The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 99

The sun in Sunbay City was vicious; by nine in the morning, the glare was blinding.

A white speedboat was docked at the pier. The captain, a local, was helping Rhys load the equipment cases onto the deck.

Under the sunshade at the stern, Clara sat waiting.

She was wearing a black full-body wetsuit and sunglasses, her gaze fixed on the line where the ocean met the sky in the distance.

Rhys was checking the gear.

It was a professional habit; no matter what, he had to verify safety personally to be at ease. He tested both sets of regulators and checked the pressure in the tanks.

Rhys had also changed into professional diving gear. His wet hair was slicked back, revealing a broad forehead and sharp brow bone.

Without his strict uniform, he looked several years younger.

Check complete, he walked over carrying two pairs of fins.

"Try the size."

He handed her the pink pair. "Don't wait until we're underwater to find out they don't fit."

Clara said, "I want the white ones."

"The white ones are a bit too big, they'll slip off." Rhys squatted down, grabbing her ankle without room for argument. "You're used to this pair. Be good."

He was making decisions for her again.

Clara lowered her eyes, watching him bow his head to help her put on the fins.

He was always like this—obsessively attentive to insignificant details, as if that could cancel out his major failures of principle.

"I don't like pink anymore," Clara said. "It's childish."

Rhys didn't stop. He maneuvered her heel into the strap and patted her leg. "You chose these yourself. Didn't you like them back then? Make do for now, I'll buy you new ones next time."

Clara just uttered a flat "Oh."

"Done." Rhys let go, looking over his work with satisfaction. "Perfect fit."

He reached for her hand again, intending to help her put on her dive computer.

Clara reacted quickly this time, pulling her hand back and grabbing the watch buckle. "I'll do it myself."

Rhys's hand paused in mid-air. He sighed helplessly. "Stay close to me once we're down. Don't wander off. The current is strong today."

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