47 Destinies (Book One)

Chapter Fourteen

The next day, their flight arrived in San Diego. Not seeing any evidence of a connecting flight to another location, Cora was happy to be back in San Diego with Brent.  She was hopeful that they would stay at the Hotel del Coronado.  She tried to put it out of her mind.  She was with Brent and that was all that mattered.  A car picked them up at the airport and drove them out toward the island.  As they drove over the Coronado Bridge, Cora flashed Brent a huge smile.

“I knew that you would be happy to return here.  It was at the Hotel Del Coronado that I fell in love with you and now that we are together, I want to enjoy it as a couple.”  Brent said as he leaned over to kiss her.

Cora beamed at Brent and laid her head on his shoulder.  As they were driving through the town of Coronado, her attention was riveted on all the various shops and restaurants they passed.  The local coffee shop was still humming into the evening.  The boutiques all wore fancy ‘Closed’ signs as it was way past time to buy beachwear or bedazzling flip-flops.  As the shops passed by, she placed her hand out the window to grasp the warm summer air.  Feeling sentimental, again she wanted seal this happy experience into her heart.  She closed her eyes briefly and breathed it all in. 

The Del looked even more enchanting than on her first visit.  Cora wasn’t sure how that was even possible.  Brent reserved the same villa he had stayed in during the conference.  It was all a dream come true.

“Corina, you have no idea how many times during our conference I wanted to bring you to this villa and show you how I felt.  You were driving me absolutely crazy.  I wanted you.  I watched your every move that week.  You glided around with such competence and put everyone at ease.  My dad was practically falling all over himself to have time with you.  I knew exactly how he felt.  Now you are here and I have you all to myself.  Has there been a luckier man?”

Cora was touched by Brent’s ease at expressing himself to her. She finally knew what it was like to love and be loved.  She wanted to give everything to this man, the very best of herself.

The next day was New Year’s Eve.  Brent made Cora a reservation at the spa.  She was in heaven.  She ordered the deep tissue package that included full body rejuvenation.  She felt like a princess. 

Throughout her day, she began to think about the different sensations she felt when they were together.  She could feel the coolness of his bedroom and the light scent of him, which it held.  The memory of the soft texture of his sheets brought shivers on her arms.  The incredibly soft pillows that he adored made her smile by just thinking of them.

He wanted to make her happy: spoil her, play, have fun, live.  He did all that and more.  Her head was spinning, unable to capture everything they had experienced.  They were on life’s shopping spree: tasting, feeling, seeing and living all they could possibly imagine or create.

In her past relationships, the images in her mind or her hidden expectations often fell short of reality.  Yet with Brent, it was so different.  The energy they sustained as individuals combined with their collective energy as a couple brought out the best in both of them.  Cora was hopelessly in love.

When she was finished at the spa, she returned to find Brent grinning from ear to ear.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” Brent asked sweetly.

“I doubt I have ever been this relaxed.  Thank you.”

“Are you ready for your Christmas present?” Brent said eagerly.

“Christmas present?  But it is New Year’s Eve.  I didn’t get you anything for Christmas,” Cora said, feeling bad that she didn’t bring him a present.  Granted, last week she didn’t think she would see him ever again, but that wasn’t a good reason.  Was it?