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While many women had champagne taste on a beer budget, I was totally content with beer. Hale’s wealth overwhelmed me, so I preferred not to think about it. But, as a man who only dated gold-diggers before moi, he struggled to accept his fortune wasn’t the flex it once was.
After St. Barts, we were off to Fiji to another secluded villa, but this one came with a personal chef—something I think Hale added on last minute after the whole breakfast fiasco.
Fiji was the perfect blend of luxury and adventure with its lush landscapes and impeccable hospitality, but there wasn’t much nightlife. After supper, the chef would leave and we were often left to entertain ourselves.
A tropical storm had come through on our last days there. I was cozied up on the indoor hammock reading a naughty little romance I’d picked up at the airport when the music kicked on.
“Paging Mrs. Davenport. Will Mrs. Davenport please come to the bedroom?”
I turned the page amid some hot and heavy book boyfriend fornication. “Mrs. Davenport is reading right now.”
Hale appeared in the doorway, antsy from being cooped up all day. “You’re still reading that book?”
“It’s good.”
Hale said something as the hero’s pants loosened and he kicked apart the protagonist’s feet as she leaned into the wall.
“Earth to Mrs. Davenport.” Hale slid his finger down the inside of the spine and lowered the book.
“Hey, I was reading that.”
“Hey, your husband needs attention.”
I was torn—hunky book boyfriend versus real-life, hunky husband. “I don’t know. It’s getting really good.”
He took the book and tossed it across the room. “I’m better.” The hammock rocked violently as Hale climbed beside me.
“No, no, no, wait!” My death grip saved me from falling.
“That’s better.”
I forked my fingers through his soft waves. Sometimes Hale needed a different sort of affection, the kind I don’t think he knew existed before me.
He sighed and closed his eyes. “That’s nice.”
After thirty days together, he seemed to seek out this sort of nurturing more often. I’d hold him and he’d let down his guard. I supposed it was his way of recharging.
Typically, Hale traveled at least once every ten days. We were discovering little things about each other on our honeymoon, but none of those discoveries were bad.
“Do you realize, Hale, that this is the longest consecutive time we spent together since we first met?”
“That wasn’t that long ago.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Our honeymoon was going to amount to one-sixth of our total relationship.
The deluge outside pummeled the Koro Sea as the setting sun fought for a place in the sky. The distant mountains created a beautifully moody view.
I kissed his head.
He glanced up at me. “That felt intentional.”
“It was.”
“What was it for?”
“I was just thinking how far we’ve come, and how lucky I am to have you.” Deep down, I knew we never would have made it this far if not for Hale.
“I’m just as lucky.”
