In the Name of Love (39 page)

‘We’re going to be so late!’ Felipe groaned, but he was already pulling off his tee-shirt.

Half an hour later the couple were on their way to the beach. ‘You are so naughty, Charlie, we’ve kept everyone waiting,’ Felipe told her.

‘Yeah, but wasn’t it worth it?’

‘You know it was. I can never resist you.’

Six months on from their passionate reconciliation their relationship was stronger than ever. There was still the fact that they lived in two different countries, which made every moment they could spend together even more precious, and when the eventing season began again in February, Felipe would be travelling all over Europe to take part in competitions. But this part of his life was no longer closed off from her. Nowadays Charlie frequently went along with him and watched him compete. The therapy had helped to heal her. She was no longer paralysed by fear. There were still times when she could feel a panic attack looming or she had one of her nightmares, but she could deal with them. Therapy had given her the tools to work through her emotions and feel in control. She had even started riding again. Felipe had bought her a beautiful grey mare called Estrella.

‘About bloody time!’ Zoe called out. ‘I’m the only one who is allowed to be late around here.’ The group of friends were sitting under the shade of two large parasols.

‘Sorry, it was my fault, I overslept,’ Charlie said.

‘Yeah, right.’ Zoe’s raised eyebrow showed that she knew the real reason.

‘Well, you are here now and that’s all that matters,’ Luis put in, ever the peace-maker.

‘So what are we doing?’ Charlie asked.

But her question was answered when she noticed Captain Jack waving enthusiastically at them from his boat, moored further along the little wooden jetty. ‘Come aboard, my friends!’ he called out.

‘I’m staying here with Pia and Luis,’ Mariana said. She was wearing a white maxi-dress and motherhood had given her beauty an extra glow. ‘We’ll catch up with you later.’ She blew Felipe and Charlie a kiss. ‘I want to hear all about it – every single detail.’

It seemed an odd thing to say and it got odder when Luis hugged Felipe and said ‘
Buena suerte
’. Why was Luis wishing him good luck? They were only going on a boat trip, it was hardly
Mission: Impossible
! She was about to say as much when Felipe picked up the beach bags and began walking briskly towards the boat.

‘I knew I would see you two again!’ Captain Jack told them as he helped them aboard. ‘And I am never wrong about these things. Never.’ Clearly he hadn’t changed in the year since they had last seen him.

‘And here is beautiful Zoe with the boyfriend who forgot her birthday!’ he exclaimed, shaking them both warmly by the hand.

‘Oh, man, did you have to bring that up again?’ Nathan joked. ‘It cost me enough. And I’m not talking about the money, I’m talking about the emotional grief.’

‘Still got your balls though, haven’t you?’ Zoe put in cheekily. ‘Captain Jack said that his wife would have
lopped
his off and worn them as earrings if he’d forgotten her birthday!’

‘Zoe!’ Nathan muttered, shifting awkwardly in his seat. Captain Jack let out one of his trademark loud laughs.

‘It’s okay.’ Zoe linked her arm through his. ‘If you hadn’t forgotten my birthday then I never would have come on holiday here with Charlie and she would never have met Felipe. So we’re all pleased you forgot it.’ She paused. ‘That one time.’

Charlie squeezed Felipe’s hand – she didn’t like to think of their meeting being so random, so dependent on Nathan’s big mistake. And nor did Captain Jack as he declared, ‘Nonsense! These two were destined to be together, they would have met somehow.’

Felipe lightly kissed Charlie and whispered, ‘I believe that too.’

They motored along the coast and then dropped anchor at the idyllic bay where Charlie remembered swimming with the turtles on their last visit. ‘Brilliant!’ she exclaimed. ‘I really wanted to come here again.’ She stood up and stripped down to her bikini, all set to put on the snorkel mask and hit the water. She had turned her back on everyone to get changed and was suddenly aware that conversation had stopped.

‘Charlie, I’ve got something to say to you.’ It was Felipe speaking.

She turned round. He didn’t seem his usual confident self. What was going on? She looked across at Zoe and Nathan who were smiling.

‘You were right about us, Captain Jack,’ Felipe said. ‘I
love
this woman, more than anything in the world … more than life itself. And to prove it,’ he knelt down on one knee, ‘Charlie, will you marry me?’

She gazed at him. The man who was wrapped around her heart, the man she loved with every fibre of her being. There were still obstacles in their relationship – the question of where they were going to live and their respective careers. But this was not the time for any ifs, or buts, it was the time for one word.

‘Yes!’ Charlie exclaimed. ‘Oh, yes! I would love to marry you!’

Captain Jack couldn’t resist chipping in with, ‘I told you, I’m never wrong! Some people are just meant to be.’

Felipe stood up. He took Charlie in his arms and kissed her. ‘Yes, they are,’ he murmured, adding, ‘You don’t mind that we had an audience? It felt right to propose here.’

‘It was the perfect place,’ she told him.

‘Congratulations!’ Now Zoe and Nathan got in on the act and hugged and kissed the couple.

‘But haven’t you forgotten something, Felipe?’ Zoe said. And when he looked blank, she gestured at her ring finger.

‘Of course! The ring.’

Zoe turned to Nathan. ‘Just so you know for future reference, I want to see the ring before I give my answer.’

Everyone laughed, though knowing Zoe she probably wasn’t joking.

Charlie watched as Felipe took out a small red velvet case from his pocket and held it out to her. ‘It’s yes
whatever
the ring is like,’ she told him. Though she gasped when she snapped open the case and there was the most breathtaking ring she had ever seen – a dazzling emerald-cut diamond in a brilliant-cut diamond setting. It was beautiful and unique. Felipe slipped it on to her finger where it fitted perfectly and glittered extravagantly in the bright sunshine. Even Zoe was momentarily speechless. But then Captain Jack popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and poured out glasses for everyone.

‘When did you know you wanted to marry me?’ Charlie asked quietly, so that only Felipe could hear.

‘Two days after I met you. But you would have thought I was crazy, right?’

‘I think I felt the same.’

‘You
think!
’ Felipe exclaimed.

‘I
know
I did.’

‘Smile!’ Captain Jack ordered, ‘I need a picture for my album. This proves that I am never wrong. I might have to re-name this boat –
The Love Boat
.’

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Version 1.0

Epub ISBN 9781446494097

Published by Century 2012

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Copyright © Katie Price 2012; Rebecca Farnworth 2012

Katie Price and Rebecca Farnworth have asserted their right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the authors of this work.

This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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First published in Great Britain in 2012 by Century
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ISBN 978-1-846-05961-2 (HB)
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