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The smile that bloomed across his face reached deep into his eyes, creating those corner crinkles he got when he was happy and enthusiastic about something. Two quick strides brought him around the island to my side. “This is beyond amazing—professionally and…” His fingers threaded through mine, his palm warm against my hand. “Personally.”

“I’m glad you think so.” Electricity zinged through my veins, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“Absolutely I do.” His hand squeezed mine, his thumb tracing hypnotic circles across my knuckles. “Tell me more about it. It seems very out of the blue. And does this mean you’re getting the award?”

“Not really.” I took a drink since I was no longer nervous about his reaction. “Stella’s on the judging committee for the Freedom to Read Award and when she read the packet on what we’d done here, she was impressed that our smaller library had done so much.” Ethan beamed at me as he listened. “Beyond that, the efforts in helping other libraries who want to do something similar caught her attention. She wants me to come there and help the LAoA make it a replicable program for libraries of all sizes. As for the award, this has no bearing on that. It won’t be announced until August.”

“I’m so proud of you.” He kissed me again. “And to have you in Seattle so we can be in the same city to date and be a couple—as a superstitious hockey player, I very much believe it’s a sign.”

“Superstitious? You? I can’t picture that.”

“You haven’t seen my game prep. The things involved and the order matters.”

“I can’t wait to see.”

Ethan raised his glass. “Cheers. And congrats again.”

I clinked my glass to his and we both drank.

“So since we had our conversation about possibilities, the future is something I’ve been fixated on.”

My pulse stuttered. “How so?”

“Let me show you.”

I couldn’t imagine what Ethan had been doing to have something to show. He guided me toward the dining room, his hand warm around mine. Across the polished table stretched several sheets of paper taped together into one large document. There were several cut-out squares too.

As we approached, the aerial photographs of his property came into focus, overlaid with careful drawings and block letter annotations.

“After sorting through all the boxes, inspiration struck.” Uncertainty threaded through his voice. “Your camp idea has rolled around in my head endlessly.”

“This is…” Words failed as understanding dawned.

“Overstepping?” His fingers tightened around mine. “This was your project, after all.”

“God, no. The opposite—you’ve given hours to something that matters so much to me.” The renderings blurred as tears welled. “Tell me about this.”

Ethan’s hands danced across the drawings, enthusiasm building with each explanation. “The pond is perfect for summer activities—swimming, canoeing, maybe even fishing. If there’s actually fish in there. I’m not sure there is.”

His fingers raked through his hair, mussing it endearingly, dropping those adorable strands over his forehead.

“Here, cabins arranged in a semicircle create community. And this area”—his fingertip traced over careful lines—“becomes the center of it all: dining hall, performance space, gathering spot for everyone.”

Nothing had been overlooked. He’d marked trails winding through woods. There were nooks sketched in that were close enough to the buildings but far enough away for small group activities. Each element had been carefully considered and placed.

“And this?” My finger hovered over a wooded area marked only with gentle shading.

“Room to grow?” A self-deprecating shrug lifted his shoulders. “These are just starting points. Your youth program expertise combined with the sports connections Liam and I have plus the artists in town…” His voice trailed off as he studied my reaction, vulnerability naked in his expression.

Something cracked open inside my chest. Ethan had transformed my dream into a potential reality. More significantly, he’d placed himself within that vision, building it alongside me. “I can’t believe you did all this,” I said as emotion strangled my voice.

A shy smile curved his lips as his hand settled against the small of my back, warm and steadying.

I pivoted toward him, heart overflowing at the magnitude of his gesture. My hands rose to frame his face, drawing him to me until our lips met.

The kiss began as gratitude—a wordless thank you—but transformed into hunger as Ethan pulled me against his chest. His hands slid up my back while mine gripped his shoulders. The blueprints of our potential future lay forgotten as we rediscovered each other. The solid press of his body against mine filled me with contentment and longing for more of him.

When we separated, Ethan rested his forehead against mine. Vulnerability shimmered in his eyes, turning them the deepest of blue. “The plans meet with your approval, then?”