Lighthouse Way (Huckleberry Bay 1)

I pay for the rings and understand immediately what Mr. Hart was talking about regarding the price, and then, rather than return to the garage, I walk over to Three Sisters and flag down Cordelia.

“I need a favor,” I begin.

“Tell me everything,” she says.

“No one else is here,” Luna says with a frown as we step inside Three Sisters Kitchen. “And it looks…different.”

Cordelia and her team came through for me big time with pretty little twinkle lights hung everywhere, flowers on our table, and the playlist I gave her softly drifting through the speakers.

It’s exactly as I pictured it in my head yesterday when I spoke with Cordelia about it.

“Good evening,” Darla says with a soft smile. “Please, follow me to your table.”

Luna raises a brow at me, but I just shrug and follow both ladies to the table by the window that gives us an excellent view of the ocean.

She gives us menus and then winks at me before walking away.

“What’s going on here?” Luna asks.

“We don’t get to have special date nights, not like we would if we lived in a city. So, I spoke with the girls here, and we put together something special.”

She’s quiet for a moment, just watching me, and then a smile slowly spreads over that gorgeous face. “That might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

Buckle up, baby, because it’s only going to get better.

She orders the salmon, and I opt for a steak.

She tells me about the tile she’s chosen for the backsplash in the B&B’s butler’s pantry and how each guest room will have its own theme, all nautical based but not gaudy with it.

“Every single bathroom will have a deep, soaking tub. And I think I want to have different scents made for each room to really give my guests a different experience with each suite so they want to return again and again but try a new space in the inn. What do you think of that?”

I take a bite of my steak and nod. “I love it. I think that’s a great idea. And like you said, it will entice people to come back.”

“June’s starting to move faster and faster with the build now, and I can finally see it starting to take shape. It’s exciting, you know? Of course, you know. You just built an incredible garage on steroids.”

I laugh and then reach for her hand, unable to keep myself from touching her.

“I do get it. And you should be excited, sweetheart. This is a very big deal, and I know it’s going to kick ass.”

“How is the garage doing?”

We settle into a nice conversation about work, the town, and people we know.

And when they take our clean plates away, and one of my favorite songs comes on, I take Luna’s hand and lead her to the middle of the floor. I pull her into my arms, and we start to sway. She rests her hand on my shoulder, and I tuck our linked hands against my chest. I can’t look away from her as we move slowly over the floor as the band in the speakers sings about tequila and flying over Colorado.

“This has been absolutely wonderful,” she says softly, her eyes moving to my lips. “Thank you for making me feel special.”

“You are special,” I whisper before kissing her forehead, and as I turn her gently in a circle, I glance over her head to where about six women are huddled in the kitchen, watching us with soft, dreamy eyes.

I wink at them, and Cordelia responds with a big thumbs up.

“How do you feel about chocolate cake and champagne?” I ask Luna.

“I have very strong feelings about both of them.”

“Oh?” I grin down at her. “And those feelings are?”

“Love. I’d say they land squarely in the love category.”

“Excellent.” Before we return to the table, I tip up her chin and take her lips with mine, softly. Sweetly. And with a slight nudge of my nose against hers, I lead her back to the table where the sweet dessert and bubbly wine are waiting for us.

I hold my glass up. “To the woman of my dreams. You’re incredible, Luna. I love you so much, it steals my breath away.”

Her mouth drops open. “What?”

“What part didn’t you understand?”

“You love me?”

“Of course, I do. Babe, I—” I pause, and it hits me then that I’ve never said that to her before. Jesus, I’ve felt it. Sometimes, it hits me so hard it almost sends me to my knees.

But I’ve never said the words.

“Christ, Luna, I’m sorry. I’m completely in love with you. Irreversibly.”

Tears fill her gorgeous brown eyes. “I love you, too.”

I hear a sigh come from the kitchen but choose to ignore it. At least I know I’m not completely fucking this up. Only sort of because I’m ready for marriage, and I haven’t even told her that I’m in love with her before this.