I fold my arms. “How did you afford that?”
He shrugs. “I had some investments that did well this year. Listen.” He takes my glass and sets it on the railing before grabbing my hands. “It’s too late for you to reject it. The paperwork is done. I signed my half over to you. I don’t need the money. All I ask is that you save a place for me in your bed and let me set up a desk in one of the rooms to work from when I’m not making sweet love to you on that new porch swing.”
“But—”
“No buts. Stop arguing with me and let me love you, woman.” He wraps his arms around me, pulling me in for a kiss.
His lips find mine. I sink into his kiss, tilting my head back. His mouth slants over me. His soft lips part so he can brush his tongue against mine. More tears leak out of my eyes. I’m bursting with so many feelings that I don’t even know how to begin processing them.
I pull back, searching his eyes. “Why? Why are you doing this?”
“Because I’m madly in love with you. I need to prove it to you, that you mean more to me than anything else.”
“I love you too, Dayton,” I whisper, crying harder now.
“Finally,” he says, groaning. “I’ve been waiting so damn long to hear those words from you.”
I laugh, kissing him again. “I’m sorry it took me so long to catch up.”
He nuzzles my neck, swaying us back and forth in tune with the music. “It’s okay. You caught up, and we’re here now. We’re together. This moment is more than I ever hoped to have with you.”
“Thank God you finally told her,” January calls up from below, apparently eavesdropping. “I was sick of holding on to that secret!”
“I didn’t even tell her,” he whispers into my ear.
I laugh, leaning into him. I close my eyes, feeling more content and at peace than I have in years.
“Does this mean I always have to answer your phone calls now?”
“Yes.”
epilogue
Thirteen Months Later
dayton
The private hot-air-balloon-ride guide told us to get to the pickup spot an hour before sunrise. We’re here, watching them light the fire inside the balloon. She’s squeezing my hand so tight. The ring is tucked safely in the front pocket of my safari shirt, but I didn’t bring the box because I knew she’d be able to see it.
“I’m shaking. I can’t believe it’s finally happening,” she whispers.
I bought these tickets the day after I mentioned it to Summer at Hidden Cove over a year ago.
I’ve had the ring since the week after we moved into the beach house. I’ve almost dropped down to one knee and asked her the question so many times, but I want it to be perfect. I want her to remember it forever.
She’d forgotten about us talking about this trip until I surprised her with the plane tickets.
“Are you feeling okay?” I ask her.
She was feeling motion sickness in the car on the way here and almost threwup, which isn’t like her.
She nods. “I’m okay now. I think the Dramamine is helping.”
“Okay, it’s ready.” Our guide, Felix, motions for us to come over to the basket.
We walk up inside. This one can hold up to ten people, but it’s just us and him. He doubles as a photographer with a camera around his neck.
“We won’t see much until the sky lightens up, but now is the best time to go up there and get ready for when the animals start moving just before dawn.”
