“You heard me. I don’t think I can handle all that wedding planning and stress again right now, and I don’t want to wait. Do you? If you do, I’ll cope with it, but I’m thinking impulsive is the way to go.”
She still looked a little shell-shocked. “You want to run off and get married in Hawaii?”
“You did say you wanted a destination wedding. If you’ll settle for the beach right here, we could probably go that route, too, then take off to any island of your choice for a honeymoon.”
He held his breath awaiting her reply.
“I’m thinking you’re crazy as a loon,” she said eventually. “We’ve hardly even dated. We’ve been thrown together by my sisters and my grandmother, but you’ve not once taken the initiative to ask me out. Not really.”
“We have slept together,” he reminded her.
“Definitely a consideration,” she agreed. Her gaze narrowed. “But maybe I need to be courted properly.”
Ethan studied her expression, thought he detected a twinkle in her eyes that contradicted her claim, but just the same he said, “If you want to be courted, I’ll give it a try, but I can’t promise I’ll live up to the romantic scenarios on those soaps you used to be on. I’m a fairly staid, unimaginative man.”
She grinned. “Come to think of it, those soap marriages inevitably led to disaster. Maybe you have the right idea about just taking a blind leap of faith, though it seems a little risky given how little I really know about you. I don’t even know if you squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle or leave your socks all over.”
“Yes, and no,” he said in response. “Is there anything about me you really need to know that someone in this town hasn’t already told you? I’m pretty sure my résumé was provided along with your invitation to be your sister’s maid of honor. Plus, according to several reports happily passed along to me, you’ve had a crush on me since high school. That must count for something.”
“I suppose,” she agreed with a hint of reluctance.
“What’s holding you back?”
“I like getting flowers for no reason,” she admitted. “And candy. I’m very fond of expensive chocolates. Those usually stop after the wedding, and with us, you haven’t yet sent any at all.”
“They’re yours, every week, if that’s what you want,” he assured her. “But marry me first.”
“Are you afraid you’ll get cold feet if we wait?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Are you worried I will?”
He shrugged as if that fear were of no consequence. “You say you always keep your promises. I trust you.”
“Then what’s the hurry?”
“It has recently been brought to my attention that I’m perceived as being slow and stodgy, at least in the romance department. I think my image needs an overhaul. Despite some unwelcome repercussions, that picture in the paper actually spiced up my image. If I throw in an impetuous, out-of-the-blue elopement, that could clinch the deal.”
“Is there some reason you’re suddenly so anxious for an image overhaul?”
“Yep. Without one, people will never believe I won a woman like you.”
She took a step closer, her gaze locking with his. “You won a woman like me by being the best man I’ve ever met, inside and out,” she said, her hand resting against his cheek. “And this weekend works for me.”
“What about your life in New York?”
“Over and done with, which you already know.”
“I like hearing it again and again. It’s reassuring,” he admitted.
“Then you should know that the only reason I’ll be going back to New York is to pick up my clothes,” she said. “Come to think of it, given that look in your eye, it could be a while before I need those.”
Ethan sighed, overwhelmed by the feeling of contentment that had stolen over him. He looked deep into her eyes and said the words that had frightened him not so long ago. “I love you, Samantha. I may not say the words enough, but I will show you each and every day.”
“You already have,” she assured him. “Now we’d better get in that van. The natives are getting restless, and I’m pretty sure Cass has texted pictures of us to everyone she knows. We could be destined to be front-page news again next week.”
“So what?” he murmured, catching her hand and pulling her back. “Ken can run the picture with the announcement of our wedding.”
“Our engagement,” she countered.
“Nope. We’re going for broke,” he told her. “Anything less is a deal-breaker.”
Surprise lit her eyes. “Boy, when you go all in, you really take it seriously, don’t you?”
“I hear it’s the only way. Now come over here.”
“We should get on the bus,” she argued. “Look at all those fascinated faces watching us.”
“They can wait,” he insisted, sealing his mouth over hers for a kiss that set his heart ablaze.
He’d been right about everything from the very first moment he’d set eyes on her, wearing his football jersey and nothing else. This woman was destined to turn his life upside down.
Amazingly, after all his worries that he’d never find the right match who’d love him for the man he was now, right this second there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he’d found a woman who’d give him a run for his money. And even more amazingly, he was absolutely convinced that he could keep up with her.
And if he couldn’t? Well, he knew with a hundred percent certainty that she’d be waiting for him right around the next bend in the road.
Epilogue
“Is everyone here insane?” Emily inquired, looking around at the small group assembled on the beach on Sea Glass Island, where for the moment the sun was sparkling on bits of sand-washed colored glass. “An evacuation order was issued an hour ago. There’s a hurricane on the way, people.”
“Then the minister needs to hurry up and get here,” Samantha said calmly, looking into Ethan’s eyes. “We are not budging from this spot until we’ve said our vows.”
As if to emphasize the imminent threat, the sun ducked behind a heavy, dark cloud, the wind
