Page 85 of Craving Paradise
We step into the vintage American bowling alley. It’s dark except for the neon lights all around. We spend the next couple of hours battling it out until one of us becomes the clear winner.
24
LAUREN
That’s me!
“I applaud your bowling excellence. You were a worthy adversary,” Jasper says as he bows down in front of me.
“I’m disappointed there’s no trophy,” I joke.
“Next time. I demand a rematch,” Jasper says as he pulls me to him.
I wrap my arms around his waist and enjoy feeling his hard body against mine.
“Congrats, babe.” He leans in and kisses me. “We have one more stop on this date.”
My brow arches in curiosity. He’s already done so much for me today. How could there be more?
“It’s not far, and I promise you’re going to love this last thing, and I think I might too.” He grins as he takes my hand and ushers me out of the bowling alley and back onto the street. We don’t walk far until we arrive in front of a luxury hotel.
“I promise there’s more to this than you think. I’m also not expecting anything while in there,” he whispers before pulling me into the foyer. Jasper strides up confidently to the check-in desk, gives his name to the flustered front desk woman, and takes the key she had handed to him.
“That poor woman couldn’t even think straight around you.”
“Really? I didn’t notice. It’s my animal magnetism.” He growls in my ear, making me giggle.
A staff member greets us by the elevator and presses the button for us. He then swipes his key and wishes us an enjoyable stay before the doors shut. Jasper pushes me up against the glass interior and kisses me wildly.
“Thank you for making today fun. It’s been one of the best dates I’ve had.” He slides his nose along my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
“Me too. Thank you for planning such a fun day,” I say breathlessly.
The doors to the elevator ding, and we’re stepping out onto the penthouse level of the hotel. The room is huge and open with glass on one side that has views overlooking the city. I spy a tower of luxury boutique boxes of different colors in a corner. What are they? And who are they for? Did housekeeping forget to collect them? On the dining room table are chocolate-dipped strawberries, a bottle of champagne, and glasses.
Jasper lets go of my hand, heads over to the table, pops the champagne, and pours us both a glass.
“Cheers to a wonderful day,” he toasts as we clink our glasses together.
The bubbles in the champagne will settle the nerves that have reappeared. I walk over to the window, giving myself some breathing room as this seems all a little much. I stare out at the view over London.
“It’s a magnificent view, isn’t it?” Jasper asks, walking up behind me.
“You can see so far from up here.”
“I wasn’t talking about the view outside. I was talking about the view right in front of me,” he says as his lips press against the back of my ear.
Oh.
“I thought the first thing you would have seen were the boxes in the corner.”
“I noticed them, but I was wondering if housekeeping forgot them.”
Jasper bursts out laughing at my comment, which surprises me, and I turn around and frown at him.
“Babe, housekeeping didn’t leave them there. I did. They are for you.” He smirks as he pulls me over to them.
“Me?”