The Wild Heir(108)
I’m running a finger across my lips, telling her to zip it.
“Why couldn’t she have lunch?” Ella asks. “Magnus, where are you taking me?”
“You know, the best part of this whole experience is the thrill of the unknown.”
“Oh my god, you’re not making me do skydiving are you, because I will murder you, I swear I will.”
“Calm down, will ya? You’re so untrusting.”
“Because I’m married to someone who probably thinks blindfolding someone and pushing them out of an airplane is a good time.”
“That’s not what’s really happening, is it?” Jane whispers.
I give her a look to shut up. “No. It’s not. Okay, how about we all sit in silence until the ride is over.”
“Agreed,” Einar says from the driver’s seat. “You people never shut up. No offense, sir.”
“None taken.” I always knew one day Einar would snap.
The silence is short-lived because before long we’re pulling up alongside Oslo’s harbor. Even though it’s April, it’s still fairly cold out and the harbor is pretty quiet, just a few tall ships and fishing boats.
I help Ella out of the car and lead her down along the cobblestones of the harbor’s edge, past the Nobel Peace Prize Museum. Seagulls cry out and whirl above our heads.
“We’re by the ocean,” she says, breathing in deep with a smile on her face. “Ahh. It smells like spring.” She pauses. “Are we going sailing?”
It’s at this point I know that I’ll have to take the blindfold off.
I glance down at the docks below us.
Right there at the end of the dock is a black inflatable-hull boat, about twenty-feet long, with rows of seats and storage compartments at the back, as well as a giant propeller motor that must weigh a ton.
“Are you ready?” I ask her, positioning her so that she’s facing the water and the boat. “Just keep in mind if you step forward any more, you’re going to tumble into the sea.”
She stiffens. “What?”
“Relax,” I tell her, slipping one arm around her waist. “I’ve got you.” With my other hand I pull loose the blindfold and it’s swept away by the breeze. Damn it. I could have used that later.
She doesn’t know where to look for a minute and then she gasps, probably because she’s on the edge about ten feet above the docks. I hold her back against me so she’s not going anywhere and wait for her to really see it.
When she does, she gasps.
“Oh my god!’
“Surprise!” I tell her, kissing her cheek. “There’s your first official boat.”
The boat has the logo of her environmental organization at the front of the ship—Ocean Crusaders. At the back of the boat, there’s the actual name of the vessel.
Princess Planet.
She bursts out laughing when she sees it. “You didn’t!”
I grin at her, so happy this is her reaction. “I did.”
She turns around to stare at me with wide, awestruck eyes. “Magnus. I can’t believe you did this.”
I’d been planning on doing it for a while. Ella just stared up her organization and while she’s knee-deep in sorting everything out and hiring people and figuring out the next plan of action, I wanted to show her how much I support her goals and her dreams. She’s out to make a difference in the world, and I’ll do everything I can to help her do that, personally and politically as well.
“I know you’re just getting it off the ground and probably won’t need a boat for a little while longer but when you do, whether you’re going to go free Willy or yell at tourists for getting too close to endangered rocks or something, this is your vessel.”
“Congratulations,” Jane says, clapping. “Now, do we get to go on it?”
I raise my hand. “I’m driving.”
“Oh, hell no,” Ottar says. “Einar should drive.”
“Actually, I’m driving,” Ella says, holding her hand out for the key.
“Is that so?” I ask while I reach into my pocket and pull it out.
“It’s my boat,” she says smartly. I place it on her hand and she snatches it up with a grin. “This will be the closest I’ll get to your adrenaline sports, Magnus, mark my words.”
We’ll see about that, I think, following her down the gangplank to the docks.
“Hey, does sex count as an adrenaline sport?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Honestly, Magnus.”
“Yeah, honestly Magnus,” Jane adds.
I sigh.
Epilogue
ELLA A year later
“I now pronounce you husband and wife, again,” Erik says. “You may kiss the bride.”
I grin at Magnus as he leans in, cupping my face with his palm. His eyes twinkle with love and adoration and a hint of something wicked before his lips press against mine and he envelopes me in a long, slow kiss. A sweet spring breeze picks up and flows through us, bringing the smell of glacial water and flowers.
Everyone claps and cheers.
And by everyone, I mean everyone that matters the most to us.
There’s Jane.