“Yup, and I got my lobster roll all to myself.”
“Ha ha, funny guy.” I snickered, but scanned the sky, happy none of the scavenging white birds were anywhere in sight.
We stopped near the iconic Peggy’s Cove lighthouse, and I stepped forward and lifted my arms, tipping my chin toward the pale blue sky. The chill breeze swept around me, making me feel as if I was about to fly off the edge of the world.
“That’s close enough. It’s slippery,” Jake said, wrapping his arms around me from behind, “and I don’t want to lose you to a rogue wave. I only got you back.”
“You’ll keep me safe.” I crossed my hands over his, mesmerized by the flumes spraying high into the air as the ocean beat and churned against the wave-worn rocks only a few feet below. “The power of the ocean always amazes me.” As beautiful and captivating as the prismatic colours created by the arcs of water were, I knew better than to venture onto the black rocks.
The weathered plaque posted beside us on the side of the lighthouse issued a stern but much-needed warning: Injury and death have rewarded careless sight-seers here. The ocean and rocks are treacherous. Savour the sea from a distance.
“You’re as obsessed with the ocean as I am. That’s one of my favourite things about you.” Jake pressed his clean-shaven cheek to mine. “Some of our best memories happened right in this very spot.”
A melty, cozy feeling enveloped me, and we swayed together, a gentle connected motion. If only every day could feel this blissful, my heart full and content.
“Soon, we’ll stay at that bed and breakfast again. Remember that weekend?”
I bobbed my head. The weekend when we’d stood on these rocks, savouring the breezy summer evening, my heart racing as this man finally said those three magical words I’d been dying to hear. At the time, I’d thought hearing those words could never be sweeter, but I’d been proven wrong.
“That day I realized I’d love you forever.” He tightened his grip. “Today feels so right. So perfect.”
My mouth grew dry, my head tipping back against his chest as he kissed my temple and shifted, tucking something into my gloved hand.
Angling my head, I peered up at him. “What’s this?” I asked as he cupped my fingers in his palm and lifted. “Jake?” Now I stared at more sparkling prisms, these one’s coming from the ring nestled in the soft velvet of a black box.
“I love you, Mare,” he whispered. “Marry me.”
Chapter 24
My breath caught in my chest, the ocean swirling around me as I stared at the ring, my knees trembling, about to give out and leave me in a quivering heap on the icy rocks. Holy crap. The morning’s conversation with Tía flitted through my mind. Did she know he was about to propose? And where in the hell did he find the funds for the magnificent, sparkly rock sitting in my palm?
I blinked, sucking hard as chill air rasped down my throat, leaving me frozen and unable to utter a single word. In … one … two …
Slowly, the disembodied feeling lifted, replaced by the warmth of his arms, the gentle brush of his breath against my cheek, and the thundering beat of his heart. “It’s … wow.” I scrunched my eyes closed and reopened them, greeted by blurry glints and flashes.
“Too soon?” he said softly.
“No …” Who was I kidding? “Yes … maybe?”
“It’s okay, Mare. I’ll never give up on you, because you’re the one. You’ve always been the one, and you forever will be.”
Such certainty and tenderness, without a hint of doubt. “No.” I turned, resting my palm against his chest. “I mean, yes. Yes.”
The smile, hesitant at first, brightened, the adorable dimple in his right cheek showing itself. “Yes? As in … the yes?”
“Yes.”
Jake gazed at me steadily, catching the tip of my left glove, tugging at it until it slid free. “Just a second.” Closing his eyes, he exhaled a long breath. “Sorry. Don’t want this”—he waggled the box—“to end up in there.” He jutted his chin toward the frothing waves. Then he winked, his wicked grin shattering the tension. “Was that a forever yes?”
“It’s the forever and ever and ever yes. Hope you can handle it.”
“Yeah, I’ll manage.” He slipped the ring onto my finger, nodding. “What do you think?”
I wiggled my fingers. “It feel weird, but amazing. It’s just what I would have picked myself.”
The frown was fleeting, morphing immediately into a smile as he leaned in and capture my lips, laying a kiss on me that I wouldn’t soon forget. We lingered, kissing and cuddling as the light began to fade.
“Time to check in,” he said, finally.
“Check in?”
“I told you we’d stay at our B&B soon. Time to celebrate, without a toddler chaperone.” He slung an arm around me and steered me toward the boardwalk.
Now this I could get used to.
The next afternoon, Jake pulled into Dean and Dara’s driveway, nosing his SUV in close behind Marisol’s silver RAV4. He smiled and lifted our entwined hands, adjusting the sparkly rock on my ring finger.
Sharing a conspiratorial look with the man who, twenty-three hours ago, had become my fiancé, I asked, “Does Dean know about the ring?”
“Sure, but I swore him to secrecy. I love Dara, but that woman blabs.”
I burst out laughing. “That’s what I said about Dean.”
Jake chuckled. “I feel bad, making them keep secrets from each other. Maybe we should stop doing that, since it’s probably not good for their marriage.” He hit the hatch release. “Head in, I need something from the back. Just hold her off until I’m there to see how long it takes her to spot it.”
“Not long, I assure you.” I stepped onto the driveway, which was rapidly disappearing under a blanket of white.
Dean bounded through the front door as I reached the bottom of the steps. “I just shovelled, but looks like I need to go in for round three.” He held out a hand, steadying me
