Page 242 of Tangled with the Tight End

“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.”

The next day, Winona spends the early morning driving into town for a coffee with her sister. The guys and I hang around on the deck, but my eyes constantly flick toward the door, waiting for her return.

When she gets back, I stand, walking to her and pulling her into a hug.

“Ready to go back to Trunk Bay?” I ask her.

“What’s everyone else going to do while we leave them stranded so we can sneak away together?” she asks. Her eyes sparkle with playful teasing.

“They’ve scheduled a glass-bottom kayak tour for after lunch.”