Under the Boardwalk (Costas Sisters 1)

What did she want from him? “I’m thrilled that your family has you back. I am. But I can’t exactly say I’m overjoyed I’ll have to run into you when I come to visit Sam.”

Without warning, Ari burst out laughing. “Oh, Quinn, I’m sorry. I just replayed that whole conversation in my head and in all my soul-baring I forgot the most important thing.” Her expression sobered, her eyes grew wide and imploring.

He almost allowed himself to hope, but that flame had already been extinguished.

“I love you. Whether or not I blew my chances with you, I’m coming home to stay. But you have to know that I do love you. I may have spent my life running away from everything that was good, but I’m stopping here. Now. And I want to walk out of this frozen snack shop knowing I’m heading toward a future. With you.”

Quinn felt as if time had stopped. He’d given up hope and stopped believing. Even when she said she was staying, a part of him clung to the past and the little boy who felt he didn’t deserve the family all the other, good kids had. He was certain Ari was letting him know that although she’d be in town, they wouldn’t be together. He couldn’t allow himself to think she’d want him and to suffer the unbelievable pain she’d inflicted the first time she’d walked away.

Until now. Until she said those three words that nobody in his life had ever said to him. Ever.

He pulled her close. “Do you mean it?” He asked because he had to, but he already knew. He felt the warmth, the caring, the love he knew had always been there between them. She’d dug deep enough to cause herself inner pain and had come out the other side whole.

She nodded. “I mean it. I love you with every fiber of my being. And though I wouldn’t blame you if you turned and walked away, I wouldn’t let you. I’d just have to tackle you on the beach and take your breath away. Like you did to me that first time. Like I want you to do to me now.”

Quinn was only too happy to oblige. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her like there was no tomorrow.

Ari threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled him close, although with the barrier of clothing, she couldn’t satisfy the desire to feel skin against skin and lose herself in him.

But that was okay for now. They had all the time in the world together. And only the rest of their lives would do.

Epilogue

The Islet Pier News

Monkey Business Disrupts Broadway Premier

The much anticipated Broadway premier of Doctor Dolittle, starring hometown heroine Spank Costas, a monkey of questionable family lineage, was marred by rude gestures and crude remarks. The histrionics didn’t come from a boorish audience member but from the star of the show when a cast member forgot to empty his pockets. The actor did a handstand and a penny fell to the floor on the stage. In turn, the monkey dropped her pants and mooned the shocked audience. “Learned behavior is easier to teach than to unteach,” said her trainer, the reputable Michael Peters, who blamed her previous owners for the night’s catastrophe. The play was postponed indefinitely.