He walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. It was nine in the morning. The weather was perfect, and it was the start of what he knew would be an amazing day. He had researched things to do, and he was impatient to see her and start of their day.
She opened the door and smiled at him. He was wearing a pair of shorts, a blue V-neck fitting tee-shirt and sneakers.
He smiled, removed his sunglasses and she melted.
She opened the door more as an invitation for him to come inside and he very happily complied.
He stood in the foyer and looked around as she closed the door.
He turned toward her the minute he heard the door close and confidently filled the gap between them, taking her into his arms.
They stood there for a few minutes as they got lost in each other's eyes and smiles. He then lowered his head and kissed her as he drew her against his muscular chest.
After a few minutes he pulled away. "Good morning."
"Good morning."
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"I need a few more minutes. Seth needs my advice."
He raised an inquisitive brow. "Who is Seth?"
She laughed as she started to walk toward an arched opening. "My colleague. Come on in."
He followed her, watching her every move. She was wearing a pair of black sport shorts and a dark blue spaghetti strapped top. Around her neck, he saw a white strap that ended in a knot in the middle of her neck. She was obviously wearing a bikini and he couldn't wait to see her in it. Her hair was up in a high ponytail and swayed as she walked.
He walked inside the living room and stopped. He inventoried the place. There were hardwood floors everywhere and the windows in the room, let the sunlight flow through, making it, along with the beautiful furniture she had picked out, warm and welcoming. Across from him was a window and he blinked a couple of times as he looked beyond it.
He strode over and smiled. "You have an infinity pool with a waterfall?"
"Huh, huh," he heard her say from somewhere in the area.
"And look at that view," he added seeing the Philippine Sea further out. "I obviously chose the wrong job," he said jokingly.
He turned and looked up to the mezzanine that most probably led to the bedrooms.
He then headed down the hall and arrived in the kitchen where she was standing at the countertop, typing away on her computer.
On an armoire against one of the kitchen walls, he noticed a few picture frames and headed over to check them out. She was in most of the photos, and he enjoyed seeing her smiling and laughing with friends and an older couple who he imagined were her parents. Another picture was of her playing tennis and horseback riding. The last picture was on the day she graduated from Med School.
He felt her presence next to him. "Are those your parents?" he asked as he pointed to the picture of her with the older couple.
She appreciated the fact that he hadn't spoke of them in the past. Although they were gone, they were still and would always be her parents.
"Yes. It was taken two months before they disappeared."
He narrowed his eyes. "They never found them?"
She shook her head. "It was a bad typhoon, and they were rather far out at sea. By the time the typhoon settled down four days later, and a search and rescue team were able to go out, there wasn't much left of the sailboat."
He turned and stared into her eyes seeing the pain in her eyes. He raised his hand and placed it on the side of her face, letting his thumb stroke her cheek softly.
"I'm so sorry for your loss."
She leaned her cheek into his hand and closed her eyes for a moment.
"It's OK," she said as she opened back up her eyes, "life is not always a bed of roses. I've come to learn that in life, people will come and go, whether you want them to or not."
He knew she was talking about her parents, but he realized that it also applied to him, and he didn't want to think about that.
"Speaking of that," he said as he removed his hand, "are you ready to go?"
"Absolutely. I'm all yours. Take me away Lieutenant."
"We're going to have so much fun," he said grinning from ear to ear as he took her hand and started to walk back toward the foyer.
As they reached the door, she knelt and picked up a backpack and her keys.
"What is on our agenda today?" she asked as they drove off.
"You're going to have to wait and find out."
"I love surprises," she said enthusiastically.
So did he… and she was the best surprise he had ever had in his life.
Their first stop was at the Guam International Raceway and Off Road Park. They got on an all-terrain vehicle and followed the tour guide along the jungle trails and dirt roads. Jake drove first as she settled behind him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
Along the way they stopped and admired the view of the Marianas Trench and soaked up the scenery. Before heading back to their starting point, they switched, and she drove.
After an hour they thanked the tour guide and headed back to the jeep.
"I don't know about you," she said, "but I'm sore all over from all the bumps."
"Lucky for you, I excel in the field of massages," he said giving her a side smile.
"Why am I not surprised?" she said teasingly, "is there any area you don't excel in?"
He pretended to think. "No."
He turned the ignition on and started to drive away. "I promise the next activity is more relaxing."
