Romance: One Fine Holiday Read Online Free PDF Page A

beautiful,” I’m not sure if I’m talking about him or the sunset, “Do you come up here often?”
    “Yes, I do.  It reminds me of all the beauty in the world and how much we miss when we’re in the city.  This happens every day and yet, most people in America don’t get the time to appreciate it.  They’re all too busy trying to earn money, so that they can buy the latest products.  But money can’t buy what we just saw.  It is priceless.”
    Clarke’s hand reaches across and touches mine, resting on the ground.
    His eyes look to mine and he stares into me.
    My heart pounds.
    He is too perfect for me.
    My mind races.
    His touch feels so warm and inviting.
    But I couldn’t possibly be what he wants me to be.
    I’m not pretty enough for him.
    In a moment of panic, I turn and run away from the moment.  My fast moving legs take me down to the village, and back to the resort.
    I run away from the island beauty as fast as I can.
    He is much too perfect for a girl like me.
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter 8
     
     

 
     
     
     
    The morning sun wakes my weary eyes as it streams through the open curtains.  I must have forgotten to shut them last night. 
    I move my sleepy body out of bed and drag it into the kitchen of our resort apartment.
    To my surprise, both Kate and Mel are awake and waiting at the kitchen table.  As I step into the room, both their eyes light up.
    “So?” Kate asks with glee.
    “What happened?” Mel smiles cheekily.
    “Nothing happened,” I state.
    Both girls look at each other confused, “What do you mean nothing happened?”
    “I mean, we sat on the hill and watched the sunset and then I came back here.”
    “And that was it?”
    “Yes.  Nothing happened.”
    “And whose choice was it to come home?”
    I don’t respond as I pour water into my cup.
    “Did you walk away?” Kate asks.
    I shrug my shoulders.
    “Why?”
    “I’m not good enough for a guy like him.”
    Oh no.
    I shouldn’t have said that. 
    But these girls have a way of making me tell the truth. 
    I can’t lie to them.
    “Oh, Ella.  Of course you’re good enough for him.  If anything, you are too good for him,” Kate says nicely.
    “He wouldn’t have taken you to see the sunset if you weren’t good enough for him,” Mel adds.
    I shake my head and look into my cup.
    “No, Ella,” Kate’s voice is strong, “You are a beautiful woman.  You spent too many years listening to that energy-sapping leech Nick.  You have to realize that you are a beautiful woman.  You are gorgeous.”
    “And amazing,” Mel adds.
    I shrug my shoulders again, “I just didn’t have the confidence to go through with it.  After we watched the sunset, he touched my hand and I ran away.”
    “Literally ran away?”
    “I literally ran away from him.”
    “Ouch, that must have hurt his feelings,” Mel says.
    “Right.  That’s it,” Kate stands to emphasize her point, “Today we are going to have breakfast, lounge by the pool, drink cocktails for lunch and have a nice lazy dinner.  After that, Ella is going to find her magical island man and have one night of soul-shaking, earth-moving sex.  It will be a night filled with passion!”
    “But…”
    “No buts.  That is what we are going to do today.”
    Kate is hard to argue with when she is in this sort of mood.
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
     

 
     
     
    The weather is perfect for our relaxing day. 
    The girls and I lounge by the pool, soaking up the endless sunshine and talking continuously about our different lives.  Despite all of our lives going in different directions, there is a genuine connection between us. 
    It feels amazing to be talking to these girls again and we are so comfortable in each other’s company.  
    It is effortless.
    The comedic banter between us is non-stop but we listen when someone else wants to talk about a problem.
    We all listen well.
    Despite all the distractions in our beautiful day, the thought of Clarke sits in