She whispered against his mouth, “This feels like a forever kiss.”
“It is. Forever and ever. That’s how long I’ll love you.”
He held her tight as she murmured against his chest, “Forever.”
The word forever kept ringing in Michaela’s head. And this time, it didn’t frighten her. It was real. It was how she felt. It was how Troy felt.
The music still played outside as they dressed.
“Will you come home with me tonight?” His voice caressed her like a touch.
There was no question. “I’d love to.” Then she added, “But I need to make sure my mother gets home safely.”
He smirked, followed by a wink. “Walter will make sure your mother is very safe.”
“I want her to find the happiness she deserves. And if her happiness is with Walter, then I couldn’t ask for more.”
Troy pulled her into his arms and whispered against her ear, “I’m so happy you said that. Honestly, I feel good things about the two of them.”
She suddenly wanted to cry. For all the years her mother had been alone and for all the years she wouldn’t have to be anymore. “I do too.”
Before Troy came along, her mother had been the most important person in her world. She still was. But now there was Troy too. Her most important people.
As they climbed the stairs from Troy’s cabin, a lot of foot stomping on the bow shook the entire yacht. Then a conga line snaked through the lounge. Michaela glimpsed the beatific smile on her mother’s face as she danced to the conga beat, Walter gripping her hips. She had never seen Flo look happier.
And truly, that meant Michaela could never be happier. Her mother had found a special someone who brought joy into her heart, and Michaela had found Troy.
Beside her, Troy gasped. “Holy hell, is that Fernsby at the end of the line?”
If it hadn’t been attached, Michaela’s jaw would have dropped to the deck. The elegant butler still wore his suit jacket, but his umbrella-adorned tie was flying as he conga-hopped behind Susan Spencer, who was clinging to Bob in front of her.
As he passed, the man grinned like a maniacal clown. “Dearest Mickey, why don’t you join us?”
Troy’s jaw was definitely not attached, and it most certainly hit the deck. He asked in a dazed voice, “Did he just use a nickname?”
“I think he did,” she answered as the conga line disappeared up the stairs to the sundeck.
“He must be drunk.”
“Does he drink?” She hadn’t seen Fernsby with a glass in his hand.
“I don’t know. But there’s no other explanation. Or maybe I had a waking nightmare.” Then Troy visibly shook himself, like a dog shaking off water. “Do you want to join the line?”
“No.” She crooked her finger. “I have something special I want to do with you.”
In the stern, she removed her sarong and climbed onto the diving board. Then she held out her hand. “Jump with me.”
She’d told him that day on the yacht that the ocean was full of too many creepy things, and she would never jump off his diving board. But maybe those creepy things were a symbol of all the fears she’d had roiling inside.
As he stepped up beside her and linked his hand with hers, she said, “I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone like you.” She squeezed his fingers. “For someone I want to take the leap with. There’re so many scary things out there, but so many beautiful things I’ve missed out on because I’ve been afraid. Like falling in love. Like letting someone else have control sometimes. Like trusting someone with all that I am.”
As she walked backward to the end of the diving board, pulling Troy with her, he whispered, “Trust me.”
Standing side by side on the diving board hanging out over the water, all the creepy ocean things swirling below them, she said softly, “I do trust you.”
Then, hand in hand, they jumped together. Both of them in tune and calling out at the same moment, “I love you.”
Their love, like the ocean, would last forever.
