Page 18 of Kissing in the Rain

“No,” he said sternly. “I’ll come around and unbuckleyou.”

He opened her door and took her hand, leading her up a hill. She could hear soft music playing in the background and the faint sound of the water lapping on the shore. They stopped walking, and Gabe turned her to facehim.

“There’s a chair behind you. I’m going to help yousit.”

“Okay.” With his hands bracing the sides of her arms, she sat back, feeling a table in front ofher.

“Careful there,” he said as he scooted herin.

“Now?” sheasked.

“Now.” He did the honors of removing the blindfoldhimself.

Jillian blinked and gasped at the scene. She was seated at a small table with candles at the center. The table was set up on a hill overlooking the water where dozens of boats were parading down the channel. The sun was setting behind them, making a mixture of orange and various shades of blue in the sky. “Tonight’s the holiday flotilla. I completelyforgot.”

Gabe sat across from her. “One of my favorite traditions of theseason.”

All the boats were strung with colorful lights that were mirrored on the dark water. “It’s so magical,” she said in awe. “I haven’t seen this since I was ateenager.”

“Abby catered our meal for this occasion,” he toldher.

Abby Sawyer was a member of Jillian’s book club. She was a world-renowned chef and one of the nicest people Jillianknew.

“This is the perfect way to spend our six-month anniversary,” she said, looking across the table at Gabe. “I loveit.”

“And I love you.” It wasn’t the first time he’d told her, but she never grew tired of hearing it. Or sayingit.

“I love youtoo.”

He leaned over and kissed her across the table, then he served their dinner. They ate as they watched the boats of Blushing Bay glide across the water. “Wait for it,” he said after amoment.

Jillian’s brows pinched softly. “Another surprise?” she asked as a couple of sailboats came into view. The first was lit up in bright reds. A large banner ran from the stern of the sailboat to the helm, with a spotlight illuminating the wordMARRY.

The second boat was lit in vibrant greens with a spotlight illuminating the wordME?

“Marry…me,” Jillian whispered. Then she gasped as Gabe dropped down on oneknee.

“That’s my line,” he teased, taking her hand in his. “But if youinsist.”

She laughed. This man was always making her laugh. And swoon. And cry in the best kind of way. She’d come to Blushing Bay hoping to feel something. Anything. And Gabe Sawyer made her feeleverything. “You make me happier than I’ve everbeen.”

He held up a box. “Then say yes and make me the happiest man in theworld.”

Jillian swallowed as she eyed the black velvet box. She should be terrified. She should run away from this table screaming because she’d been there and done that when it came to marriage. And it hadn’tworked.

She didn’t feel that way at all, though, staring into Gabe’s rich brown eyes. Instead, she felt alive with excitement, ready for this new adventure he was offering her. In fact, she couldn’t wait. “Yes,” she said, softly at first. “Yes, yes,yes!”

Gabe grinned and opened the box to reveal a ring with a beautiful pear-shaped diamond. It was simple andelegant.

“It’s gorgeous.” Her hand shook as he guided the ring down over herknuckle.

“A perfect fit,” he whispered before standing and pulling her against him. “Just likeus.”