He could only hope that after today, there wouldn’t be any doubt.
* * *
When her feet finally landed on solid ground, Penny still felt weightless, as though she’d never returned from the clouds. She had no idea the planet looked like that—a stunning patchwork of God’s creation spread out before them like an inviting quilt. And to her astonishment, she hadn’t experienced an inkling of fear, only awe and wonder.
But the most euphoric part of the flight? The second they crested the rugged mountaintops and the breathtaking coastline came into view, its pristine shore presenting an arresting contrast to the hypnotic expanse of cerulean waters.
For several moments, she couldn’t move, lost in the bewitching beauty displayed before her. When Colt reached out and gently touched her forearm, she’d finally noticed the silent tears trailing down her cheeks. Entwining her fingers with his, she’d hoped the warmth and pressure of her palm would communicate the words her lips couldn’t.
Turning to him now, with the plane tethered to the tarmac, she couldn’t hold back her swelling emotions. Throwing her arms around his broad shoulders, she buried her face in his neck whispering, “Thank you, thank you,” over and over. Realizing her tears had dampened his T-shirt, she pulled away, wiping the moisture from her cheeks with the back of her hand.
“I take it you like the beach,” he murmured softly, the edges of his mouth curling into a tender smile.
“I’ve actually never been to the beach. But I’ve always wanted to. I… I can’t believe we’re here. Sort of.” She grinned, then hiccupped, sniffling as she glanced around the tiny, bare-bones airport. “I assume the beach is somewhere nearby.”
“It is, but…” He trailed off in confusion. “You’ve never been to the beach before?”
“No. Why? Is that strange? I suppose it is, since I live less than a day’s drive away. I’ve thought about going a hundred times, but something always got in the way.” If she were honest, ever since her father’s death, she’d never been brave enough to venture that far from home on her own.
“It’s not that.” He cleared his throat. “It’s just— Well, the photograph in your kitchen of the beach… your happy place. I assumed it was somewhere you’d been before.”
Her head jerked up in surprise. “When did you see that photo?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, a sheepish expression shadowing his features. “I wanted to take you to the beach for our first date, and when Bree told me about the photograph, it sounded perfect. So, I… stole a peek to look for an inscription. And sure enough, ‘Starcross Cove’ was scribbled on the back. I spent an entire day scouring the internet to find the exact beach, made a dozen or so phone calls, and… here we are.” A worry wrinkle appeared in his forehead. “I’m sorry if what I did crossed a line. It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable. And I promise, I went in and out of your apartment as quickly as possible. And I—”
Penny’s heartbeat thrummed so loud, the rest of Colt’s confession faded into the background. Overcome with emotion, she couldn’t breathe, let alone formulate a coherent response.
Colt had found the beach—herbeach. And he’d remembered the trick about the hidden inscription. Why hadn’t she ever thought to look for it? She supposed she took for granted that every photograph or painting procured by her father, he’d already checked.
Penny focused her gaze on Colt’s face, her pulse fluttering at the anxious glint in his eyes.
“Pen, I’m so sorry. I—”
Popping onto her tiptoes, she curtailed his apology with a heart-stopping kiss—the kind that left her knees weak and quivering.
He hadn’t just given her the perfect date. He’d given her the world. And it meant more to her than words could ever express. Hopefully, a kiss could come close.
When their lips finally parted, he released a deep and satisfied sigh, lightly resting his forehead against hers.
Brushing her fingertips across his left cheek, she murmured, “Let’s go see this beach.”
Chapter 23
As Penny dug her toes into the warm grains of sand, she was struck by an odd sensation, as though the sights and sounds were at once new and strangely familiar. Almost as if she knew the salty sea breeze would carry a hint of freshly baked sourdough. And the symphony of the seagulls and soothing whisper of the surf echoed through her like a childhood lullaby.
Her chest rising and falling with the graceful undulation of each wave, she struggled to gain a foothold in her surreal surroundings.
She was here, standing on her beach. It still didn’t seem possible.
The stately home on top of the hill looked exactly the same as the photograph, down to the white picket fence and pristine hedges. Her gaze traveled beyond the latched gate, along the meandering pathway to the shore until it fell upon a quilt draped across the sand. Anchored by a picnic basket and a colorful assortment of plastic buckets and shovels, it seemed to beckon her closer. Nearby, a circle of river rock formed a simple firepit, with a pile of driftwood waiting to be lit.
She turned to Colt, her eyes questioning.
“One of the calls I made yesterday was to the owner of that house.” He nodded toward the home that had occupied her youthful imagination. “It’s actually a women’s shelter. The owner was very gracious, and when I explained my request to spend a few hours on the beach, she was eager to help. All she asked in return was that I made a donation to the shelter.”
“That’s so kind,” she murmured, in complete awe.
“It turns out, this town has a bit of a reputation for bringing star-crossed lovers together,” he said with a playful grin.
