“Don’t you realize by now?” He reached out, his calloused fingertips grazing her cheek. “I love you, Amanda Kingston. I’m hopelessly in love with you. I don’t want to spend another minute apart from you.”
She sat there stunned, his words rendering her momentarily speechless. “You… love me?”
“Very much.”
“I love you too.” The words spilled out as she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his neck, her tears falling on his skin.
He reached down and wiped her tears away. “So… you’re all in on this?”
“I’m all in. I’ve never been more all in on anything in my life.” She sat back. “Only we have a problem.”
“What’s that?” He narrowed his eyes warily.
“I don’t want to live in New York. Not anymore.” The realization had been brewing within her for weeks now.
“You don’t?” His eyes widened. “But I thought?—”
She shook her head, cutting him off gently. “Yeah, I thought so too. But I don’t want to live here anymore. I do have to finish up my work on the gala. I’ve already committed to that. But there is too much noise and commotion and constant demands here. Once I saw how life could be on Magnolia Key, I wanted that for me. I crave it.”
“You do? But your business?”
“There are events everywhere, not just in New York. And I’ve actually had a competitor reach out to me, wanting to buy into my business. It would be a good way to transition out of it. I’d have to make some trips back here to New York, but I’d mostly work remotely.”
“I could come with you and check on my work in the galleries here.” A wide smile spread across his face. “I think we could make this work.”
“And there are other ways I can use my skills to help raise funds for research for Alzheimer’s.”
“You’d really be happy living in Magnolia?”
“I would. I know I would.” She’d never been more certain of anything in her life.
“I have to admit, I’m kind of glad I don’t have to move back here to this concrete jungle.” He chuckled, his eyes twinkling.
“And I’m kind of glad I don’t have to stay here anymore.”
“Come home as soon as you can, will you?”
“I will. I promise.” She curled up in his arms, right where she belonged.
CHAPTER 29
Connor made frequent trips to New York to visit Amanda, and then she moved back to Magnolia as soon as the gala finished. Brooklyn and Megan were at his cottage when she arrived, and Brooklyn launched herself into her arms. “You’re back. And you’re lucky. Uncle Connor said you get to live here forever.”
“I do. I just need to find a place to live. Luckily, I got the cottage next door to live in for the next month. That will give me time to find a place.”
Megan hugged her. “Welcome home.” She looked over at Connor. “You’ve made my brother a very happy man.”
Her gaze met Connor’s. “He makes me happy too.”
“Okay, it’s my turn now.” Connor winked. He came over and wrapped her in a hug, kissing her thoroughly. Brooklyn’s exaggerated groan made Amanda laugh as she pulled away.
“Ugh, Uncle Connor. Are you going to start kissing her all the time now?”
“I plan to, Princess. I plan to.” He grinned, his eyes twinkling with unabashed happiness.
“I’ve got no complaints.” She smiled up at him.
She felt a profound sense of belonging as they all sat down for dinner. For the first time in a very long time, she felt like she was sitting down for a family meal. Megan and Connor’s playful banter filled the air, their sibling rapport evident in the way they teased each other with effortless ease. Brooklyn entertained them with wild stories about how she wanted to ride a sea horse.
