It was so hot that Rebecca couldn’t stand it, she rushed forward into the warm sea, but she could feel the cool undercurrent in the water. She swam a little way, letting the waves pull her to and fro.
She looked up to the perfect blue sky, the smell of tropical water, and sweet salted air made her relax.
She turned in the water and looked back to the little beach cottage. He was waiting for her, for another day together, she wondered if she would ever get bored, ever be tired. She doubted it. She would never take her happiness for granted, it was too hard won.
She thought of Ashley, letting her back into her life, giving her a chance at making a real life for herself, had made her happy. It was a gift, something that she could do for someone, like Alice had done for her. That Ash and Pete had hit it off made her infinitely happy.
She lay back in the water, looking at the blue sky, and it made her smile as she swam.
Four months into what was now termed ‘the world tour’ when they had been in Goa, Rebecca had a panicked phone call from Ash, she was late. She hadn’t even known that she and Pete had gotten that far, though she shouldn’t have been surprised. When she told Pete, he’d done his nut. A few days later, he calmed down and was being the perfect man. Rebecca hoped it lasted.
The outcome was that they had an end date, a fixed point when they had to be home. But not yet, there was time still to do this.
When Arthur said, ‘let’s travel the world’ she thought of backpacking, not the luxury travel that she was enjoying.
It was decadent and hedonistic. So unlike her old life. She’d give him anything, and vice versa. She waded out of the water, as Arthur came out of the cottage, the little porch had a table and chairs, jasmine grew from pots up the rails, and Arthur leant against it. He was tanned, and gorgeous as ever, all the tense stress he bore for years had melted away.
He wore only short trunks, she admired his body, he had filled out again, there was no trace of the worn strain from months past, when they had been apart. She wore nothing.
Arthur nearly dropped his cup when he saw her, the sun sparkled off her skin when she rose out of the sea like a goddess.
He found himself walking towards her. The sun had bleached her hair, her skin had taken on a warm glow, she looked so beautiful, her happiness, and her goodness, rolled off her, it filled her smile and her eyes.
Every drop of water on her skin looked like a jewel. He held her, her body was cool and slippery, and his was warm and dry.
There was no other person nearby, they were alone, he heard a motorboat somewhere, a few birds called.
He picked her up, arms crossed under her bottom, breasts pressed into his face.
“I love you.” Her voice was soft, and he smiled, and she squeezed him.
He pulled back, and looked up at her.
“I love you too. You are…” His words failed, the depth of what he felt overwhelmed him. He took a breath. “You’ve given me so much, I know embracing what I’ve wanted hasn’t been easy for you, I hope it’s worth it.”
“Well,” she sighed, “having the man I love with me all the time is a chore, and travelling the world first class, is a bit tedious, but I’ll soldier on.”
“Yeah, you’re a trouper.”
“I am.” Her face crinkled.
“I’m serious.”
“Far too serious. I thought you were a miserable mean man in a suit when we met. I couldn’t have been more wrong.”
He kissed the skin between her breasts. Salt and sunshine.
“I hadn’t planned on this, well I had, but not at this moment, but you are so perfect, and it’s right. Rebecca, I love you, you’re my everything, and I always want that, I’d be honoured if you would be my wife.”
She stilled and swallowed. “Yes.” She could barely whisper, her throat clogged with the emotion. He carried her to the porch and rinsed the sand off her feet, then carried her inside.
She shook and held fast, trying not to cry, he made love to her with such care and tenderness, and afterwards, he went into his case, and pulled out a ring.
His mother’s engagement ring was a pretty diamond, not too large for her taste. Alice had always worn it. He knew the moment he had her back, he’d ask her, and brought the ring with him. He’d kept it safe all these weeks, waiting for the time to be right.
She cried then, when Arthur slipped the ring on her finger. He kissed the tears away and held her close, as he always would.
I hope you enjoyed reading ‘Getting a Life’. Reviews make a huge difference, so if you have a minute, I’d love it if you reviewed it on Amazon, thank you.
Come find me on Facebook – http://bit.ly/facebookstefaniesimpsonwriter
Twitter – http://twitter.com/Simpson_Romance
Getting a Life (New City Series Book 1) Page 22
