Beautiful Illusion by Jacquie Underdown

Author:Jacquie Underdown [Underdown, Jacquie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: sweet
Publisher: Escape Publishing - Harlequin Enterprises Pty Ltd, Australia
Published: 2013-09-30T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The drive back to Brisbane was emotionally lighter than the one the night before to Kerri and Jack’s property. We had decided on a relaxing day together, grabbing a bite to eat at a local restaurant. Brennan parked at one of the many packed car parks in the city.

“Do you have any restaurants in mind?” he said, taking my hand as we rode the elevator to the ground level.

“I do have one in mind, but we’ll need to catch the ferry up there. It’s in Hamilton.”

“I’m up for a romantic boat ride along the river,” he said, grinning.

I couldn’t stop my smile. “The only issue is, it’s quite expensive.”

He scoffed and shook his head. “And that’s an issue because?”

I squirmed, trying to figure how best to phrase my response diplomatically. “Because, you know, you’re on a teacher’s wage and all. I know how underpaid you wonderful people are.”

He extended his arm around my shoulders. “It’s lovely of you to think of me and my financial situation, but I assure you, one fancy lunch is not going to break the budget.”

We strolled to the jetty and boarded the ferry. We occupied a seat at the front end of the boat in the fresh air. The boat cruised along the still, brown waters of the Brisbane River, past the tightly-packed high-rises of the sprawling city that flanked the banks.

I pointed. “See that building just there?” Brennan looked up to the thirty-storey, blue-glassed building, and nodded.

“See the balcony five floors from the top on the very left side?”

“Yep.”

“That’s where I used to live.”

His eyebrows rose. “Your life has taken a very different turn, hasn’t it?”

I nodded. “I’m now out in the suburbs, renting an apartment from the mid-eighties, with a job that barely pays fifty thousand a year.”

“Do you miss it at all?”

I shrugged, unsure of what—if anything—I missed about that life that seemed a thousand years behind me now. Finally I said, “I miss the view from my apartment. But everything else is just material. It’s easy and it’s comfortable and it’s fun being able to shop and travel and have nice things, but it doesn’t necessarily bring happiness.”

“You sure about that?” he said.

I kissed him gently on the lips. “I would take a day with you over a thousand days of living that life again.”

“What if you could live that type of life with me? Hypothetically, of course.”

I thought for a short moment. “Well, that changes things.”

“It does?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I would take any life, if you were by my side.”

He kissed me on the cheek and pulled me closer. “Me too.”

***

At the restaurant, we sat at a table near windows that offered views of the harbour and city. Brennan leant over the elegantly dressed table and kissed me. He held his lips against mine, then whispered, “I love you, Leah, with all my heart.”

My throat felt tight as tears threatened to betray my calm. “I love you too.”

He smiled a generous heartfelt smile, wide as his face.

We ordered and had our glasses filled with wine.

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