His Naughty Lessons-Chapter 180: PDA, Big Capital P

** Harper **

Harper assumed that they’d be on their way to yet another tropical landmark. A waterfall in a jungle, perhaps, or a plumeria garden filled with ivory and pink blossoms. But as the bus slowly traversed the scenic coastline, keeping them occupied with announcements and stories of the island until it came to a stop high up in the mountain valley, she was unprepared to find that they had arrived at ... a lavender farm?

"Thought I’d try somewhere slightly less ’Hawaiian’, after all the tropical overdose." Eli chuckled at her surprised look. "And you might just be pleasantly impressed ... Turns out that you don’t have to go to France to see one of the most beautiful lavender fields. Come."

He took her hand again and led her off the bus. The gesture was so natural that it felt like they were just another pair of lovestruck couples going on just another romantic date ... if one could ignore a whole bus of coworkers staring intently into their backs.

Oh well. That was probably an inevitable outcome of being on a company-funded honeymoon vacation. Harper hid a grin, following him closely down the steps and to the entrance of the farm.

The moment they reached the gate, though, it became immediately difficult to continue entertaining the thought about any coworkers, staring intently or not — because Eli was right, who knew that such a gorgeous scene easily rivaling southern France was tucked in such a hidden corner, in one of the last places one would think of to resemble Europe?

Rolling waves of soft purple tumbled across the field, a dreamy contrast to the vibrant island colors. After getting so used to the wild blue ocean, the gentle sea of tiny flowers and silver green leaves was a stunning shock to the eye, and for a moment, Harper nearly forgot where she was. It was like walking into a postcard of Provence, where even the wind carried the sweet scent of French floral perfumes.

Only the backdrop of jagged emerald mountains reminded her that this wasn’t Provence, because only here would such a fairytale beauty blend so seamlessly into a vivid tropical paradise.

"Approved?" Eli sounded smug by her side. Justifiably so. "May I join the fair lady for a stroll, if she likes the view?"

Oh yes. Absolutely yes.

He led her forward, and Harper followed in a heartbeat, stepping into the purple sea. A light breeze stirred through the field, playing with the hem of her dress, and she wondered which was sweeter, the subtle fragrance of the flowers wafting in the air or the soft and warm gaze in Eli’s eyes.

"I think you’ll be making all our coworkers go blind today if you keep looking at me like that," she joked, glancing back at the entrance where the rest of the group was gathered around the tour guide, who was obviously delivering a speech about the history and highlights of this attraction site. Few of the people were listening though, and a handful were clearly distracted by looking her way. From the distance, she could even see that Naomi was grinning and winking at her.

"Why, would anyone be so surprised to see a man getting carried away by such a beautiful sight?" Eli countered with perfect smoothness as always. Bending down, he plucked a small stalk of lavender from the field. "The farm also sells bouquets, by the way. You can pick your own and take it home as a souvenir."

"... Really?" Harper gasped as he placed the lavender in her hand. "Wait ..." — a belated thought suddenly occurred to her then — "Do you somehow still remember that I liked picking flowers? Back when I was young?"

Back when she was young, she used to love visiting tulip fields and picking her own bouquets of colorful blossoms. Was that actually why Eli had chosen this destination of the day? Did he actually remember all those little details about her since she was a girl?

"Of course I do. And I also remember you used to say that you wanted to visit Provence someday, to pick a big bouquet of those ’pretty little purple flowers’." Eli chuckled. "This isn’t Provence, obviously ... but I hope you liked it too in a pinch."

For a long moment, Harper was at a loss for words.

True, this wasn’t Provence. But gazing into the jeweled green mountains in the distance, she realized that it was far more beautiful than Provence. Not just because of the lush valleys and misty jungles, but because he remembered it. Because he cared enough to want to give her the perfect moment straight from her childhood dreams.

A rustle from behind her interrupted her musing. "Also," she heard Eli continuing, "I happen to remember as well that you once said the tulips were too large ... which made them difficult to make a crown out of. So I thought of this—"

Harper turned around, and her second gasp was met with the sight of the man behind her holding a small garland made of lavender. Freshly picked and twisted, just the right size for her hair.

"May I?" He smiled, taking a step forward to place it on the top of her head. "A crown for my queen."

Harper blinked, and the sun dazzled her eyes, turning the person in front of her into a golden figure of warm halo. She blinked again, and the rest all came too naturally. His hands slid down her hair, cupped her cheeks, and she tiptoed at the same time to reach up to him. When their lips met, she felt the soft twigs of lavender brushing against his forehead, stirring up the bright scent of fresh flowers.

It really was like a moment of the perfect dream. Under the warm Hawaiian sun, amidst the fragrance of summer blossoms, in the arms of her favorite person in the entire world.

She leaned into him instinctively, trying to deepen that sweet kiss ... And then she heard the sound of cameras snapping in the distance.