Page 69 of Broken Rules
Damien shrugged, but a smile played at his lips. “Nonna reminded me of how much Sister Maria had believed in me and of how hard she worked to keep me out of trouble.” He lifted his shoulders. “I owe it to her, and to you, to give a normal life another shot.”
Savannah again glanced around the sail boat. “And you think this is a normal life?”
He laughed. “For now, it will have to do. I promised Edward I would stay out of the country until everything has blown over. So, we have no choice but to sail the world.”
Edward leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “We agreed on a full year. In the mean time, he will be working for me remotely.”
She took another deep breath to try to calm her racing thoughts. “Was there anything else included in the deal?”
Edward chuckled. “Yeah, you. But I told him he couldn’t reach out to you until the year was up. That’s why, with the money he had left, he bought this boat and hired the best sailing crew he could find. I told him he was crazy, that his plan would never work.” Smiling, Edward stood up. “I’m happy I was wrong.” He put his hands in his pockets. “I’m going to head out.” He winked at Savannah. “Maybe I’ll go find a hardworking bartender who won’t mind making me a frozen mudslide or two.”
She smiled. “Be kind...drink beer. Beer is easy.”
Edward laughed. “You got it, Savvy.”
“It’s Savannah,” she said, feigning annoyance.
“Savannah Honey, the one and only,” the detective said, dipping his head. Then he turned on his heel, leaving Damien and Savannah alone.
Brows drawn, Damien looked at her with such concern in his amber eyes. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you when Nonna died.”
She threw her arms around his neck, squeezing him with all her might. “I’m just so relieved that you’re all right. I thought I lost you both.”
His strong arms surrounded her. “Savannah Honey, you will never have to worry about losing me again.”
She pulled away and met his gaze, ready to make him promise never to leave her again. “Damien...” Frowning, she paused, then burst out laughing. “I just realized that I don’t know your last name. With a first name like Damien, I think I’ve always been too afraid to ask. It’s probably Lecter or Ripley or—”
“Bennet.”
Her eyes widened. “Your last name is Bennet?”
He nodded.
“As in Lizzy Bennet...Pride and PrejudiceBennet.”
He chuckled. “That’s right.”
“So, if we get married one day, I get to be Savannah Bennet?”
“Yes...whenwe get married,” he said pointedly.
She squealed with delight. “You’re going to make a respectable-sounding woman out of me.”
He smiled. “It’s the least I could do, considering you’ve made a respectable man out of me.” He cupped her cheek. “I love you, Savannah Honey. I’ve loved you since I was ten years old.
Her heart swelled. “I love you, Damien Bennet. I’ve loved you since...since you first broke into my boss’s house.”
He winced. “We’re going to have to come up with a different story to tell our kids.”
She laughed. “If we’re going to sail around the world, I can dust off my dream of becoming an author. I’ll write us one hell of a story.”
He pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “Make the hero a good man.” He kissed her again.
She cupped his cheek. “He will be. He’ll know when to follow the rules.” Then a mischievous smile curved her lips. “And when to break them.”
A wicked glint lit his amber eyes. “Speaking of rules, do you know whatIjust realized?”
“What?” she grinned.
