbook of this excursion alone.

“They obviously like you. None of the other turtles are hanging with anyone else.” I nod to the two other groups who are on the trip with us.

“It’s because these turtles know that I’m awesome.” She feigns sarcasm and then giggles. “I have no idea why they’re chilling with me, but I’m not complaining.”

“I’m going to grab a drink from the boat. Do you need anything?” I ask her.

She can’t take her eyes off the turtles. “No, I’m good. There’s no way I’m leaving this water until they make me. Oh! While you’re up there, can you take a picture with your phone and send it to Drew? He’s really going to hate us now.”

“He’ll get over it when we give him the spa gift card.” I swim back to the boat and find my phone in Misha’s bag.

I take a few pictures of her with the turtles, and thanks to Wi-Fi aboard the boat, I’m able to send them to Drew with the caption, Everyone loves Misha.

I grab a bottle of water and watch her swim from the turtles, only to be followed by them again. Her laughter is like soothing music, and I could listen to it for the rest of my life.

My phone dings in my hand, and it’s a text from Natasha.

Natasha: I need you to answer the email about the potential new client ASAP.

Shit.

I glance down at the water.

Misha’s eyes find mine, and her smile widens. “You coming back in?”

“I’ll be there in a few.”

She nods and focuses back on her new friends. While she’s occupied, I decide to answer the email.

Natasha,

I have to respectfully decline the new client’s request. In fact, I’m going to decline all requests going forward. Effective today, I officially resign from Cordial Companions Incorporated.

You said I would know when it was time to give this up, and you were right. Right now, I’m sitting on a boat in the Caribbean, off the coast of Curaçao, watching the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on swim with sea turtles. Occasionally, she glances at me, and I’m the recipient of her breathtaking smile. I can’t help but wonder how in the hell an angel such as her was put into my life, but I’m not going to do anything to have her taken away. She and I promised to take the relationship slow, but I’m failing miserably. I’m falling, and it’s happening fast. If I get my heart broken, then shame on me … but she’s worth going all in for.

Thank you for everything you did for me when I was in the worst time of my life. I’ll always consider you a close friend, and I will be here if you ever need anything.

All