Summer Love_ A Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology - Piper Rayne Page 0,190

reached for Quinn’s hand and walked her off the deck, across the dune, and back down to the sand.

Quinn laughed. “Did she just hit on you?”

“Yep.”

“That woman’s shameless.”

“I don’t want to talk about her.”

“Okay, what do you want to talk about?”

With the dune blocking their view of the party, he gently lifted the hair off her shoulders and smoothed it down her back. “Walk with me.”

“You don’t need to stay longer?”

“Nope. I showed my face.”

She squeezed his hand and brought it to her mouth for a kiss. “I’m the luckiest woman in the world, because I get to kiss that face every night before I go to bed and wake up to it first thing in the morning.”

“All right, now you’re just sucking up. What do you want?” Dusk fell on the beach, casting gray and purple shadows from the dunes.

Her laughter hit him like the first sip of champagne, the jolt of carbonation and the hit of loose-limbed relaxation. “I don’t want anything. I’m having the best trip ever. Today, I got to sleep in, order a room service feast, and take a long soak in Hermes bathing salts.”

One of the many things he loved about her was that no matter his wealth, she never got jaded. Staying in a nice hotel, going out to a fancy restaurant, everything was received with awe and gratitude.

“Plus, while you were in meetings, I got to wander through all the stores I’d researched before coming in. I couldn’t be happier.”

“I could be.”

She stopped, gazing up at him with concern. “What’s wrong? Didn’t your meetings go well?”

“They went great. But I’m tired, and I want to kick back and relax tonight.”

“Well, then, let’s go back to the city.”

“It’s too far.”

“What do mean it’s too far? You can relax in the car.”

“Nah. It’s a two-hour drive.”

“Okay, so, do you want me to see if I can find a place in the Hamptons? Or Montauk?”

“Nope. Let’s just sit on that deck.”

She turned to see what he was talking about, and he got to watch her expression as she took in the beachfront home sparkling with little white lights. “That’s beautiful. But, babe, someone lives there.”

Grasping her hand firmly, he walked toward the house.

“Either you’re pulling a prank on me or your ego has grown from all those big-ass contracts you’ve been looking at this week. If you think they’re going to let you in just because you’re Matteo Candella, then you can go by yourself. I’ll be on the next train back to the city.”

Just as she tried to pull her hand free, he scooped her up and broke out into a jog.

“Oh, my God, Matty, put me down. You’re crazy.”

He leapt up the stairs to the patio and set her on her feet. Music played quietly from outdoor speakers and windchimes tinkled in the steady breeze.

“We have to get out of here.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m hungry. Look at that.” He pointed to the table set with fine china and gleaming silver. “That looks good.”

“I’m mortified. We have to go.” She tilted her head. “Hey, I have those same slippers.”

“I know.”

“Wait a minute. Those are my pajamas.”

“Mmhm.”

When she whipped around to face him, he was on his knee.

Her hands flew up to cover her sexy mouth.

He tugged on her wrist. “Let me see you.”

“What’re you doing?” she whispered, voice rich with joy.

“I love you, Quinn Ellison. I’ve loved you for seven years, and I’m going to love you forever. I want to spend my life with you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring he’d bought in the West Village yesterday. “Even if you’re not ready right now, I want you to know that you’re the love of my life. I want to marry you and make a family with you.”

“Wait, so, it’s not an engagement ring?”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“What if I want it to be?”

Her smile split him wide open, and nothing but sunshine and happiness spilled out. “You serious? You’re gonna marry me?”

“There’s nothing I want more in the whole wide world.” She gazed down on him with so much love, the beauty of it almost knocked him sideways. “You’re the best man I’ve ever known, and I love you with everything I am. Matteo…” She pressed a hand to his cheek. “This is forever.”

Joy had him reaching for her hand and lifting it in the air. “She said yes! I can’t believe I got the girl.” No one was around to hear him, but he didn’t care.