Driftwood Bay (Hope Harbor #5) - Irene Hannon Page 0,106
that maybe the three of us should make a happy place together.”
“She’s a smart kid.”
“Yes, she is.”
“Are you telling me you agree with her?” His tone was cautious.
“Yes.” She watched an ember spark to life in the depths of his cobalt irises. “But while I agree with you that words are important, I do think they have to be backed up by action. Like this.” Jeannette leaned close and pressed her lips to his.
He was all in the instant he got over his shock, pulling her tight against his solid chest, one hand cupping her head.
Somewhere in the background, above the sound of the breaking surf and the caw of the gulls, she heard Toby’s happy yip of approval and Molly’s giggle.
But her focus was on the man expressing his pleasure at her decision in a most delightful fashion.
And Jeannette held nothing back as she responded to his kiss.
It was possible, of course, that somewhere along the way their paths would diverge. That her instincts could be wrong, and Logan and she weren’t destined to create the happy place together that Molly had mentioned.
Yet in the waning light of day, as the setting sun painted a glorious canvas on the western horizon, she was as certain as she could be that someday down the road, she’d look back at this moment with sweet remembrance as the start of something big.
Epilogue
“Sorry to leave?”
As her new husband crossed to the sliding door of their Kauai beach cottage, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and bent to nuzzle her neck, Jeannette sighed. “Yes—and if you keep that up, we’ll miss our plane.” She shimmied against him.
“You keep that up, I guarantee we’ll miss it.” His response came out in a low growl, suggesting he was only half kidding.
“In that case, I better stop—or we’ll have to forego phase two of our honeymoon.”
He groaned. “I’m not sure how I let you talk me into that plan.”
“Like you said that night on the beach in May, you’re a package deal—and I don’t want Molly to feel excluded right at the beginning of our new life together.”
“I think I’m regretting that comment.”
“That’s your hormones talking.”
He went back to nuzzling her neck. “Guilty as charged.”
“Hey—Disneyland will be fun. Think of it as an extended honeymoon.”
“With a five-year-old in tow?” He lifted his head and gave her a get-real look.
“Oh, I have a few ideas that could stimulate some romance. And since you splurged and booked us a two-bedroom suite, we’ll have plenty of alone time after Molly goes to sleep—which should be early after a full day at the park.”
He gave her a slow smile. “I like how you think, Mrs. West. Still . . . Disneyland won’t compare to this.” He swept a hand over the palm trees and blue horizon that dominated their view.
“I know. It’s hard to believe this is the same ocean we see at home every day, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” He shifted next to her, draping an arm around her shoulders. “Just shows how a different perspective can alter your view of the world.”
That was true—about many things.
Including love.
And in every case so far since she’d taken a leap of faith and dismantled the barricades around her heart, the view had been better.
“The current landscape is hard to beat.” She leaned against his solid strength.
“True. Sunny skies, tropical foliage, and warm sand between your toes aren’t too shabby on a December day.” He stole another kiss.
“I was speaking more broadly. Like the landscape of my life.”
“The landscape of my life has improved too. And this past week has been—” His voice rasped, and he traced the line of her jaw with a finger that didn’t feel quite steady, all traces of levity gone. “Being here alone with you has given me a glimpse of paradise.”
Jeannette’s vision misted, and she turned into his arms, resting her hands on his chest as she regarded him, this man who’d brightened her world with his kindness and understanding and integrity and trustworthiness. Who wasn’t afraid to show—and tell—her how he felt. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I meant every word.”
“I know you did—and I feel the same.”
He fingered a lock of her hair as two faint creases appeared on his brow. “You’ve made a huge number of changes because of me, though. You know I would have been happy to sell my place and move into your house. You didn’t have to upend that part of your life too.”