The Suite Life (15 page)

“I'm sure.” I reached over and took his hand in mine. “If there's one thing I learned in writing my story down over the years—even if I am the only person who ever reads it—it's that we have to be honest with ourselves and each other if we are
ever going to move forward with our lives. Confession absolves us of our sins. I believe that as sure as I believe that the Blessed Mother is always watching over me. So tell me everything, Alec DeMarco.”

Well, I asked for it . . . And I got it.
Fair warning,
I reminded myself. I sat there reeling, and hearing without really listening as Alec confessed one debauchery after another in an effort to expunge his past. I went numb after a couple of minutes of his brutal honesty, but was somewhat surprised that I was bored by the time he'd finished the entire litany of his experiences with porn stars and Penthouse Pets.

“Do you need those types of things?” I asked matter-of-factly, crossing my hands on the table.

“No, Sam. That's the point I'm trying to make.” He sighed, resting a hand on mine. “I don't know how else to tell you.”
His childlike innocence is back in full bloom.
“I love the game. I love making money. I love spending it. But it adds up to a whole lot of nothing without someone meaningful to share it with. You wanted to know about my past—do you see now how meaningless all of the sex and drugs and partying were? I don't need any of it now that I have you in my life.”

Alec smiled at me and I knew he meant it.

On Friday morning, as we were having our breakfast on the veranda, Alec informed me that he had chartered a forty-foot sailboat for just the two of us. I was excited when we arrived at the dock and were greeted by a leathery-skinned captain who introduced himself and his mate with a classic Bermudian accent. “Name's Amado, and this here is Mac,” he said warmly, welcoming us aboard.

Alec and I relaxed in the sun as Amado sailed around the bay and out into the Atlantic, dropping anchor in a secluded cove where we took a dip, while Mac, in tattered tan shorts and
a shirt with the sleeves cut off, went about spearing some fish, which he then cooked for our lunch. “Perfect, isn't it?” Alec asked as we nestled together in the stern, my head resting on his shoulder.

“Couldn't be better, Alec,” I agreed dreamily.

“Oh, yeah?” he drawled, reaching into his shorts pocket. “Just wait till you get a load of this.” He handed me a long white box.

His pockets are deep indeed.
“What is it?” I asked, sounding just like a schoolgirl.

“I scored a little something for you yesterday when you went off looking at some handbags in the gift shop.” He grinned.

I lifted the cover and the tab at the Four Lanterns lost its shock value. “Is this a Rolex?” I cried.

“I couldn't believe what I got that rose gold model for,” he said. “In fact,” he continued, reaching again into his pocket, “the price was so good that I couldn't pass up getting a matching one for myself.”

“I can't accept this, Alec,” I said softly, rubbing the watch between thumb and index finger. “Really, I don't need such extravagant gifts . . . I really only came here to spend more time with you . . .”

“If you don't put it on right now, I'll give it to Gianna,” he admonished me.

“Okay, okay, I give in!” I squealed and kissed him square on the lips.

I slipped the Rolex onto my wrist, thinking,
This thing is worth more than everything I've owned my whole life.
“I don't know what to say, Alec.”

“The way you look right now says enough for me.” He smiled hugely, then gave me a kiss. “I swear, I never thought I'd meet a girl like you.”

My fantasy trip to Bermuda had been sprinkled with rocky moments, but when I awoke on Saturday morning the stress I'd endured as a result of Alec's confession was gone. We had made love the night before, a tender and unrushed coupling, and now, as I sat on the veranda waiting for him to arise, I reflected on how close we'd become in spite of everything that might have driven us apart.

After another room-service breakfast on the veranda, Alec took my hand as he had taken my heart and led me to the elevator and down to the front entrance, where the white Bentley he'd reserved was waiting.

“A regular cab is beneath you, I suppose,” I said.

“
Au contraire,
buttercup,” Alec said. “It's beneath
us
.”

After a couple of hours spent shopping, we stopped for hot dogs at a stand overlooking the marina. I'd never had one that tasted as good. That night, the same white Bentley took us to Horizons for an amazing meal. Alec and I talked for hours, and I found my gaze drawn again and again to the water, stretching as far as the eye could see, as I contemplated an unending future with him.

When we left the restaurant, intending to call it a night, our driver, Donnie, made us an offer neither one of us could refuse. “You must take a walk on Elbow Beach first,” he said with a smile as he opened the rear door of the Bentley for us.

Donnie drove a couple of miles to the southern shore of the island, turned onto a narrow winding lane, and dropped us off in a secluded area of the beach. “Enjoy the beautiful views!” he called out as we stepped onto the pink sand.

Alec and I strolled hand in hand over a low dune and down to the shore, alone with the moon and stars and the breaking surf. The salt air and ocean breeze enveloped us as we stood with our arms locked around each other's waist and gazed up at the heavens. Alec pointed to a shooting star that streaked across
the sky, and together we exclaimed our amazement and watched until it disappeared. Neither of us said another word for a few minutes, content to be alone and kissing by moonlight.

Finally, Alec squeezed my waist tighter and broke the silence. “I felt like that star spoke to me,” he said softly as he twirled me into his arms and looked into my eyes. My heart raced as he kissed me full on the lips. “Call me crazy”—he sighed when he came up for air—“but I love you, Samantha Bonti.” With that, he kissed me again before I could respond, then dropped to one knee and reached for my hand. My heart was practically beating out of my chest as he looked into my eyes again.

“I love you,” he repeated, slipping the Rolex from my wrist without taking his eyes off mine. His smile was both childlike and powerful as he raised the watch toward my pounding chest.

“Will you marry me, Samantha Bonti?”

My heart stopped racing, and I felt as if I were floating toward the stars as my mother, my grandmother, the Blessed Mother, and my entire past flashed through my mind.

Do I truly love this man? Do I really know what I'm getting into? Although I don't discount his flaws, I know he can give me the kind of security I truly need, but would he be the kind of husband I want and need?

I hated having to ask myself these questions, but the truth was, I was afraid—afraid of getting hurt again, afraid of having yet another man abandon me like my deadbeat father and Tony the sociopath had done. I shook off the fear and bid good riddance to them both. I'd made my decision. I knew Alec really loved me, and I truly believed this could work.

“Yes, I will,” I whispered, delighted to see Alec breaking out into perhaps his biggest grin of all time.

All the way back to the hotel my brand-new fiancé alternated between kissing me and hooting it up with our driver, who seemed almost as happy as we were. Although I was well acquainted with how fast Alec could move, I was still stunned by his proposal, coming as it did only two months after we met. As we strolled arm in arm into the lobby I was sure everyone who saw us could tell what had just happened.

After tossing our clothes onto the floor, we fell into bed with the bottle of champagne Alec had ordered while we were still in the limo. We cuddled, kissed, laughed, and chatted about everything and nothing until we both fell asleep with the empty bottle on the covers between us. The last thing I remember was Alec telling me he thought the shooting star we saw from the beach was my mother passing by to give us her blessing.

I woke up the next morning, still dazed, when Alec rolled on top of my thigh.

“I want to make love to my fiancée for the first time,” he said, pulling the sheet down. He kissed me on the lips, and after a slow, gentle lovemaking we pulled on our robes and went out to the veranda. Alec ordered breakfast and then placed a call to his mother.

I don't have anyone to call
 . . . I said a prayer for my family and for Alec's and resolved to just relax and enjoy the moment.

“Are you sitting down, Mom?” Alec asked, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice. “Sam and I are engaged.”

I could hear her shout from my seat across the table.

“I know, I know,” Alec said. “I surprised myself, even.”

He gave me a wink as he listened for a moment.

I still can't believe it. I guess that comes from growing up poor and waiting for the other shoe to drop whenever something good happens.

“No, we haven't made any plans yet,” he went on, covering the mouthpiece and whispering, “Dad's picking up the extension.” There was a momentary silence and then, “Thanks, Dad. We're thrilled, too.”

After a minute of spirited exchange between father and son, Alec reached over to me. “Here,” he said, handing me the phone. “They want to talk to you.”

“Welcome to the family, Samantha,” Giovanni said.

“We couldn't be happier for you,” Filomena added.

“For us, too,” Giovanni said.

“Of course, dear,” Filomena said, and I wasn't sure if she was speaking to her husband or to me.

Perhaps it's both.
“Thank you,” I said. “It's all kind of a blur right now.”

“Don't worry about a thing,” Filomena said. “I'll take care of all the arrangements once you set a date.”

I thought of Mom and Grandma and almost cried. “Thanks again, Fil,” I managed.

“Don't mention it, Samantha,” she said. “We'll talk as soon as you get back. Would you put Alec on again?”

Alec listened to his mother go on and made clown faces for my benefit.

He always knows just how to calm me down.

“The sooner the better, as far as I'm concerned,” he said after a while. “I'll call you from the airport. Bye, you two.”

Alec disconnected and glanced at me as he dialed another number. “One more call and then I'm all yours.” He held up a finger and then said into the phone: “Victor? Sam and I just got engaged.”

I wonder how long it will be until I get used to hearing that.

“Yeah, thanks, buddy, but listen—I need you do me a favor tomorrow. Call Linda and cancel our date for Wednesday and tell her I don't want her showing up at my apartment anymore. Okay? Her number's in my calendar. Yeah, thanks.”

Date?

“I know, I know,” Alec went on. “Sudden as a heart attack.” He laughed as he hung up, but his expression changed as soon as he looked at me.