Erin slightly turned her head and peeked from under the arm she placed over her face to shield her eyes from the sun’s glare at her sister, who was staring back at her with a knowing smile. She smiled back. “I am,” she agreed, and she was. Being out on the water with Jules had taken her mind off Brian and the look of hurt and betrayal he’d displayed after their talk yesterday. “We should definitely make this a regular thing,” she continued to say, blocking out her thoughts of him.
After another fifteen minutes of soaking up the sun, the two rose and replaced their wraps, and Jules turned the boat in the direction of home. When they made it back to the house, Erin was surprised to find Brian waiting for her on the back porch.
“Hi.” He stood to greet her.
“Hi,” she returned.
“I’m gonna take a shower,” Jules spoke up, breaking the tension. “Hi, Brian.” With that, she walked into the house, leaving them alone.
“Can we go for a walk?” Brian asked.
“Um, sure. Can you wait until I take a shower first?” she asked. Brian nodded.
“I’ll wait for you here,” he informed her.
Erin left him and went inside to take a quick shower. She then put on a floral maxi dress and some sandals before bounding down the stairs. Her heart quickened when she saw the appreciative look Brian gave her.
“Ready?” he asked. She simply nodded and followed him down the porch steps.
The two walked in silence for a few minutes. Erin’s curiosity got the best of her, and she finally asked, “Where are we going?”
Brian looked back at her with a small, uncertain smile before pointing toward the gazebo. “Over there,” he informed her.
“Oh,” she responded plainly. Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight when they finally got to their destination. The gazebo was decorated with a plethora of flowers on the ledges and rose petals scattered on the floor. A wicker table was before the sectional with a covered basket, a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket, and a bowl of chocolate-covered strawberries. Butterflies danced in her stomach at the sight, and goose bumps puckered her skin when she felt his warmth on her back.
“I thought we could have lunch together,” he spoke, his breath fanning the side of her face. “Will you have lunch with me, Erin?”
Erin turned to face him and looked up into his blazing green eyes. Her heart raced as the butterflies played wildly in her tummy. The spontaneity of his actions and the look of passion in his eyes all reminded her of why she fell in love with him in the first place.
“Will you?” he asked again, his voice going down a few decibels.
Erin was unable to find the words as her throat became dry. She nodded yes.
ChapterNineteen
“Hi. Welcome to the Willberry Inn, a home away from home,” Marg greeted the older couple standing before her with all smiles.
“Thank you,” the woman responded. “We have a reservation under the names Arlene and Joe Allen.”
“Oh yes, we spoke on the phone last week,” Marg acknowledged. “It’s a pleasure to have you both here, and I hope your stay will be magical.” She beamed welcomingly.
“We know it will be. We’ve read some great reviews about this place, and after the lives we’ve led working in the corporate world, we are more than ready for a change. This is a good location to ease ourselves into retirement mode,” Arlene said.
“What did you do before retiring, if you don’t mind me asking.” Marg looked hopefully at the couple.
“I was a lawyer, and Joe here was an investment banker,” Arlene replied.
“You don’t get more corporate than that,” Joe finally joined in the conversation.
“I bet the perks were great.” Marg grinned.
“They were,” Arlene agreed. “But it took up so much of our time that we barely got to really enjoy it, and after a while, it felt more like a chore than something to enjoy.” Her brown eyes took on a faraway look. Marg noticed Joe reach for her hand, intertwining their fingers. Arlene turned to give him an affectionate smile.
Marg’s chest warmed with the gesture.
“We retired early because we wanted to enjoy our time together, to rekindle our passion for each other and for traveling,” Joe expressed. Marg nodded in understanding.
“Life is too precious not to spend it doing the things that make you the happiest and with the one that you love,” Arlene added, turning her attention back to her husband, who was already staring back at her.
