Chapter Five
“My proof?” Sean repeated, feeling more confused by the moment.
Deandra had run out of the house earlier, distraught and her heart obviously crumbling. But now she was smiling at him, nodding and hugging him.
He glanced at the waves gently lapping the sand beach and was surprised to find more glitters upon the water.
Well, the sun was strong, and the cloudless sky was bluer than blue. So were the cove waters. The breeze was gentle and warm around them, and now the entire cove seemed to be coming alive and sparkling.
Gad, was his eyesight going daft on him?
“Proof,” he repeated. “Does this mean ye’ll accept to be my wife? Because of a moonstone lore? What is it exactly?”
Tears still rolled down her cheeks, but she took his hand and they settled on the top step of the beach stairs. “Why do you think this village is called Moonstone Landing?”
“Lass, I haven’t a clue. But I would hazard a guess that it has something to do with moonstones,” he said in jest.
“Very clever, McTavish,” she teased, looking so beautiful as the breeze loosened her curls so that the silky tresses blew around her. She cast him one of her exquisite smiles. “The lore says those moonstones will shine on the night of a full moon whenever there is love in the air.”
“So that’s what my shimmering pathway was? A road to love? A road that led directly to ye, Deandra. Do the moonstones only come out on the night of a full moon?”
“There are exceptions when love is very strong. Imogen and Draco saw them shining in broad daylight. But he dearly loves Imogen, and he did not need to wait until nightfall or a full moon to prove it.”
“Nor do I, lass.”
“Oh, really?”
“Deandra, love. Let me dry yer tears and then I want ye to take a good look at the water.”
Sean knew birds usually hovered above the white-crested waves hunting for fish at this hour, but there were none in sight just now, no doubt scared off by the shimmering moonstones. He dabbed the last of her tears away, and then said, “Now tell me what ye see.”
Deandra followed his gaze and then leaped to her feet. “I don’t believe it!” She started to run down the stairs.
“Bollocks,” Sean muttered. He hoped she was not going to dive into the water. Oh, gad. She was. “Deandra! Wait!”
She smiled up at him as she hopped onto the sand and tossed off her shoes. “Come on, McTavish! Hurry up before the moonstones disappear!” She raised her gown to her knees, exposing a pair of shapely legs, and raced toward the water’s edge, emitted a joyful shriek, and leaped in.
“Deandra!” Sean ran after her, not bothering to remove his boots because she was now waist deep in the water and yelling for him to hurry up.
Well, stitches be bollixed. If Deandra wanted him in the water, then that was where he would go.
He reached her side and pulled her into his arms just as a wave was about to knock her over because she was a slender thing. “Lass! Be careful.”
“I won’t drown. You’ll protect me.”
There was no question he’d risk everything to keep her safe. “True, but must we put it to the test just now?”
“Look how beautifully the moonstones shine for us, McTavish.”
He laughed and kissed her wet nose. “Aye, lass. They’re incredible.”
“So are you,” she said with a soul-deep sincerity that touched his heart. “You have the most gloriously muscled arms and I hope you will hold me in them every night for the rest of our lives.”
He drew her firmly up against him as another wave gently crashed over them.
She held on to his shoulders as the strong ebb tide tried to draw her out to sea. Deandra was not strong enough to overcome its pull, but she showed no fear because he was holding her and she had to know he would never let her come to harm. “I love you, my castaway captain.”
“Oh, lass. I love ye to the moon and beyond.” He kissed her soft mouth with all his desire, and had every intention of taking her, hot and wet, on this very beach once they were lawfully married.
She was the girl of his dreams.
She was the wife he hoped would help him figure out what had happened to separate his parents, because it tore at his soul that they had spent a lifetime apart. He needed to know what went wrong to destroy the love of two people who were brave enough to marry against the wishes of their families.
He would never allow such a thing to happen to him and Deandra.
She was the partner he hoped would stand by his side in marriage and in love.
He hoped she would remain by his side throughout their endeavors, whether managing the Dearborne properties or attending to her father’s illness.
He also had to figure out what to do with his sailing vessels, especially the Drogheda.
Whatever occurred, he would always make certain they reunited, no matter how much time they spent apart.
Another necessity was to acquire a home for them in Moonstone Landing, because this was where Deandra and her father wanted to be. It was only fair, for she was his happiness.
Soon, his duchess.
He plundered her mouth with all the skill of a marauding pirate, capturing her sweet lips with conquering ardor and probing into the warm velvet of her mouth, encouraging her surrender as the illuminated waters swirled around them.
He kissed her with every ounce of his heart and soul. He kept kissing her as the waves broke around them in rainbow colors, vibrant and bright.
Suddenly Parrot was beside them, barking and swimming in circles around them, and then he stuck his head between their clinging bodies, demanding they pay attention to him.
Deandra laughed. “Parrot! I thought you hated the water.”
Sean nudged Parrot gently aside. “Go chase butterflies, ye meddlesome pup. I have unfinished business with Deandra.”
Parrot splashed him in the face and then went off to chase fish instead.
Deandra laughed. “Oh dear. You’re all wet.”
“So are ye, love. Gad, ye’re gorgeous when wet.” Sean kissed Deandra again…and again. “I love ye, my sweet lass. I’ll love ye always, and I give ye my solemn oath I’ll never stray. Dare I ask ye?”
She nodded.
“Will ye marry me, Deandra?”
“Yes,” she replied, and every moonstone hidden beneath the water’s surface exploded in dazzling light. “You must love me very much, McTavish.”
“Aye, lass. I do. Is it not obvious? This castaway will love ye now and forever.”
The End