The bathroom door opened, and Selena walked out, wrapped only in a towel. Her wet hair hung down over her shoulders, and her skin glistened as the steam billowed out, all around her. Jace’s heart sped up as she crossed the room. Even after ten months of living together, watching Selena walk throughtheirbedroom still left him breathless. He was glad he had insisted on getting new furniture for the house she used to share with another man. Now this beautiful house on the beach felt like their home.
Selena walked straight for him, pressing her body up against his, and she tilted her head up for a kiss. Her lips were so warm and soft from the shower. He pulled her closer, and her kiss turned hungrier, so he stepped back until he found the bed.Their bed. She climbed onto his lap, straddling him, laughing. Could she feel the little square box in his pocket? If so, she didn’t let on.
“Do we have time for this? We can’t miss our plane.”
“Two hours before we are supposed to leave from here,” he mumbled, kissing her neck.
“We’ve have been known to spend more time than that in bed.” She found the hem of his shirt and slipped her hands under it.
True, but there was something else he wanted to do today before they left, something he had been waiting to do for a while. When he had moved into her house and they had started their lives together, the topic of marriage had come up more than once. Yes, that’s what she wanted, and he sure as hell did, too. But those discussions were more about the idea of getting married, not making plans. Was this too soon? Or was the timing perfect?
Today was the start of their holidays together. It was hard to take time off at the shop, but their lead technician was taking over for the next two weeks, and his father was well enough to run the business side. His family had wanted them home for Christmas celebrations, but they understood. He and Selena were getting their first stretch of time together, just for them. The first week in Mexico would be with her family, and the second one was alone on the beach. They’d be newly engaged…hopefully. If she said yes, they’d have two weeks together to celebrate. If she said no, well he’d worry about that when it happened.
Jace tried to slow the pounding of his heart as he gave her one more kiss. “So basically, we’ll be taking home an empty suitcase.”
She shook her head. “Not a chance. Everyone will have presents for us, too. Especially my parents.”
“I got your parents something, but my present doesn’t take up half the suitcase.”
She tickled him, and he fell back on to the bed, laughing, taking her with him.
Her parents hadn’t been at all surprised to hear that he and Selena had gotten back together. They had known how close Selena had come to staying behind with him. And part of him was glad they had pushed her to leave him behind, go to college, and pursue her own path. Especially now that he knew this path led back to him.
Jace was stalling. The ring was in his pocket, the one he had kept all these years in the box with her cards. He had considered getting a new one. Would a new ring be best for their new start? He certainly could afford a more expensive one now. But he’d decided that this second chance should be connected to the first time they fell in love. The truth was his feelings weren’t separate from the ones he had had in high school, but they had grown, changed. And these changes let their relationship develop into something new, something stronger.
Selena pulled back a little, her brow furrowed. “You have something on your mind?”
“Just you.”
He could hear how serious his voice sounded. Her eyes widened, and her movements slowed. The last time he had asked, he had taken her by surprise. Did she know it was coming this time? If she did, she wasn’t running away.
“You’re giving me a look,” she whispered, “and it’s not about having sex.”
He nodded solemnly. “You ready for it this time, Lee?”
She blinked her eyes, her dark lashes fluttering. “I am.” She lifted her hands to his biceps and squeezed. “You’re not just doing this for my parents’ sake, are you? So we can sleep in the same room when we get to Mexico?”
Jace’s eyes widened. Despite the heavy emotions swirling inside, he laughed. “Would they put us in separate rooms?” He took a moment to process that picture. Not quite the vacation he had imagined. One more reason to do this now.
She was still lying on top of him, so he shifted to his side, their legs tangled and her towel slipping open. And she was smiling, just for him. Jace swallowed.Focus. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the box.
“Selena, I loved you many years ago, and I love the woman you are today even more deeply. I want this to be forever. I don’t know where this journey will take us. If you decide you want to leave Sacred Harbor, we’ll figure that out. I’m willing to give you what you need to make this work, whatever that is, just like you’ve given me what I need this last year.” He took one more deep breath and then said the words. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes, Jace,” she said, kissing him. “Yes, yes, yes.”
Jace was shaking as he slipped on the ring, but her next kiss steadied him. It was slow and deep and full of certainty.
“Damn,” she whispered between kisses. “You waited long enough this time.”
He chuckled. “I was ready last December.”
“Me too. But if you had asked then, I would’ve wondered if it was the magic fruitcake talking.”
“I wouldn’t have wondered, but I’m pretty sure my family would've.” Jace tilted his head. “I still can’t believe you made your own version of that fruitcake and sent it to Drake’s work.”
A corner of her mouth quirked up mischievously. “Your brother is divorced and all alone in New York. When we went to see him, he seemed a little lonely.”
Jace rolled his eyes. “Yeah, all alone in his penthouse suite, rolling in his money.”
