I mimed zipping my lips. I’d already told Allie about the baby—albeit accidentally. I wasn’t going to tell anyone else until I’d had a chance to talk to Frasier first.
“Aw. No fun.” Georgia pouted. “But fine. I understand. How can I help?”
“Can you drop me at my house?”
I needed to pick up a few things—some I had, some that I’d ordered. And I needed to do that and make it to Frasier’s condo in LA traffic before he finished practice. I glanced at the darkening sky, trying not to stress about how long it was going to take to get there.
“Of course.”
Georgia and I chatted during the drive—about the season, about my visit to Boston, about everything and nothing. Whenshe pulled up to my house, she shut off the engine and walked with me to the gate that led to the backyard.
“Thanks again for the ride,” I said, hugging her. “I would invite you in, but?—”
“I know. I know.” She grinned, backing toward her car. “Surprises and all that. Let’s do something together soon,” she called as she waved goodbye.
I nodded then turned to the gate, releasing the latch. The string lights were on, but that wasn’t unusual since I had them set on a timer. I took the path that led down the side of the house, annoyed every time my bag got stuck between the large pavestones. But when I rounded the corner, I dropped the handle to my bag, my jaw following suit.
Frasier was standing in the middle of my backyard, but it had been transformed. I didn’t know where to look first. At him—standing there with a warm smile and a question in his eyes. Or at the yard, which had become something else entirely.
As much as I wanted to go to him, touch him, I remained rooted to the spot. He looked so handsome, and he was wearing the outfit he’d had on the night of the beach bar bachelor/bachelorette party. The night of truth or dare. The night of our first kiss.
Beside him was a pergola with lanterns hanging down from the crossbeams. Three sides were draped in gauzy curtains that flowed gently in the breeze. And my eyes snagged on the bed nestled underneath. It all looked so inviting.
The sound of a wave crashing drew my attention to the large screen, where the projector displayed a video of the beach. “What is all this?” I smiled, completely blown away.
“Welcome,” Frasier said, closing the distance between us, “to Anguilla.”
So much for the surprise I’d planned for him.
I laughed, completely in awe of this man and everything he’d done. “I love it.” I wrapped my arms around him, and he held me tight. My entire body relaxed in his hold, knowing that I was safe and cherished.
“I’m glad.” He released me and held out his hand, a sheepish smile playing at his lips. I placed mine in his, allowing him to lead me over to the bistro table we often ate at.
Together, I reminded myself, despite my trepidation over the conversation I knew we needed to have.
“Does this mean we’re going to play truth or dare?” I teased, wanting to live in this magical world he’d created for a while longer.
His eyes heated. “If you want. But first, how about some dinner?”
I nodded, not even sure what to say. How was he so perfect?
Okay. Not perfect. Nobody was perfect. But Frasier was pretty damn close.
He pulled out my chair, waiting for me to be seated. And then he leaned in, pressing a kiss to my temple.I adore you.
“Be right back.”
He grabbed my suitcase and carry-on bag and took them inside. A minute later, he returned with two drinks that looked suspiciously like the ones we’d been served at the beach bar—rum punch.
Oh shit.
“Here, angel.” He handed me a glass. “I know we’ve both been busy and stressed lately. As silly as it sounds, I kept thinking—I wish we could just go back to Anguilla. Back to when everything was fun and easy, and we got to spend all our time together.”
I held out my hand, and he placed his in mine. “I absolutely love it. Thank you.”
“So…” He lifted his glass. “To Anguilla.”
What the heck was I supposed to do? I couldn’t drink alcohol, but I didn’t want to just blurt out the news now. I wanted to apologize and explain what I’d been feeling, resolve things with Frasier before I told him about the baby. I didn’t want to have anything hanging between us when I delivered that news. But if I didn’t drink after the toast, Frasier might think I didn’t share his sentiment.
