The Summer of Us (Mission Cove 1)

“You-you’d be okay with that? So close to Mission Cove?”

He sighed. “I don’t mind being close to Mission Cove, I simply don’t want to live in it. I figured it was a compromise. I wouldn’t be right there all the time, but it’s only a six-or seven-minute drive to the bakery for you.”

“You don’t mind it, then? That I still would want to work?”

He gaped at me. “I don’t want to own you, Sunny. I want you to be your own person. I know what the bakery means to you. I support you one hundred percent. But one day, if you decided not to work, to sell the bakery or keep it and let someone else run it, great. Whatever you want to do. As long as you do it with me beside you.”

I looked at the beautiful gift he was offering me. A life with him in this gorgeous house he had helped design. I could see how much care had gone into the details and how much this meant to him.

A memory stirred. My younger self, staring at Linc, knowing deep in my heart that we were meant to be. That the boy I loved would be the man I grew old with. I had thought that dream was gone, but it was real and it was right in front of me. I wasn’t letting it go this time.

“I love it,” I told him. “I don’t want to change a thing about it.”

His eyes lit up. “Yeah?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

He hesitated. “I have two more things to show you, Sunny.”

“I’m not sure how much more I can take.”

“These are much smaller. But important.” He tapped another building adjacent to the house. “This is the garage.” He lifted off the roof, revealing two small model cars. He lifted out the charcoal-gray Mercedes. “This is mine.”

I chuckled, the sound dying in my throat as I saw the vehicle left in the model garage. A bright copper-colored SUV. One I had seen very recently—right outside this tent. He lifted it up, holding it out to me on his palm. “Yours.”

I blinked. Looked at him. Turned my head in the direction I knew the SUV was sitting right now. Blinked again.

Was he serious?

He took my hand, leading me outside. Under the moonlight, the vehicle glowed, the sparkle in the paint bright. Linc opened the door, and I slid behind the wheel, shocked into silence. I ran my hand along the leather of the steering wheel. Touched the smooth dashboard. I had never owned a new car before. I drove Uncle Pete’s car in Nova Scotia and all the way here. When it died, I went back to walking. The van I utilized for the bakery was old and used, but it was all I could afford.

This one was so pretty.

“Put your foot on the brake and press the start button.”

The engine roared to life, the dashboard lighting up, buttons and knobs appearing in the dimness of the interior.

“My own little truck.”

Linc chuckled. “SUV.”

“Linc,” I whispered. “I can’t take this all in. I don’t know what to say.”

“It’s all yours, Sunny. All of it. The house, the SUV, my heart, and my love. The only word you have to say is yes.”

I glanced toward him, wondering why his voice had changed. As if he had moved.

He had.

He was on one knee, holding up a tiny square package. “One last box to open tonight,” he said. “One last surprise.”

Tears sprang to my eyes. He warned me he’d be doing this big. I’d had no idea how big.

“Marry me, Sunny. Live with me here and make a lifetime of memories with me. Give me what I want more than anything in the world. The right to call you mine. Please.”

There was no hesitation. Without a thought, I flung myself from the little truck and into his arms. We fell back onto the damp earth, landing with a dull thump as I knocked the breath out of him, pressing hundreds of kisses to his face.

“Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, Linc.”

He laughed into the open sky, wrapping his arms around me. He let me prattle on, probably because he was too shocked, or perhaps winded, to move.

Then he kissed me.LincI lay on the soft, damp earth, my arms around Sunny. She babbled, laughing and crying at the same time over her pretty little truck, getting married, the house. All of it. I finally caught my breath, not having anticipated the lunge, and lifted her still-talking-mouth to mine and kissed her.

That shut her up.

I managed to get to my feet, still holding her, our mouths locked together. Blindly, I reached inside the vehicle and pressed the ignition, shutting off the SUV. I strode to the tent, setting her on her feet, and pulled away. She growled in frustration, reaching out for me, but I grabbed her hands, kissing them. “No, Sunny.” I shook my head in amusement. “You haven’t even looked at your ring.”