Getaway Bay, page 13
She banged again, but he still didn’t come. He hadn’t answered her text.
She moved around the side of the house to the patio that overlooked the beach. The sound of distant waves crashing against the rocks met her ears, as did the soft sound of a cat’s meow. Turning back to the house, she found a gray cat sitting on the windowsill, watching her.
Marshall didn’t own a cat. So how did that feline get inside?
Esther stepped over to the French doors and reached for the handle, sure Marshall kept everything locked up tight. But the handle went down easily, and she stepped right inside his house as the cat streaked out.
It felt like a tomb, and it was obvious that he hadn’t been here in a few days. She hadn’t been able to go home either, so she understood. Standing in his kitchen, she searched for where he could be.
Sweet Breeze. She could figure that out by simply calling Owen and asking if Marshall was a registered guest at the hotel. So she did. And he wasn’t.
His boat.
With a shout of triumph, Esther left the way she came in and hurried back to her car. Hopefully, he was on land, but as she drove down the twisty mountain roads and to the docks, her mind whispered that he probably wasn’t, that him being way out on the ocean waters was probably why he still hadn’t answered her text.
Sure enough, when she parked at the docks, it was next to a Robison Plantation SUV. His boat wasn’t tied in its usual place, so Esther walked across the wooden planks and sat down, hoping with everything in her that he wouldn’t stay out on the water past nightfall.
Chapter Eighteen
Marshall piloted the catamaran back toward shore, hoping he beat the setting of the sun. He could grab some dinner and more groceries and sleep on the boat tied to the dock. But he didn’t like trying to navigate into his spot without being able to see.
As his phone came back into cell range, his blinged a whole slew of times. One name made his breath catch in his throat.
Esther.
Where are you right now?
It was impossible for him to know when she’d sent the message. The timestamp said nine-twenty-four, the time it was now. He’d been out on the boat since putting the flowers in the room for Fisher that morning. He’d placed the ring box exactly where his friend had told him to, and then he’d gone out onto the water, needing the peace and calmness being away from everything provided.
His office manager had texted several times, as had Fisher.
But it was only Esther who mattered to him. Instead of texting her back, he tapped the phone icon and placed a call. The dock loomed closer, the masts of other boats puncturing the sunset sky of orange, pink, gold, and navy blue.
The line rang against his ear, but he also heard the shrill riiiiing! bounce off the water in front of him.
“Where are you?” she demanded.
So she was still mad, and Marshall sighed. “I spent the day on the ocean. I’m coming in now.”
She exhaled into the phone, one long sigh that alerted Marshall to the fact that maybe she wasn’t angry with him anymore. “Oh, okay. So I’ll see you in a second.”
“You’re at the dock?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She didn’t answer immediately, and Marshall searched the horizon for her though he was still a bit too far out to see her. Only two minutes later, though, he saw her silhouette against the bright sky, and he wanted to throw the throttle into its highest gear.
He didn’t, exercising control as he maneuvered the craft in delicately, and taking the time to tie the boat off securely. Then he stepped onto the dock to face her.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he said, giving away everything he’d been trying to dump in the ocean these past few days. “What’s going on?” He glanced around and found evidence that she’d been sitting on the dock for a while. A white takeout bag sat there, the top open.
“I…I love you,” she blurted out. In the next moment, she clapped her palm over her mouth as her eyes went wide.
Marshall couldn’t help the smile that crept across his mouth, even if he didn’t understand what was going on. “I already like this conversation more than the previous two we’ve had.”
Esther lowered her hand, her eyes glinting but whether it was with frustration or flirtation, Marshall still wasn’t sure. “I don’t like what you did, but I think I…understand why you did it.”
“I’ve never claimed to be perfect.” She had put that label on him, and it was better she know now that he made mistakes. “I’m sorry for not trusting you.”
“Do you trust me now?”
Marshall cocked his head and folded his arms. “Depends on what’s in that takeout bag.”
“Oh, did you not eat dinner?” Her tone reeked of flirtation now. “Sorry, I ate the double bacon cheeseburger while I waited for you to come in.”
Marshall laughed, beyond thrilled when Esther joined him and then flung herself into his arms. He caught her around the waist and spun with her, leaning his forehead down until he touched hers. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
She closed her eyes and held onto his shoulders. “I was watching Fisher propose to Stacey, and I realized the only person keeping me away from you was me.”
“I won’t look into your private business again,” he promised. “I don’t know why I did it. Well, I did. I just…you’d been driving me for years, and I was worried that maybe your business was in trouble and you were being extra-nice to me because you needed money.”
“I’ve had a crush on you for years,” she whispered, her mouth inching closer to his. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted from you, Marshall. This.” She pressed into him. “Us.”
“Us,” he repeated, really liking the sound of that. He watched her for an extra moment, the happy glow on her face reaching out and touching his heart. Lowering his head further, he touched his mouth to hers, glad when she sighed and kissed him like she really did love him.
The next morning, Marshall woke to the sound of Esther calling his name. He forced himself to keep his eyes closed even as he became aware of her lavender scent and her footfalls as she came closer.
“Marshall,” she whispered. Her delicate hand touched his shoulder and he let his eyes drift open to behold the stunning beauty of her face only a few inches from his.
“Hey, love.” He reached up and brushed her hair out of her face, liking the way she leaned into his touch and smiled softly.
“I can’t believe you’re still asleep.”
He pushed himself up to sitting, noticing the way the bright morning sunshine came through the skylights. “No? What time is it? Six instead of five?”
She gave a half laugh, half scoff. “It’s almost seven-thirty.”
Marshall yawned, surprised himself at how long he’d slept. “I guess I haven’t been getting too much rest lately.”
Something flashed across her face, but she erased it quickly. “Well, come on. You told me I could drive you today, and I’ve been sitting in the car for thirty minutes.”
“Probably forty,” he said. “The Esther I know shows up ten minutes early.”
She gave him a flirty, daggered look and fell back a couple of steps. “Maybe I’m not the Esther you know.”
She definitely wasn’t wearing her usual chauffeur clothes, but a bright pink dress without straps, leaving her shoulders exposed and the curve of her chest the only thing keeping the dress from falling off.
Marshall hastily brought his eyes back to hers. “Yep. Looks like the Esther I know.” Or the one he really wanted to know. “Are we not working today?”
“I’ll take you if you want, but you said you’d buy me breakfast on the beach.”
“Ah, yes I did.” He threw the comforter off his legs and stood, his head almost touching the ceiling in the cabin. “Well, let’s go.”
Her face reddened, and she backed toward the door again. “I’ll let you get dressed.” She made a hasty retreat, and Marshall looked down at his bare chest and athletic shorts. A chuckle started in his chest and continued while he changed into a pair of shorts and a polo. That was proper beach breakfast attire, wasn’t it?
He joined Esther on the dock and they walked to the car hand in hand. “Are you still staying at Sweet Breeze?” he asked.
“How did you know I was there?”
“Owen told me.” He couldn’t tell if that information bothered her or not. Didn’t seem to.
“No, I went home last night after I left here.”
She meant after he apologized three more times and after they made out on the boat a little. His body heated just thinking about it.
“When are you going home?” she asked.
Marshall looked up to the cliffs, as if he could see his house from here. “I don’t know.” He sighed a mighty sigh. “I’m thinking of selling my place and getting something a little smaller. Somewhere closer to town.”
“Really?” Esther paused near the passenger door and trained her blue eyes on him. He lost himself to her, just like he had dozens of times before.
“Mm hm.” He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. “Maybe somewhere by this cute little beach bungalow I visit from time to time. I saw a place near there that was for sale.”
She pushed on his chest and searched his eyes. “The Martin farm?”
“Is it a farm?”
“That’s the only place by me that’s for sale.”
“Well, I don’t really want a farm. Is it chickens and stuff?”
Esther giggled. “I’d like to see you and a chicken together in the same yard.” She laughed now, the sound catapulting up to the sky. She turned and opened the door, sliding into the passenger seat and leaving the door open.
“So I guess I’m driving.” He closed the door to more laughter and went around to get behind the wheel. “But really, what kind of farm?” Maybe he could have a pineapple plantation down near the beach.
“Macadamia nuts,” she said. “It’s small, I think only five hundred acres or so. All hand worked. The Martin’s are retiring, and they don’t have children.”
A pit opened in Marshall’s stomach. He could find himself in that exact situation in only a decade or so. And he didn’t need another crop to take care of. He could figure out how to cultivate, harvest, and sell macadamia nuts if he had to. But he didn’t have to, and he said, “Well, I’ll keep looking then.”
He pulled onto the street and headed toward the coffee house where she got their drinks each morning. As he put on his signal to turn left, she said, “No, go right here.”
“Right?” He glanced in that direction. “But The Roast is to the left.”
“Coffee is not breakfast.”
“Uh…yes it is. It’s all we ever have for breakfast. I literally don’t think I’ve see you ever eat in the morning.”
“I eat.” She sounded a bit wounded.
“I mean, obviously you eat,” he said. “But not even a banana for breakfast.”
“Today, I want to eat breakfast.”
Marshall glanced at her, surprised by the bite in her tone and the set of her jaw. “All right. It’s fine. You want to go right, let’s go right.” He swung the car in that direction, thinking it would probably be easier if she just told him where she wanted him to go.
But she didn’t. She sat on her hands and directed him only moments before he was supposed to make a turn. Somehow they ended up at her bungalow, and he didn’t even know how he’d gotten there.
“Yeah, so I don’t think I should drive again,” he said. “You’re so much better at it than I am.” He killed the engine and looked at her, hoping his tone had been playful enough.
Esther looked like she was going to throw up, and she got out of the car without responding to his jest. He followed her, wondering why she’d come to the docks in that pink dress if they were just going to come back to her place. And he had no hope of actually eating anything here, as Esther had claimed not to be skilled in the kitchen.
“Where are we going?” he called after her as she bent to retrieve something from the porch.
“The beach.” She shouldered her bag and extended her hand for him to take.
He grabbed onto her and said, “You and the beach.”
“I love the beach.”
“I know you do.” She’d told him something about how it grounded her, how she felt connected to the earth when she was on the beach, like her life was more than driving tourists and billionaires around. He was happy she liked the beach, no matter the reason, just like he enjoyed the way she smelled but didn’t really believe in the healing properties of peppermint oil.
He went with her through the copse of trees, emerging onto a beautiful beach with pristine, blue water. “Wow, this is beautiful.”
She paused and got out a towel, spreading it on the sand. Marshall gazed out at the water, peace flowing through him the way the island breeze chased itself around the island.
“So I have to ask you something.”
He turned to find her concealing something behind her back. His interest piqued, he narrowed his eyes as his pulse picked up. “You have to ask me something?”
Esther nodded, her expression grave. “How traditional are you?”
Marshall had no idea how to answer. “In what way?”
She brought her hands out from behind her back, but he couldn’t see anything. “I have my great-grandmother’s wedding ring. I was thinking if we got engaged, that would be the ring I’d want to wear.” Esther held up a simple gold band, with a simple diamond set on it.
Before he could say a word, she stepped closer, her eyes earnest, filled with that eternal hope that he loved. “Marshall, will you marry me?”
His eyebrows shot up. “You’re asking me to marry you?” Panic and hope and love and frustration coiled through him. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. This couldn’t be the story told for generations to come. Could it?
“Yes, and forego the diamond shopping.” She looked down at her ring and then started to slip it on her finger.
Marshall practically knocked the diamond out of her hand in his haste to stop her from putting her own engagement ring on her own finger. “Esther.” Slight exasperation filled the word.
“What?” She gazed up at him, searching his face. “Oh, you’re traditional.”
“I would like to be the one to ask.” He spoke as gently as he could, hoping she’d feel and hear his love for her.
She handed him the ring and settled her weight on her back foot.
“Oh, you mean right now.” Marshall looked down at the ring and then back to Esther.
She cocked one eyebrow. “I already asked you and you didn’t even answer.”
He fiddled with the ring, turning it over and over. “Esther, I love you. I love you when I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love again.” A smile touched his lips, crinkling his eyes. He looked at her, glad when he found her eyes filled with tears and her chin doing that adorable quiver.
“Will you marry me?” He dropped to both knees in front of her, the sand hotter than he was expecting, and held her great-grandmother’s ring up as if she’d never seen it before.
She considered him for a moment before her face broke into a grin. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He laughed as he stood, slid the ring on her finger, and kissed her. And this slow, sweet kiss with his fiancée was better than Marshall could’ve ever hoped to have in his life again.
Read on for a sneak peek at WOMEN’S BEACH CLUB, the next book in the Getaway Bay Resort Romance series.
* * *
Yay! Marshall and Esther got their happily-ever-after!
Please tap here to leave a review for this book. They can be as long or as short as you’d like. Even a star rating is amazing and appreciated. Thanks in advance.
* * *
Join Elana’s newsletter to get your next sweet romance for FREE - read the THE ISLAND HOUSE next.
Sneak Peek! WOMEN’S BEACH CLUB Chapter One
Tyler Rigby pushed his foot against the ground, giving his hammock another gentle sway. The afternoon hours were some of the longest, and while he should’ve been used to them after six years, he still wasn’t.
It was moments like this that he thought maybe he should get a job. The idea only stayed for a breath, a fleeting moment. But it had been plaguing him for a few months now.
“Maybe after Christmas,” he said to the golden retriever. “Yeah, Lazy Bones?” He pushed the hammock again. “Maybe after Christmas.” Which was still a couple of months away too.
Not that Tyler kept track of time anymore. He had no reason to, other than he liked eating eggs for breakfast and going somewhere for dinner. And no one had their dinner menu on at three o’clock in the afternoon.
The waves of the bay lapped at the shore a hundred yards away, and Tyler focused on them as his phone buzzed against his bare chest.
His brother, Wayne, who still lived in New York City, still ran the multi-billion-dollar online poker company they’d founded together almost a decade ago, still kept in touch on a daily basis.
Tyler had trained his brother not to talk to him about poker, the company, or anything business related. He had financial advisors for that, and speaking with them quarterly was horrific enough.
Wayne’s message was a picture of him and his two kids, and it said, It’s Darius’s birthday underneath it.
Tyler snapped to attention. One thing about having a huge fortune at his disposal and countless hours on his hands was that he sometimes forgot what day it was. Darius was one of only two nephews, and the boy would only turn six once.
So Tyler called the toy store in New York City, and got someone to deliver a set of the toy cars his nephew liked so much. That done, he decided he could head inside his modest home and get ready for dinner.
After all, he hadn’t showered yet, believing the best hours for showering were between three and five p.m. As he stepped out of the bathtub in his one bedroom house on the beach, something clunked and then a soft scrape followed.
She moved around the side of the house to the patio that overlooked the beach. The sound of distant waves crashing against the rocks met her ears, as did the soft sound of a cat’s meow. Turning back to the house, she found a gray cat sitting on the windowsill, watching her.
Marshall didn’t own a cat. So how did that feline get inside?
Esther stepped over to the French doors and reached for the handle, sure Marshall kept everything locked up tight. But the handle went down easily, and she stepped right inside his house as the cat streaked out.
It felt like a tomb, and it was obvious that he hadn’t been here in a few days. She hadn’t been able to go home either, so she understood. Standing in his kitchen, she searched for where he could be.
Sweet Breeze. She could figure that out by simply calling Owen and asking if Marshall was a registered guest at the hotel. So she did. And he wasn’t.
His boat.
With a shout of triumph, Esther left the way she came in and hurried back to her car. Hopefully, he was on land, but as she drove down the twisty mountain roads and to the docks, her mind whispered that he probably wasn’t, that him being way out on the ocean waters was probably why he still hadn’t answered her text.
Sure enough, when she parked at the docks, it was next to a Robison Plantation SUV. His boat wasn’t tied in its usual place, so Esther walked across the wooden planks and sat down, hoping with everything in her that he wouldn’t stay out on the water past nightfall.
Chapter Eighteen
Marshall piloted the catamaran back toward shore, hoping he beat the setting of the sun. He could grab some dinner and more groceries and sleep on the boat tied to the dock. But he didn’t like trying to navigate into his spot without being able to see.
As his phone came back into cell range, his blinged a whole slew of times. One name made his breath catch in his throat.
Esther.
Where are you right now?
It was impossible for him to know when she’d sent the message. The timestamp said nine-twenty-four, the time it was now. He’d been out on the boat since putting the flowers in the room for Fisher that morning. He’d placed the ring box exactly where his friend had told him to, and then he’d gone out onto the water, needing the peace and calmness being away from everything provided.
His office manager had texted several times, as had Fisher.
But it was only Esther who mattered to him. Instead of texting her back, he tapped the phone icon and placed a call. The dock loomed closer, the masts of other boats puncturing the sunset sky of orange, pink, gold, and navy blue.
The line rang against his ear, but he also heard the shrill riiiiing! bounce off the water in front of him.
“Where are you?” she demanded.
So she was still mad, and Marshall sighed. “I spent the day on the ocean. I’m coming in now.”
She exhaled into the phone, one long sigh that alerted Marshall to the fact that maybe she wasn’t angry with him anymore. “Oh, okay. So I’ll see you in a second.”
“You’re at the dock?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She didn’t answer immediately, and Marshall searched the horizon for her though he was still a bit too far out to see her. Only two minutes later, though, he saw her silhouette against the bright sky, and he wanted to throw the throttle into its highest gear.
He didn’t, exercising control as he maneuvered the craft in delicately, and taking the time to tie the boat off securely. Then he stepped onto the dock to face her.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he said, giving away everything he’d been trying to dump in the ocean these past few days. “What’s going on?” He glanced around and found evidence that she’d been sitting on the dock for a while. A white takeout bag sat there, the top open.
“I…I love you,” she blurted out. In the next moment, she clapped her palm over her mouth as her eyes went wide.
Marshall couldn’t help the smile that crept across his mouth, even if he didn’t understand what was going on. “I already like this conversation more than the previous two we’ve had.”
Esther lowered her hand, her eyes glinting but whether it was with frustration or flirtation, Marshall still wasn’t sure. “I don’t like what you did, but I think I…understand why you did it.”
“I’ve never claimed to be perfect.” She had put that label on him, and it was better she know now that he made mistakes. “I’m sorry for not trusting you.”
“Do you trust me now?”
Marshall cocked his head and folded his arms. “Depends on what’s in that takeout bag.”
“Oh, did you not eat dinner?” Her tone reeked of flirtation now. “Sorry, I ate the double bacon cheeseburger while I waited for you to come in.”
Marshall laughed, beyond thrilled when Esther joined him and then flung herself into his arms. He caught her around the waist and spun with her, leaning his forehead down until he touched hers. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
She closed her eyes and held onto his shoulders. “I was watching Fisher propose to Stacey, and I realized the only person keeping me away from you was me.”
“I won’t look into your private business again,” he promised. “I don’t know why I did it. Well, I did. I just…you’d been driving me for years, and I was worried that maybe your business was in trouble and you were being extra-nice to me because you needed money.”
“I’ve had a crush on you for years,” she whispered, her mouth inching closer to his. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted from you, Marshall. This.” She pressed into him. “Us.”
“Us,” he repeated, really liking the sound of that. He watched her for an extra moment, the happy glow on her face reaching out and touching his heart. Lowering his head further, he touched his mouth to hers, glad when she sighed and kissed him like she really did love him.
The next morning, Marshall woke to the sound of Esther calling his name. He forced himself to keep his eyes closed even as he became aware of her lavender scent and her footfalls as she came closer.
“Marshall,” she whispered. Her delicate hand touched his shoulder and he let his eyes drift open to behold the stunning beauty of her face only a few inches from his.
“Hey, love.” He reached up and brushed her hair out of her face, liking the way she leaned into his touch and smiled softly.
“I can’t believe you’re still asleep.”
He pushed himself up to sitting, noticing the way the bright morning sunshine came through the skylights. “No? What time is it? Six instead of five?”
She gave a half laugh, half scoff. “It’s almost seven-thirty.”
Marshall yawned, surprised himself at how long he’d slept. “I guess I haven’t been getting too much rest lately.”
Something flashed across her face, but she erased it quickly. “Well, come on. You told me I could drive you today, and I’ve been sitting in the car for thirty minutes.”
“Probably forty,” he said. “The Esther I know shows up ten minutes early.”
She gave him a flirty, daggered look and fell back a couple of steps. “Maybe I’m not the Esther you know.”
She definitely wasn’t wearing her usual chauffeur clothes, but a bright pink dress without straps, leaving her shoulders exposed and the curve of her chest the only thing keeping the dress from falling off.
Marshall hastily brought his eyes back to hers. “Yep. Looks like the Esther I know.” Or the one he really wanted to know. “Are we not working today?”
“I’ll take you if you want, but you said you’d buy me breakfast on the beach.”
“Ah, yes I did.” He threw the comforter off his legs and stood, his head almost touching the ceiling in the cabin. “Well, let’s go.”
Her face reddened, and she backed toward the door again. “I’ll let you get dressed.” She made a hasty retreat, and Marshall looked down at his bare chest and athletic shorts. A chuckle started in his chest and continued while he changed into a pair of shorts and a polo. That was proper beach breakfast attire, wasn’t it?
He joined Esther on the dock and they walked to the car hand in hand. “Are you still staying at Sweet Breeze?” he asked.
“How did you know I was there?”
“Owen told me.” He couldn’t tell if that information bothered her or not. Didn’t seem to.
“No, I went home last night after I left here.”
She meant after he apologized three more times and after they made out on the boat a little. His body heated just thinking about it.
“When are you going home?” she asked.
Marshall looked up to the cliffs, as if he could see his house from here. “I don’t know.” He sighed a mighty sigh. “I’m thinking of selling my place and getting something a little smaller. Somewhere closer to town.”
“Really?” Esther paused near the passenger door and trained her blue eyes on him. He lost himself to her, just like he had dozens of times before.
“Mm hm.” He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. “Maybe somewhere by this cute little beach bungalow I visit from time to time. I saw a place near there that was for sale.”
She pushed on his chest and searched his eyes. “The Martin farm?”
“Is it a farm?”
“That’s the only place by me that’s for sale.”
“Well, I don’t really want a farm. Is it chickens and stuff?”
Esther giggled. “I’d like to see you and a chicken together in the same yard.” She laughed now, the sound catapulting up to the sky. She turned and opened the door, sliding into the passenger seat and leaving the door open.
“So I guess I’m driving.” He closed the door to more laughter and went around to get behind the wheel. “But really, what kind of farm?” Maybe he could have a pineapple plantation down near the beach.
“Macadamia nuts,” she said. “It’s small, I think only five hundred acres or so. All hand worked. The Martin’s are retiring, and they don’t have children.”
A pit opened in Marshall’s stomach. He could find himself in that exact situation in only a decade or so. And he didn’t need another crop to take care of. He could figure out how to cultivate, harvest, and sell macadamia nuts if he had to. But he didn’t have to, and he said, “Well, I’ll keep looking then.”
He pulled onto the street and headed toward the coffee house where she got their drinks each morning. As he put on his signal to turn left, she said, “No, go right here.”
“Right?” He glanced in that direction. “But The Roast is to the left.”
“Coffee is not breakfast.”
“Uh…yes it is. It’s all we ever have for breakfast. I literally don’t think I’ve see you ever eat in the morning.”
“I eat.” She sounded a bit wounded.
“I mean, obviously you eat,” he said. “But not even a banana for breakfast.”
“Today, I want to eat breakfast.”
Marshall glanced at her, surprised by the bite in her tone and the set of her jaw. “All right. It’s fine. You want to go right, let’s go right.” He swung the car in that direction, thinking it would probably be easier if she just told him where she wanted him to go.
But she didn’t. She sat on her hands and directed him only moments before he was supposed to make a turn. Somehow they ended up at her bungalow, and he didn’t even know how he’d gotten there.
“Yeah, so I don’t think I should drive again,” he said. “You’re so much better at it than I am.” He killed the engine and looked at her, hoping his tone had been playful enough.
Esther looked like she was going to throw up, and she got out of the car without responding to his jest. He followed her, wondering why she’d come to the docks in that pink dress if they were just going to come back to her place. And he had no hope of actually eating anything here, as Esther had claimed not to be skilled in the kitchen.
“Where are we going?” he called after her as she bent to retrieve something from the porch.
“The beach.” She shouldered her bag and extended her hand for him to take.
He grabbed onto her and said, “You and the beach.”
“I love the beach.”
“I know you do.” She’d told him something about how it grounded her, how she felt connected to the earth when she was on the beach, like her life was more than driving tourists and billionaires around. He was happy she liked the beach, no matter the reason, just like he enjoyed the way she smelled but didn’t really believe in the healing properties of peppermint oil.
He went with her through the copse of trees, emerging onto a beautiful beach with pristine, blue water. “Wow, this is beautiful.”
She paused and got out a towel, spreading it on the sand. Marshall gazed out at the water, peace flowing through him the way the island breeze chased itself around the island.
“So I have to ask you something.”
He turned to find her concealing something behind her back. His interest piqued, he narrowed his eyes as his pulse picked up. “You have to ask me something?”
Esther nodded, her expression grave. “How traditional are you?”
Marshall had no idea how to answer. “In what way?”
She brought her hands out from behind her back, but he couldn’t see anything. “I have my great-grandmother’s wedding ring. I was thinking if we got engaged, that would be the ring I’d want to wear.” Esther held up a simple gold band, with a simple diamond set on it.
Before he could say a word, she stepped closer, her eyes earnest, filled with that eternal hope that he loved. “Marshall, will you marry me?”
His eyebrows shot up. “You’re asking me to marry you?” Panic and hope and love and frustration coiled through him. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. This couldn’t be the story told for generations to come. Could it?
“Yes, and forego the diamond shopping.” She looked down at her ring and then started to slip it on her finger.
Marshall practically knocked the diamond out of her hand in his haste to stop her from putting her own engagement ring on her own finger. “Esther.” Slight exasperation filled the word.
“What?” She gazed up at him, searching his face. “Oh, you’re traditional.”
“I would like to be the one to ask.” He spoke as gently as he could, hoping she’d feel and hear his love for her.
She handed him the ring and settled her weight on her back foot.
“Oh, you mean right now.” Marshall looked down at the ring and then back to Esther.
She cocked one eyebrow. “I already asked you and you didn’t even answer.”
He fiddled with the ring, turning it over and over. “Esther, I love you. I love you when I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love again.” A smile touched his lips, crinkling his eyes. He looked at her, glad when he found her eyes filled with tears and her chin doing that adorable quiver.
“Will you marry me?” He dropped to both knees in front of her, the sand hotter than he was expecting, and held her great-grandmother’s ring up as if she’d never seen it before.
She considered him for a moment before her face broke into a grin. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He laughed as he stood, slid the ring on her finger, and kissed her. And this slow, sweet kiss with his fiancée was better than Marshall could’ve ever hoped to have in his life again.
Read on for a sneak peek at WOMEN’S BEACH CLUB, the next book in the Getaway Bay Resort Romance series.
* * *
Yay! Marshall and Esther got their happily-ever-after!
Please tap here to leave a review for this book. They can be as long or as short as you’d like. Even a star rating is amazing and appreciated. Thanks in advance.
* * *
Join Elana’s newsletter to get your next sweet romance for FREE - read the THE ISLAND HOUSE next.
Sneak Peek! WOMEN’S BEACH CLUB Chapter One
Tyler Rigby pushed his foot against the ground, giving his hammock another gentle sway. The afternoon hours were some of the longest, and while he should’ve been used to them after six years, he still wasn’t.
It was moments like this that he thought maybe he should get a job. The idea only stayed for a breath, a fleeting moment. But it had been plaguing him for a few months now.
“Maybe after Christmas,” he said to the golden retriever. “Yeah, Lazy Bones?” He pushed the hammock again. “Maybe after Christmas.” Which was still a couple of months away too.
Not that Tyler kept track of time anymore. He had no reason to, other than he liked eating eggs for breakfast and going somewhere for dinner. And no one had their dinner menu on at three o’clock in the afternoon.
The waves of the bay lapped at the shore a hundred yards away, and Tyler focused on them as his phone buzzed against his bare chest.
His brother, Wayne, who still lived in New York City, still ran the multi-billion-dollar online poker company they’d founded together almost a decade ago, still kept in touch on a daily basis.
Tyler had trained his brother not to talk to him about poker, the company, or anything business related. He had financial advisors for that, and speaking with them quarterly was horrific enough.
Wayne’s message was a picture of him and his two kids, and it said, It’s Darius’s birthday underneath it.
Tyler snapped to attention. One thing about having a huge fortune at his disposal and countless hours on his hands was that he sometimes forgot what day it was. Darius was one of only two nephews, and the boy would only turn six once.
So Tyler called the toy store in New York City, and got someone to deliver a set of the toy cars his nephew liked so much. That done, he decided he could head inside his modest home and get ready for dinner.
After all, he hadn’t showered yet, believing the best hours for showering were between three and five p.m. As he stepped out of the bathtub in his one bedroom house on the beach, something clunked and then a soft scrape followed.
