Chapter 28

"Who knew a shower could be this much fun?" Isabella chuckled and wrapped a towel around Kelsey.

"It's so big, it would be a waste not to use it," Kelsey said with a smirk.

"Absolutely." Isabella gave Kelsey a quick kiss.

"Okay, the plan this morning is to go see Carmen and then to the spa, right?"

"I guess," Isabella said as she slowly got dressed. "Are you sure we can't just stay here?"

"I'm sensing something, Bella," Kelsey said. "You sound a little desperate, like this is the only time we'll get to be alone on one of these adventures. This is just our first trip, babe."

Isabella sighed. "It's just that… Who knows about us right now?"

"Well, Dana and Emma do and I imagine Riley has figured it out since she let us talk at her place last month," Kelsey said.

"I just told Riley we had something important to talk about and couldn't get away from the group," Isabella explained.

"Don't you think she has a pretty good idea what we needed to talk about?"

"Yeah, and if Riley knows then Alex and Liz do, too."

"Okay, so does it matter who knows?" Kelsey asked.

Isabella sighed. "It's just us. We're in our perfect little world with no problems. It's nothing but you and me right now and I want to keep it like that as long as I can. I'm not naive, Kels. I know we'll have challenges and things will come up, but do we have to have them now? I want to put them off as long as I can."

"We will have challenges, but there's no reason to put them off. We'll face them together and as long as we do that everything will be all right. I believe in us, babe. You believe in us, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"We have to think about this and prepare. That doesn't mean we can't do all the things you want to do. We simply need to talk, that's all, nothing more than that."

"I've never been in a shall we say different relationship," Isabella said.

Kelsey raised her brows.

"The only reason our relationship is different is because it's two women," Isabella added. "I've always done what everyone expected, so I don't know what is going to be coming at us."

"Okay, I get that, but we'll face the challenges together," Kelsey said again.

"I think I understand now. We have to be prepared. This is not a time to be spontaneous," Isabella said.

Kelsey walked over and pulled Isabella tightly against her. "There's nothing wrong with being spontaneous." She crushed her lips to Isabella's in a deep, passionate kiss.

"Oh," Isabella said, catching her breath. "I like the way you"re spontaneous."

Kelsey smiled, but still held Isabella close. "We never danced last night."

"Uh, we were kind of busy doing another kind of dance." Isabella giggled.

"How about now?" Kelsey said, reaching for her phone.

"We have to go out on the deck then."

As Isabella opened the back door, Kelsey brought up "STRINGS" by MAX. As it began to play, she opened her arms. Isabella smiled and put her arms around Kelsey's neck as she'd done many times before.

"The first time we danced to this song I felt like I was in a dream," Kelsey said. "Your boldness never surprises me now, but it was a different story then."

Isabella chuckled. "Something came over me when I heard that song and looked at you."

"Oh, Bella," Kelsey said softly. She inhaled to slow the emotions that suddenly raced through her body. "When I started to listen to the words, I realized they were true." She smiled and began to sing along with the song. "‘Make my heart beat double time when you're on me. Don't you know that's what you do?'"

"I didn't know what was happening to me," Isabella said, gazing into Kelsey's eyes. She cupped the side of Kelsey's face. "I thought it was the island magic Liz had been telling us about. But I couldn't keep from thinking or talking about you after I got home and I knew there was more going on."

Kelsey softly pressed her lips to Isabella's and felt tears sting the back of her eyes. She couldn't quite believe this incredible woman was falling in love with her.

As the song ended Kelsey pulled away. "I love you, Bella," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Oh, Kels. I love you, too," Isabella said, pressing her lips to Kelsey's. It was a tender kiss putting an exclamation point on the poignant moment.

Kelsey rested her forehead against Isabella's and sighed. "I didn't mean to get so emotional, but the song and this place…"

"It's the perfect time for me to hear and say I love you," Isabella said with a smile. "It's us."

"It's so us." Kelsey chuckled. She nuzzled Isabella's neck and they held each other for a moment.

"Mmm," Isabella murmured. "I'll remember this moment for the rest of my life."

They pulled away and smiled.

"Okay, let's go see Carmen. I can handle anything with you." Isabella winked.

Kelsey smiled and hoped Isabella would remember that when issues began to surface because she knew they would.

They walked through the resort holding hands and Isabella grinned at Kelsey. "I like this."

Kelsey chuckled. "Is it different than when we walk arm in arm?"

"Yep," Isabella said. "There's a sign flashing over heads that says we're a couple."

Kelsey chuckled. "Oh, my God," she said under her breath. "Here we go."

Isabella laughed as they walked into the lobby and down the hall to Carmen's office.

Kelsey knocked on her open door. "Hi, Carmen."

"I could hear you laughing down the hall. Aren't you both in a good mood," Carmen said with a smile. "Have a seat. Are you ready to rest and rejuvenate?"

"We are," Isabella said, sitting in one of the chairs across from Carmen's desk.

"There has been a development," Kelsey said, sitting next to Isabella.

"A development? There have been tons of positive comments on your post from the flight yesterday."

"Oh, good," Kelsey said.

"There's also been another uptick in reservations this month. More people are following you two than all the other months combined."

"Really?" Isabella said. "I'm telling you, people want to slow down. They need to recharge."

"So what's this development?" Carmen said, steepling her hands on the desk.

Isabella smiled at Kelsey and reached for her hand. "Kelsey and I are under the island's magic spell. We've fallen in love," she said, looking over at Carmen with a wide grin.

"Oh!" Carmen exclaimed, sitting back in her chair.

"Is that a good oh or a bad oh?" Kelsey asked after a moment. She could see the wheels turning in Carmen's head as she looked from Isabella to Kelsey and back.

Carmen took a breath and let it out then smiled. "Well, first, good for you. That's wonderful." She tilted her head. "You know, Sylvie thought there might be something going on between you two."

Kelsey smiled. "It just kind of happened. Neither one of us was looking for anything?—"

"But our hearts had different plans," Isabella finished.

Carmen smiled and sighed. "I'm not sure what this means for us. You two have had chemistry from the beginning and your friendliness is what attracts followers."

"But," Kelsey said, "you're not sure what will happen if they find out we're more than two single moms who've become friends."

Carmen nodded.

"We didn't have many negative comments about our Valentine's trip when one of the couples we highlighted was gay," Isabella said defensively.

"Yes, but they weren't the hosts. It was advertised as a trip for couples to celebrate love in February," Carmen stated. "I wish you nothing but the best, honestly I do. Please understand I have to look at this from a business standpoint as well."

Kelsey nodded. "I get that."

"Couldn't it possibly bring in more queer followers?" Isabella said. "Every month we've mentioned how LGBTQ+ friendly the islands are."

Carmen nodded. "Maybe, but we could also lose as many or more. We've already invested a lot of money in this."

"It isn't like we did this on purpose," Isabella said heatedly.

Kelsey squeezed Isabella's hand and could feel her temper rising.

Carmen smiled. "We don't choose who we fall in love with. I know that as well as anybody. I'm sorry if I offended you, Isabella."

Isabella sighed. "I've never been this happy in my life, Carmen. I'm not about to let you or anyone else question the love Kelsey and I have for each other."

Kelsey raised her eyebrows and held back the grin trying to spread across her face. She knew Isabella could be fierce, but to hear her defend their freshly proclaimed love filled her heart.

"This trip isn't nearly as involved as the ones in the previous months," Kelsey began. "Why don't we take a breath and do a little research?"

"That's a good idea," Carmen said. "I can have our marketing team go over the previous comments and also look into how this could affect the campaign both ways."

"We were going to video in the spa this morning," Kelsey said.

"Then we planned to go to Peaches this afternoon. Could you and Sylvie join us?" Isabella asked.

Carmen stared at them both. "I feel like I've fucked this up with my reaction to this news."

"We're in your office. You're the CEO of this resort. Of course you're thinking of business first," Kelsey said.

"However," Isabella said, glancing at Kelsey then looking at Carmen, "you are the one who threw us together in this lovely resort and have shown us the time of our lives. Perhaps you share some responsibility here, Madame CEO."

Carmen's brows shot up her forehead then she burst out laughing. "Oh, Isabella, I knew you were good. Well played turning this right back on me."

"Seriously, Carmen, why does this have to be a problem?" Isabella said. "We can continue to do the posts and videos just as we've done."

"Let me think this through," Carmen said. "And I would love to meet you at Peaches later this afternoon."

"We'll go do our thing in the spa," Kelsey said, standing up. It was time to give Carmen her space before their words became heated again. Kelsey knew they would be put in a defensive position, but she was surprised by Isabella"s reaction.

Carmen came around the desk and hugged them both. "I really am happy for you. This fucking job gets the best of me sometimes. Thank God for Sylvie."

"She calms you, I take it," Isabella said. "Like Kelsey does me."

"Yes," Carmen said. "Believe me, we were the most unlikely couple when we first got together, but it's worked for almost thirty years."

"Bella is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I may be the more laid-back one, but I won't let a job, or nasty comments, or an account threaten our love. It's new, but it's strong," Kelsey said, gazing over at Isabella.

"It is." Isabella put her arm around Kelsey's shoulder.

"Good, it will have to be," Carmen said. "I'll see you later."

They walked out of Carmen's office and headed towards the spa.

"What did she mean by that last comment?" Isabella asked Kelsey.

"We're two women in love, babe. Not everyone will be happy for us."

"Oh, well. Fuck them." Isabella grinned.

Kelsey chuckled. "I think we could use a couple's massage. What do you say?"

"Hmm, that's a tough one," Isabella said, narrowing her gaze. "I know something else that would take the edge off."

Kelsey giggled. "We can do both!"

Isabella leaned over and quickly kissed Kelsey on the lips. "Oh, I like how you think, love."