Chapter 46
Declan
Theplanehitthe tarmac, and Matt yelled, “Woo-hoo! Textbook landing. Well done.”
Drunk on adrenaline and endorphins, I grinned. “After Afghanistan and those impromptu landings, that was a breeze.”
“Feels good, though, doesn’t it?” He grinned.
“Oh, yeah. I’ve missed it.”
He unstrapped himself. “Whenever you want to go anywhere, count me in. I’ve really enjoyed this.”
“I’m glad you’re on board. I needed this.” I rose from my seat and stretched my arms.
He looked outside the window. “It looks hot. Lucky I packed my board shorts.”
“I’m hoping to get in some snorkelling. There are meant to be some amazing underwater caves.”
His face lit up. “That sounds fucking amazing.”
When we joined the girls, I noticed Theadora looking a little pale.
I put my arm around her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good now.”
Lucy chuckled. “You should have seen her during the landing. She was a mess.”
She gently slapped her friend’s arm. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“You were in great hands. That was one hell of a smooth landing,” Matt said.
Holding onto the love of my life, we made our way out of the plane.
Theadora giggled. “I’m really okay to do this myself.”
“You don’t like me holding onto you?” I asked.
“I do,” she whispered. “Especially when we’re naked.”
I smiled. “Mm… I think I’ll need a siesta before we take in the sights.”
Our eyes held, and my heart sang. Every time I studied that beautiful face, I saw a woman coming into her own. Like a rose blossoming into a breathtaking specimen of beauty.
Lucy brought out her phone. “Photos, please. In your uniforms. So that I’ll know I haven’t dreamt this up.”
I laughed. I liked Lucy and appreciated their sisterly bond.
Unknown to both of them, I’d paid for Lucy’s village apartment. I’d instructed the landlord to charge her a tiny rent so that she didn’t get suspicious.
I stood next to Matt and smiled as Lucy took photos on her phone. “Can you take one of Theadora and me?” I asked her.
I placed my arm around my wife-to-be. Wearing a white summery dress with a red cardigan and her long, lustrous dark hair hanging freely. She reminded me of a local Italian girl.
“I’m only wearing my flats. I resemble a midget compared to you.” She giggled.
Her head reached just below my shoulder. “You’re a perfect fit.” I went to take off my cap.