Two years later.

 

“You look nervous,” Thaddeus observed as he glided the boat effortlessly toward its pontoon.

Saphire’s eyes were lodged on the mansion in the distance. It glowed in the dusk light; inviting, yet so full of memories.

She nodded jerkily. Her smile was hesitant. “We haven’t been here since … last time I left I thought I’d never see you again.”

“Did you really think that?” He stalled the engine and threw the rope around the moor head. It latched first time. His arms were strong and capable as he pulled on it hard to bring the boat in tight against the dock.

She shrugged. “I did. Then.”

“You were wrong and I’m glad.” He put a hand out to help her onto the deck and them jumped athletically up behind her. She stood, staring contemplatively at the house.

“You wanted to come here,” he reminded her.

“I do. I know. I love this place.” She smiled at him, but there was worry in her eyes.

He put an arm around her. His eyes followed her gaze then he squeezed her shoulder tight, comfortingly. “I no longer remember the pain.”

She blinked up at him. “With me, you mean?”

His smile was grim. “Any of it. What part does pain play in my life now I have you?”

A frown tugged at her lips. “History isn’t something you should forget.”

“I haven’t forgotten it,” he promised thickly. “I learned from it.” He kissed her hair; a breeze passed and lifted it, carrying the scent of her into the island. It seemed to sigh with profound relief. She was back, and everything was right in the world once more.

“You did, huh?” She teased, loving his arrogance for all that it at times infuriated her.

“I was too proud to make my peace with Aristotle.” It was a serious contemplation. His eyes were deep with the memories of his grandfather, as he regarded the iconic family home. “I was angry and childish, and I never bothered to try to fathom the reasons behind his decisions.”

“You don’t know his reasons,” she pointed out. “Only that he cut your father off for falling in love.”

“Yes.” Thaddeus shrugged. “And if my father felt for my mother what I feel for you then I see what a useless gesture Aristotle’s was.”

Saphire’s heart turned over.

“I would lose my fortune and my birthright a thousand times over to have you, Saphire. I would sacrifice anything for you.”

She stood on the tips of her toes to brush a kiss against his cheek. Her voice was hoarse with emotion. “That’s not a choice you have to make.”

“No. But my father did. And he made the right choice. The only choice he could have made.” He shook his head, as if to clear the thoughts. “But I should not have let it estrange me from Aristotle. I wish … and it is entirely futile to have such a foolish desire … but if I could have that time again, I would handle it differently.”

She put her head on his chest and listened to the strong beating of his good, kind heart.

“In this way, I have changed,” he said decisively. “I loved you, Saphire, and I almost let pride ruin it. I cannot believe that I came so close to letting you go.”

“You didn’t,” she reminded him, almost hating to think back to a time when their future had not yet been assured.

“No. When Rocco called to tell me that he’d seen you … I felt like I’d been given a thousand gifts.”

A shiver danced down her spine. “Can you imagine what would have happened if he hadn't been at that party?”

“I do imagine it,” Thaddeus promised, self-anger evident in his tone. “Or if you hadn’t taken that job, or if your boss had not been ill and you had not therefore been so visible at the event.” He kissed her head again, lingering now against her fine, soft hair. “And I curse my stupidity for leaving the most important decision of my life up to fate.”

Saphire wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. “I don’t know,” she said simply. “I don’t think it was fate.”

“No?”

“You came to Rome. You told me you loved me. You made sure I understood just how much you love me. That’s not fate. That’s just … meant to be.”

“Meant to be,” he agreed, dropping his hand and linking his fingers through hers. “Yes. That is most certainly true. From the moment I saw you walk onto the plane in London, something flicked inside of me.”

“Even then?” She laughed unsteadily. “I was a mess.”

“You were perfect,” he contradicted.

“Imagine if I hadn’t found them in bed together.” Now a shiver of revulsion slid along her body. “I could still be married to him, living my life in a half-sleeping state.”

“I would have found you,” he said simply. “Somehow, some way, somewhere, we would have met.”

She laughed softly. “You know, for a billionaire tycoon, you have an incredibly soft side.”

His nod was grave. “Only for you.”

She smiled. “I know.”

“And Anita? Is she still trying to befriend you?”

Saphire nodded, but her features were composed. “I feel sorry for her, but I can’t see us becoming what we were ever again.”

“I imagine you’d have trust issues,” he drawled. “As would she, given that Jordan did the exact same thing to her as he did to you.”

“Obviously it’s just in his nature.” She shook her head. “It’s a shame, because there is enough in him to lead me to believe that he could be a really great guy. If he could just keep it in his pants.”

Thaddeus laughed. “His loss, in this instance, will forever be my gain. I owe him a debt of enormous gratitude for the fact that he was such an idiot he let you go.”

She lifted her gaze to his handsome face. “As do I.”

“Well, Mrs Konstanides? Shall we?”

The last lingering doubt rolled out to sea with the gently swelling waves. She flashed him a bright smile and then took a step towards the house. The first step towards the rest of their lives.

“Well, it is our honeymoon,” she murmured and she was so focused on the house in their path that she didn’t see the way her new husband’s face glowed with the kind of happiness that could never be expressed in words. It was a happiness that could simply be lived; and they intended to live it every day for the rest of their lives.

 

THE END