LITMIR.BIZ

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I longed to spend more time just to get acquainted with this glorious place.”

      A few minutes later they undid the ropes and Antonio idled them out into the lagoon. He reached into one of the lockers. “Here—put this lifesaving belt on.” He handed it to her.

      “But the water isn’t that deep.”

      “It doesn’t matter. If we got into trouble, you’d be glad of it.”

      “I’ll wear it if you wear one too.”

      “Nag, nag.” But he smiled as he put one on.

      “Now that I think about it, can you imagine the media storm if we had an accident and word got out that the future king and queen of Halencia had almost drowned because they hadn’t been wearing preservers? People would wonder what kind of ruler they had.”

      He chuckled. “Point taken. It would never do.”

      Off Point Matira they came across a group of huge manta rays. There were spotted and gray rays. Antonio swam near their boat while they watched in fascination.

      “We should be marine biologists,” she exclaimed. “Just think, we could come out to places like this and spend all day long for weeks on end.”

      Antonio nodded. “Being out here, you can understand the appeal for that kind of work. Are you interested in watching the locals feed the sharks? We’re not far from there.”

      “I guess it’s safe or they wouldn’t advertise it, but I think I’ll want to stay in the boat.”

      He drove them to the spot where the local divers stood chest deep in the water. Four-and five-foot sharks circled around them to get their food.

      “That’s scary to me,” Christina said. “I’ve changed my mind about being a biologist.”

      “Instead you’d rather be in Kenya where you can be dragged off by a lion.”

      “No—” She grinned at him.

      For their last destination they took off and headed for the coral garden, an underwater park southwest of Bora Bora Island. For an hour they were spellbound by the amount of colorful fish and coral. Like an excited child she squealed over the varieties.

      “I’m going to take a quick dip before we head back.”

      Antonio couldn’t have stopped her. She was too anxious to get closer. Off came her belt and she lowered herself in the water. The sight of her going underwater made him nervous. He watched her like a hawk. To his relief she came back up a few minutes later, but she looked distressed.

      “I stepped on something, but I don’t know what.”

      Diavolo. “Does it sting?”

      “No. It’s just kind of sore on the pad of my foot.”

      Antonio leaned over and helped her into the boat. He set her down on the banquette so he could inspect it. “You made contact with a sea urchin, but luckily I only see two spines.” Thank heaven. “They’ll need to come out. Keep your leg on the banquette and I’ll get us back home.” He wrapped the life belt around her, kissed her lips and got behind the wheel.

      “Do you think it’s serious?”

      “No. I once got a whole foot full of them, but I was fine. Still, we’ll ask the doctor to check you.”

      “Oh no—I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

      “Accidents can happen anytime in the water, as you reminded me.”

      The sky was darkening fast. He was glad when they reached their island. After tying up the boat, he undid the life belts and carried her from the deck into their bedroom.

      After setting her down on top of the bed, he phoned Manu and asked for a doctor to come. “I’ll get you some ibuprofen after we’ve talked to the doctor.”

      “Will you carry me to the bathroom? I need to get out of my suit and into a robe.”

      “Of course.” He lifted her in his arms once more and let her hang on to him while he reached for her robe hanging on the door. “Can I help you?”

      “I’ll be all right.” He waited until she said she was ready, and then he carried her back to the bed. In another moment he heard Manu’s voice coming from the main entrance. “The doctor is here.”

      “Will you show him into the bedroom, Manu?”

      Within seconds the two men came in. “Princess Christina? This is Dr. Ulani.”

      He brought his bag with him. “Thank you for coming, Doctor. As you can see, my wife stepped on a sea urchin. She’s in pain.”

      “Hush, Antonio. It’s not that bad at all. More of a discomfort.”

      The native doctor smiled. “Accidents like this happen every day, even to someone like Your Highness. Let me check your foot. I’ll try not to add to your pain.”

      Antonio placed a chair for him to sit while he worked on her. Relieved as he was that she was getting medical attention, it suddenly hit him how frightened he’d been when she first surfaced. In very little time she’d become so important to him that he couldn’t bear the thought of anything truly serious being wrong with her.

      The doctor opened his bag and proceeded to get rid of the two spines. He put ointment on the sores and a dressing. “You’ll be fine tomorrow. Just make sure you wear some kind of shoe in the water if you’re not snorkeling with fins. I’ll give you a tablet for you to sleep that will kill the pain. Tomorrow if you’re still too sore, take some ibuprofen.”

      “Thank you so much. It feels better already.”

      “It’s a privilege to help you, Princess.” When he’d finished, he stood up. “Take care, now.”

      “I’ll make sure of it,” Antonio muttered. He shouldn’t have let her slip into the water like that. The action had caught him off guard.

      “Here’s the pill. Tomorrow you can take off the dressing.”

      Antonio walked him out to the living room. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am you came.”

      “It is my pleasure to wait on the future king and queen of Halencia. Our people are aware of your presence here and they are delighted. Don’t hesitate to get hold of me through Manu if you are alarmed by anything.”

      Manu stood by. “You want your dinner in the bedroom, Your Highness?”

      “Yes. Thank you. Will you bring a glass of water so she can take her medicine?”

      He nodded and hurried to the kitchen. Antonio headed back to the bedroom. “Christina? It’s my fault you got hurt this evening.”

      “Nonsense. I wasn’t thinking. When I saw those fish, I just had to get in closer.”

      “Please tell me you’ll give me a heads-up next time before you do a disappearing act.”

      His mermaid was resting against the headboard with a sore foot. “I’m sorry to be the one at fault for not having the sense to get in the water prepared. But, Antonio, you don’t have to try to be perfect with someone as imperfect as I am. I did a stupid thing, but the situation really is funny, don’t you think? Your parents planning for every contingency to bring us joy? And I blew it. At least for tonight. Now you have to give me my medicine and be stuck with your ball and chain until morning.”

      “Don’t say that! Not ever! I don’t feel that way about you and never could. Promise me!” He sounded truly upset.

      “I promise,” she said as Manu appeared with their dinner. Antonio thanked him and put the tray of food on the side of the bed next to her. He handed her the glass of water and the pill. “Take this first.”

      After she did his bidding, he sat in the chair the doctor had used and they ate their dinner. He

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