Page 108 of After You Returned

“It’s not?”

“Nope.”

“What’s the surprise?”

“You’ll have to let me down so I can show you.”

He drops me to the ground. “Oof!”

“Oops.” He steadies me with his hands on my shoulders. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to drop you.”

He totally did. Miles is a little kid when it comes to surprises. His excitement pulses in the air. This is why I wanted to surprise him. Not because I need to do some grand gesture. But because it makes him happy and I want to make the man I love happy.

I hold out my hand. “Let’s go.”

He threads his fingers through mine. “Lead me away, Blaze.”

I giggle. “Where shall I lead you? To the haunted cave?”

He shivers. “Do not make fun. Smuggler’s Grotto is seriously haunted.”

“The only people haunting the grotto are your brothers.”

“No. I swear I heard Margaret Hale yelling at the pirate Black Jack.”

Of course, he did. Because his brothers made a spooky recording and played it in the grotto. But I don’t have time to argue about the Lover’s Curse now. We’re nearly upon the surf shack.

“Close your eyes.”

“If anyone kicks me in the balls while my eyes are closed, I’m exacting revenge.”

“Don’t be a baby. Close your eyes.”

I wait until his eyes are closed before continuing toward the shack. I stop a few feet away.

“Okay. You can open your eyes now.”

His eyes fly open and he scans the area. His brow wrinkles. “We’re at my surf shack.”

I motion to theMiles Beach Housesign. “Not your surf shack anymore.”

He steps closer. “This can’t be my beach house. I’m selling the shack. In fact, I got an offer yesterday.”

“Guess who made the offer?” I tap my chest.

“You made the offer? But why?”

I roll my eyes. “Duh. You love this shack. You were only selling it to prove to me you were serious about staying on the island.”

He scratches his beard. “Figured me out, did you?”

“Of course. I know you. I love you.”

“You love me?”

I can nod. I already said the words. He knows I love him. There’s no reason to be scared. And yet, my body is frozen in place.

He palms my neck and draws me near until his body heat surrounds me. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “There’s no reason to be frightened. I’ve got you, Blaze. I’m not going anywhere. You have my word. I’ve learned from my mistakes.I was a fool to not come running back to you the second after I returned from Hawaii. I don’t plan to spend another minute without you, let alone several years.”