“
In the last few months,” he said, “I’ve lost my whole world and gained it back again. The most important thing to me out of all of it—everything I’ve lost and everything I’ve gained—is you.” She blinked at him with wonder. “I love you,” he said. “I will love you until the day I die. No looking back. No changing my course.” Joy gusted within her. “I love you, too. I will love you until the day I die. No looking back. No changing my course.” His features smoothed with astonishment. “I've been trying to think of a way to say that to you,” she continued, “that was either grand and imaginative or heartfelt and real. But there’s no better way to say that than how you just said it to me. So I’m riding your coattails.” “I want to marry you,” he said bluntly. Then hurried to add, “But I realize you’re nowhere near ready for that, so I’ll wait and maybe one day you’ll say yes. On that day, I’ll have a ring and a better speech.” “This speech isn’t terrible.” “I’ll go to Islehaven to be near you and sleep on Leigh’s torture mattress.” “You’ll live there without a grocery store or a decent road?” “For you, yes.” “And I’ll expand my horizons,” she said. “Maybe one day we can live at least part of the time at Appleton together.” He quirked a brow in surprise. “I suppose your ostentatious mansion isn’t the worst fate in the world,” she conceded. “I might be able to hack it there. But only if you get rid of Dartin’s art.” He grinned. “And if we live as simply and privately as possible,” she continued. “In fact, I think it would be best if you give your money away to charity.” “I’m not giving all of it away. I like fast cars.” “And freshly ground Arabica coffee and twenty-one-year-aged rum.” “I also like good food, good sheets, good clothes, and good Wi-Fi,” he rattled off. She laughed and was rewarded with his heart-melting smile as he looked at her softly. “But mostly,” he finished, “I love you.” Then he took her face in his hands and kissed her. Remy's thoughts spun and their chemistry enveloped them, and in their little corner of Maine near the ocean, everything was righter than right with their world.
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