Epilogue Winona #2
“Let me show you to your rooms. Our chef, Richards, will be up here in a few hours to feed us. Once you’re settled in, you can swim or you can take one of the cars out front out for a drive.
If there’s anything you need, let me know.
That goes for the whole week we’re here. I want you all to have a great trip.”
Cass’s eyes catch mine and she smiles and silently mouths, boyfriend lottery winner.
I laugh softly.
Declan walks inside, showing Jaxon and Treyvon to a room with two queens. Cass and I are in a room with one king and its own bathroom. Patrick and Daisy have a room with a queen and Marcus is rooming with Declan—in his king bed in the master.
“No snuggling, Delaney,” Declan says.
“You’re not my type,” Marcus jokes back.
We change into our suits and swim. Afterward, we shower and change while the chef arrives to make us dinner.
We eat on a long table on the deck. Then everyone sits around the firepit, relaxing and talking.
The sunset fills the sky and reflects in the water of the pool.
I lean back in Declan’s arms, sighing with the type of contentment that seems to only come on vacation.
Lights twinkle in the water from the boats filling the harbor. I yawn, snuggling deeper into Declan’s side.
He turns his head so his voice tickles my ear. “Do you want to call it a night?”
A shiver runs through me. “It’s still so early.”
“We’ve had a long day. I want to take you snorkeling at St. John tomorrow. It’s up to you, but I’m ready to turn in if you are.”
I turn my head and place a kiss on his cheek.
“I think I will go to bed,” I say.
I stand and Cass catches my eye. She turns to Daisy and says, “I think Win and I are going to go to bed.” Then she stands. “Goodnight, everyone. See you in the morning.”
* * *
At breakfast, I walk out with my special guest and set her on the counter.
Declan peeks around the refrigerator door and starts laughing.
“What?” I say, smiling back at him. “She needed a vacation too.”
“And you left Touch-Down at home?”
“Someone needs to guard the house while you’re gone. Geese likes the tropics.”
Cass walks in behind me, takes one look at Geese Witherspoon in her bikini and sunglasses, and bursts out laughing.
Marcus comes in from the other side of the house, rubbing his eyes and looking around the kitchen. His eyes bounce from Cass to the ceramic goose on the counter.
He stretches his arms overhead, inadvertently showing off more than a sliver of his well-toned abs. My sister’s gaze locks on Marcus’s muscles. I clear my throat. She looks away, seemingly more irritated at him than when he actually does something mildly annoying.
“Delaney,” Declan says. “I thought I said no cuddling.”
“Aww, Marcus,” I tease. “Were you the big spoon or the little spoon?”
“I was neither,” he insists.
“Wrapped around me like a koala in a eucalyptus,” Declan says with a soft huff of laughter.
Jaxon and Treyvon walk into the kitchen. “What’s that, QB? You makin’ moves on Winona’s man while she’s asleep on the other side of the house?”
“You know what?” Marcus says, “I’ll just sleep in the hammock.” His smile gives him away.
“That hammock is really comfortable,” Declan says. “Feel free to relocate.”
Richards apparently came early this morning, making sous vide eggs and a French toast bake.
We sit for breakfast and then Declan announces that we’re going to Trunk Bay.
We charter a boat to St. John, take an open-air bus down a crazy winding road, the wind whipping our hair around and smiles on all our faces.
The driver is playing reggae music. Daisy snaps photos of all of us. Declan and I pose and then he says, “Send me that, would you, Daisy?”
We arrive at a cove, and when we step through the trees onto the beach, I pause. The view from Declan’s villa is stunning. But this? The water is so clear and the sand on the horseshoe beach is practically white.
Declan helps me into my snorkel and fins. We wade in together, holding hands.
“Ready?” Declan asks me.
“I can’t wait.” I glance out past him toward the middle of the bay where a small island rises out from the water.
Cass is standing with Daisy and Patrick near the edge of the sand just a short distance from us.
“Go on,” she waves at me. “I’ll be in shortly.”
“Need help?” Marcus asks.
“If I’m drowning, yes.”
“Keep the snorkel above water and you should be good.”
“Above water?” Cass answers him. “Who would have thought?”
Jaxon cracks up.
Declan shakes his head. “She brings out the worst in him.”
“He seems to do the same to her,” I say.
“Well, once our ears are submerged, we won’t hear them anymore.”
“Good plan,” I say, laughing.
I send Cass a thumbs-up, silently asking her if she’s sure she’s good with me going in.
She sends me a smile and a thumbs-up, so I turn and follow Declan as he tugs our joined hands, leading me into the crystal-clear water behind him.
We drift around the surface of the coral reef until the driver makes the sign for us to come in.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” I tell Declan on the ride back to the ferry.
I’m leaning on his shoulder, drowsy from a day in the sun.
“I love that place,” I tell him. “Madly, deeply in love.”
“It’s my favorite spot in the Caribbean besides my villa.”
“Mine too,” I say softly.
My hand is resting on his abs. He places his over mine. “Nothing could make me happier than sharing these places with you.”
I tip my head up and look into his eyes. “I’m glad I can make you happy.”
“Always,” he says, placing a soft kiss on my lips, then cupping my face and taking the kiss deeper. The rest of our group is settled into their seats on the bus. I lift my hand, running it through Declan’s hair. I barely even kissed him goodnight last night. Too many eyes everywhere.
Marcus shouts out, “What’s up, O’Connell?”
Treyvon says, “I think he’s reliving his high school days, kissing the pretty girl at the back of the bus.”
Declan pulls back, a slight growl in his throat. His forehead rests on mine.
“Sorry,” he says softly to me, brushing my hair back from my face.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “I kissed you back. I feel like it’s been a week since we kissed.”
“I miss you,” he says. “Even when you’re right here.”
I smile. I know exactly what he means. I’m greedy for time with him. Football season is on a break, but it will always take him away too soon.
“Want to go back?” he asks.
“To Trunk Bay?”
“Yes.”
I immediately say, “Yes. Whenever you want to go, I’ll make a way.”
“Tomorrow? Just the two of us?”
“Definitely.”