Page 80 of The Thief
For a moment, he looked contemplative.
“I’ll have to ask her next time I see her.”
She chuckled and took the glass he offered, waiting until he had a glass before toasting, “To our health and happiness. And that this all works out in the end.”
“Cheers,” he said, clinking his glass against hers.
She nodded and took a drink, looking down at the delectable foods around them. It was mostly finger foods, sandwiches and fruit to be eaten by hand, but it was beautifully laid out on platters and trays.
“Looks delicious, doesn’t it?” he asked, unable to contain his laughter when she turned to face him, a strawberry half bitten into.
She completed her bite, chewed, and swallowed before replying, “It does.”
He chuckled and wiped some strawberry juice off her chin. She watched him suck the juice off his finger and felt her face heat.
Clearing her throat, she broke eye contact and asked, “How long has this island been here?”
He looked around, uncomfortable now.
“It has been here longer than Elfyre Hollow. My grandfather’s grandfather claimed the hill that this island once was after a brief debate about whether or not it would be part of Elfyre Hollow or Obsidian Ridge. Obsidian Ridge wanted it, but we won out. We have kept the island in its original condition, even after The Great Tide hit. We made sure it was cleared of debris and made safe again for any of the creatures that come here.”
He looked around, pointing to a small area of the beach.
“That is where quite a large group of turtles are hatched every year. Usually someone keeps an eye out and when they start hatching, we come out here and help them make it safely to the ocean to begin their new lives.”
“That is so wonderful,” she said, looking at him with something akin to adoration in her eyes.
“There are a few different animals who come here. We like to ensure it is safe for them,” he said with a shrug, as if everyone made sure that a bunch of baby turtles reached the ocean safely.
“I think that is a lovely thing to do,” she murmured, picking up another peace effort.
He smiled and looked over at her as she looked out on the ocean. Her hair blew softly in the wind as they sat there, her nose pinking without the shade of the hat she had removed. Alastair looked at her for a second more, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a jeweler’s box.
“This is for you,” he said, holding it out to her.
Scarlett took the box and slowly opened it, revealing a beautiful white gold and pearl necklace.
“Alastair, it’s beautiful,” she whispered.
With an almost reverent touch, she fingered the large ruby encased in a diamond halo, supported by three strands of pearls on each side.
“I’m glad you like it,” he said, a smile coming to his face.
“I do. Would you help me put it on?” she asked, handing it to him and turning her back to him.
Carefully removing it from the box, he placed it around her neck, doing the clasp in the back.
She turned back to face him and asked, “What do you think?”
“It looks lovely on you.”
“Thank you.”
They sat together for a moment, the silence deafening between them, the moment becoming increasingly awkward. She looked away and so did he, but then he turned back to her.
“Scarlett?” he asked.
“Yes?” She turned to face him and was surprised when his lips came crashing down on hers.
