Page 55 of 2 Books in One Bundle
They’d been watching each other. Tears pricked her eyes and one escaped, tracking down her cheek. Matty gently brushed it away with his thumb.
‘Marry me, Lulu? I can’t bear the idea of another day away from you. I want to prove that we should never be apart again. We can forget everyone else and make our own family together.’
‘You don’t need to prove anything to me, Matty. I’ll marry you because I love you. I can’t think of a better reason.’
He threaded his fingers through her hair, brushed his lips gently across her mouth.
‘There’s no better reason in the world.’
EPILOGUE
MATTYTOOKLULU’Shand as they walked through the cool, soft sand on his Whitsunday Island resort, which he’d closed to other guests for the duration of their stay. A warm breeze blew, sunset painting the sky in pink and gold. It had been two years since their wedding, and for their second anniversary he’d decided to celebrate by revisiting their honeymoon destination, where he’d shown her the beach for the first time.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked. Lulu looked beautiful tonight in a sheer and shimmery kaftan that moulded to every curve, the same colours as the sunset. Her copper hair loose, streaming down her back. Lit up like fire in the golden light.
He smiled. ‘I have a surprise for you.’
She smiled back. He’d never thought Lulu could look more beautiful than she had on their wedding day, in a magnificent vintage wedding gown under a bower of roses at their Lake Como villa, but he’d been wrong. Each day surpassed the rest, as if she were created anew each morning, just for him.
‘I don’t need surprises. You’re enough.’
She gazed up at him, her tropical green eyes filled with warmth and love. He understood, she was enough for him as well. He wanted for nothing with Lulu in his life. Each day, now complete.
Since their wedding, they’d spent time travelling the world, chasing summer. Visiting his houses, his hotels, and resorts. Even though they had plenty of places to stay they kept two homes. Easton Hall, now renovated to its former glory, and Villa Arcadia. Both, places of rustic idyll. Innocence and pleasure.
He looked down at Lulu, her gaze heated. Lips parted; pupils blown wide. A delicate flush on her cheeks. Okay. He grinned. Perhaps more pleasure than innocence... But he wasn’t complaining. Life was an adventure in hedonism with his incredible wife.
An adventure in other ways too. After some thought and a little encouragement from him, she’d submitted her stories and illustrations about their stupendous childhood adventures to a publisher. Soon, Lulu would have a series of children’s books in her name and could add author to illustrator on her résumé. Warmth like the sun kindled in his chest, his pride at her achievements. She amazed him every day, the way she overcame and grew. He gently squeezed her hand, she squeezed back.
‘What are you thinking?’ she asked.
That he couldn’t wait to get to where they were going. Even though she said she didn’t need it, Matty loved to surprise her as a way of thanks. For freeing him from the exhausting quest for belonging he hadn’t even realised he’d been on.
‘That every day with you is the happiest day of my life.’
She sighed. ‘When I thought you couldn’t make me swoon even harder... Oh... Matty... This isbeautiful.’
They’d arrived at what he’d organised, a tent of jewel-coloured silk high on the beach. Surrounded by flaming torches, waiting for night to fall. The floor was covered with soft blankets, strewn with plush pillows. With champagne on ice and a basket full of delicacies, he had everything he needed to celebrate how much he loved her.
‘You did this for me?’ Her voice trembled, cracked.
‘A romantic picnic for two,’ he said. ‘I’ve given the staff the night off.’
They wouldn’t be disturbed unless he called for something. They were as alone as they could possibly be. Shipwrecked together. He led her inside, and they sank into the cushions. The waves a gentle hiss on the sand in front of them. He grabbed the champagne from the ice bucket, poured two glasses.
‘A toast.’ He held up his glass to her. ‘Happy anniversary, Mrs Bainbridge.’
‘Happy anniversary to you, Mr Bainbridge,’ Lulu replied.
That once disparaged family name held no power over him any more. Not now that he and Lulu shared it with each other. It was only a name, not something that defined him. Anyhow, it was the name his sister carried too, and he loved her. With so much love in his life, there was simply no room for negativity.
Lulu looked out over the ocean. Blue turning to purple as the colours in the sky deepened. She took a sip of her champagne, put down her glass. ‘It’s going to be hard to leave here.’
‘Where would you like to go next?’
She looked up at him and smiled. ‘So long as I’m with you, the “where” doesn’t matter.’
His heart felt as if it would burst. Matty put down his glass to join Lulu’s as he leaned into her, cupping her cheek. Stroking his thumb over her soft skin. Their lips touching, their breaths mingling as the kiss deepened. Lulu slid her hand under his shirt, stroking his back as he became fire, each nerve setting alight as he eased her onto cushions behind them.
