The pier was crowded today, not surprising for a Saturday in June, but he found Ashley with no problem about five slips down. She was standing near a sleek black-and-white motor yacht chatting with her cousin Spencer.
When she saw him approach, she grinned. “Hey!” Her tan had deepened with the days of summer, her hair turned even lighter. But the most beautiful thing about her was the weight that no longer dragged her shoulders down. Smiles had always come frequently for Ashley, but the one she zinged at him today was carefree and filled with joy.
He loved seeing her this way. He loved her.
“Hey, yourself.” Derek caught her around the waist and kissed her. How quickly that had become second nature—and he was the lucky guy who would get to kiss her every day for the rest of his life.
A throat cleared and Derek looked up. Oh yeah. Spencer. One hand still tucked around Ashley, he reached out the other. “Hey, man. Shouldn’t you be preparing for a sermon or something?” He grinned at his future cousin-in-law, who looked a lot more like a football linebacker than a pastor.
Spencer chuckled as he shook Derek’s hand. “Got that done earlier this week, man. Today I get the privilege of motoring you guys around.”
“You know how to drive that thing?”
Ashley tapped Derek’s chest. “Of course he does. It’s his brother’s boat. And their dad made sure all of his kids—as well as us cousins—learned how to drive a boat too.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Really? What other secret talents are you hiding from your fiancé?”
“Guess you’ll have to discover them as we grow old and gray together.” Ashley reclaimed her spot in his full embrace, and he couldn’t help but steal another kiss. Or two.
Fine, three.
Yeah, he could definitely get used to this.
His ears filled with Spencer’s laugh again. Derek groaned and dragged his mouth away, looking askance at the pastor. “Sorry not sorry, dude. You had to know what you were signing up for when you agreed to tag along.”
“Oh, I knew exactly what I was signing up for.” The man’s blue eyes twinkled like he was Saint Nick. Then he turned and climbed onto the boat.
Derek returned his attention to the future Mrs. Campbell. “So where are we off to today?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out. But I promise it’ll be memorable.”
“With you, it always is.”
He helped her onto the boat, which featured a pilothouse with large swing-bi-fold doors, an L-shaped settee, an inlaid table, and a two-person love seat. The transom featured fixed seating for enjoying the ride outdoors, which is where Ashley parked them both.
With Spencer shut away inside, the boat rumbled to life and pulled away from the marina. Salt spray skimmed Derek’s cheeks as he held Ashley against his chest and enjoyed the sun on his face. Out here, the troubles with the vineyard—which were still a struggle, though he and Dad had made some headway on their goals—seemed far away.
His fingers fiddled with Ashley’s white T-shirt, which fell off her shoulder, revealing the strap of her red bathing suit underneath. If he knew her, she’d be in the water as soon as Spencer found a good place to anchor for a bit.
They stayed like that for a long while, her breathing so steady and her so still, she must have fallen asleep.
At last, the boat came to a stop, and Derek peeked over the side. Land was just a tiny blip on the horizon. Out here in the middle of the ocean, it was just him, Ashley, and the waves.
Well, and Spencer, but he could forgive the man his intrusion since he’d given up his Saturday to chauffeur them around.
Ashley stirred in his arms. Poor woman was exhausted, and no wonder, with all the prep she’d been doing for Ben and Bella’s wedding.
Derek leaned forward, feathering a kiss against her forehead. “Rise and shine, beautiful.” He hated to wake her, but she probably had their whole day planned and would be upset if she missed it.
She arched her back slightly, turning in his arms and tucking hers around his torso. “Hmm.” Her sweet murmur flooded him with warmth. Soon—though not soon enough—he would get to wake up next to this woman every day.
Man, he was way luckier than he deserved.
Spencer opened the door to the pilothouse, stretching his bulky arms over his head. “She asleep?”
“Yeah.”
They chatted for a bit about life and the upcoming reunion, and eventually their discussion roused Ashley. She sat up straight. “Derek Campbell, did you let me fall asleep?”
“You looked so peaceful.”
“What time is it?” She glanced at the clock above the pilothouse. “Yikes. We’re running late.”
“Late for what? Our date with the fish?” Derek poked her in the ribs.
Spencer leaned against the boat rail, a knowing smile on his face.
Shaking free of Derek’s hold, Ashley stood, her cheeks rosy as she leaned down and pressed her lips to his. “I’m going to the restroom to freshen up, and when I get back, you’d better be ready.”
“To do what?”
“You’ll see.” And then in a flash, she disappeared down the stairs next to the cockpit.
His attention fixed on Spencer, Derek pointed in the direction she’d gone. “You know what that’s about?”
Ashley’s cousin just grinned and pulled a water bottle from the cooler hidden inside the bench seat next to Derek. “You don’t really think I’m going to give away her secrets, do you?” He tossed the bottle to Derek, who caught it with one hand.
The sudden chill tingled his fingertips. “Guess not.” He took a swig from the bottle and shot the breeze with Spencer for what seemed like an hour. What was Ashley doing
