Page 123 of Revere: A Legacy Novel

“Ever?” she asked.

“Only you.”

“That’s what you would ask for, Cross?”

Cross pushed up to his knees, and bent down over Catherine so that their lips were only a breath apart. His dark gaze locked onto hers, and held strong. “There’s no would. I am asking for it. You and me. Be with me. The way we belong.”

“Always,” she whispered.

“Always.”

“What are you doing over there?”

Cross rested against a leaning wicker chair, and watched Catherine swing in the hammock. “Enjoying the view.”

“It’s a good view?”

“The best,” he replied with a wink.

He was only looking at her.

She let her arm fall out of the hammock, and let her hand drag through the sand as she swung back and forth. The beach was quiet and tranquil. The large trees kept her shaded and relatively cool. Cross kept her breathless and happy.

“So, tomorrow …”

Catherine looked up at Cross again. “What about it?”

“You could stay here on the beach, if you want. I could get you a room, or whatever.”

“I thought you said I could go out with you for the drop.”

“You can,” he assured. “I just wanted to make sure that’s still what you want to do, babe.”

“Being here would be boring without you.”

Cross smiled. “Oh?”

“Very.”

He crossed the small space between them, and his bare feet left footprints in the sand. As soon as he was close enough for her to reach, she grabbed his arms and pulled hard. He barely caught himself before falling into the hammock with her.

The hammock rocked dangerously from the action. Somehow, Cross managed to keep it from tipping over and dumping them out.

Cross slid in beside Catherine, and she rolled over to rest her arms on his bare chest. She used her arms as a pillow. The sensation of his fingers dragging through the strands of her hair was enough to put her to sleep.

“This was good for you, right?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Taking time away from life. Being here, and on the boat. Just … away.”

“Sure.”

“That’s not a very good answer, Catty.”

She sighed, and propped her chin up on her arms so that she could look at him. His handsome face had darkened slightly under the sun over the past days. She imagined hers had as well.

“It’s all good,” she promised, “but it’s best because I’m here with you.”