Page 111 of The Husband Diet
He smacked my bottom and grinned.
That same afternoon, we put in an offer, which was accepted. We’d be back in one month’s time (which was fast for Italy) to sign the deeds and cough up the dough. The kids would be thrilled.
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We slept in a hotel, or rather, made love and ate, made love and plans all night long, all day, for three whole days.
On the final morning of our stay, he wrapped a blindfold over my eyes.
‘Mmm,’ I murmured. ‘That’s a side of you I didn’t know.’
He chuckled. ‘Come on, insatiable. Come with me.’ And led me to our rental.
I felt the steep incline as we went uphill. What the hell was he planning?
‘OK, princess, step out. Keep the blindfold on. Easy – take my hand.’
The sun was warm, but the air was much breezier up here.
‘You haven’t followed me all this way across the world to push me over a cliff, have you?’
‘OK, step up – one step, that’s it. When I say so, you open your eyes. Got it?’
I could hear the joy in his voice. ‘Got it.’
‘OK! Open your eyes now.’
I obeyed. And almost had a coronary on the spot.
We were standing inside a hot-air balloon, bright red and filling up with gas.
Inside there was an easel, sketching material and paints.
‘Oh my God,’ I whispered over and over. ‘I can’t believe you did this for me…’ I turned in his embrace and faced him, covering him with loud kisses.
‘Ready, then?’
Ready? I was excited, anxious, not knowing where to feast first. ‘Oh, yes!’ I breathed. ‘I didn’t know you knew how to pilot one of these things, Julian.’
‘I don’t. Butyoudo.’
‘How did you know?’
‘I have my secret informers.’
I watched him as he secured the door and leaned back.
‘Ready when you are, then,’ he said. ‘Fly me to the moon.’
I looked at him blankly. ‘You trust me?’
‘Of course. Why wouldn’t I? I have every confidence in you, Erica.’
‘Cool!’
‘Cool,’ he agreed.
Though unaccustomed as I was to a similar statement, you can imagine how gratifying it was for me. With one last glance in his direction, just to make sure he wasn’t turning green, I began my maneuvers. He stood back and watched me, his hands behind his back, probably to fight the instinct to jump out.
