“Rory…”
“Hmm?”
“I love you very much, and I admire your strength and patience for putting up with me these past couple of months when we should have been planning our wedding together.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m patient. There’s been a few times I wanted to knock you upside the head,” Rory spoke jokingly to lighten the mood. The words she’d spoken were true, though.
“But you didn’t,” James joined with a little chuckle. The sound reverberated from him into her, warming her body with its rhythmic cadence. “I have been so oblivious to how my actions have hurt you, and I want you to know that I am working on being better for you because I want better for us. You inspire me, Ro, more than you’ll ever know.”
Rory lost her breath at the intensity of his words. Even though she couldn’t see his face, she was sure if she had been subjected to his electric gaze, she would have melted before him, not that her insides weren’t quivering now and her legs didn’t feel like jello, but his strong hands were holding her in place.
“I meant it when I said that I will spend every waking moment making it up to you…and I promise…” James turned her in his arms to look seriously into her eyes. “My mother will never come between us again. I won’t allow it.”
Rory smiled happily at the man she was falling in love with all over again. “I love you…so much,” she expressed, lifting up to fit her lips to his. James eagerly accepted her kiss, and before long, he was dipping her to deepen the kiss.
“I want to apologize to you too,” Rory said to James as they sat on the wooden deck of the harbor with their bare feet swirling around in the chilling ocean water.
James inclined his head in her direction. “You don’t have anything to apologize for, Ro,” he asserted.
“I do,” she pressed, turning her head to look out at the blue sky. After another few minutes of silence, she finally spoke. “I want to apologize for keeping it from you that I got my inheritance. That was selfish of me.” she looked over, giving him an apologetic look.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Ro,” James reasserted, reaching over to connect his hand with hers. “You did what you had to do at the time, and I respect you for that.”
Rory smiled appreciatively. “I still should have said something. We have to be honest with each other about everything, James, even when it’s hard. Even when we argue, that’s the only way we can move forward.”
James nodded in understanding.
“And…if you think the prenup is a good idea, then I will sign it. I won’t fight you on it,” she spoke softly.
James straightened up and turned to her. “Ro…I—”
Rory reached over to place a hand against his lip, effectively ending whatever he was going to say. “I trust you, James. I want you to know that if you think this is a good idea, not anyone else, then I will sign it.”
James leaned over to peck her lips, a smile on his face. “Did I ever tell you how much I love you?”
“I believe you’ve said it before, but it doesn’t hurt to hear you repeat it so often,” she smiled against his lips.
For the next couple of days, Rory and James visited a number of areas of attractions in Oak Harbor. They enjoyed an intimate picnic, a dinner, and a concert over in Skagit. Rory was on cloud nine for the entire visit, so when it came time for him to leave, her mood dampened.
“I’ll be back here in two weeks,” James hugged Rory and laughed as she pouted.
“But I miss you already,” she whined.
He smiled lovingly down at her, his eyes filled with understanding. “I know.”
Rory rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart as she prepared herself for their separation.
“Ro, I’m going to miss my flight if I don’t get a move on.”
Reluctantly she lifted her head and disentangled her arms from around him. James reached for his luggage and placed it in the back of the rental before coming back to him.
Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her lips and caressed her cheek with his thumb.
“I’ll miss you,” he expressed.
“I’ll miss you more,” she expressed, mustering a smile.
James turned to enter the vehicle, and Rory stepped away.
