“I’m not putting you down until you say it. Say you love me.” He ground out the order.
“You say it! You say it first,” she retorted, always in competition with him.
“I did say it. I said it to you every night you were in the hospital.” Her eyes glistened with tears at his admission.
“I didn’t hear you, Say it again. Say you love me.”
“I love you. There, are you satisfied? You stubborn, Irish red-headed, green eyed cop. I’ve loved you for a long, long time.” He stopped in the hallway, watching her face, hoping against hope he would see the answer he needed.
“I’ve loved you longer. I love you, you pushy, loud-mouthed, by-the-book cop! What are you gonna do about it?
“I’m going to kiss you, then I’m going to marry you and keep you safe forever.”
“Don’t I have a say in all this?” She shoved hard at his shoulder—so hard he had to stop again and rebalance her in his arms.
“You get to say yes.”
They were nose to nose, as they had been so many times before, but never like this. This time, her eyes searched his. After a long moment, she smiled. Just before his lips crashed down on hers, he heard her whisper. “Yes.”
Epilogue
Girlish laughter competed with the raucous barking of the dog to be heard over the waves crashing against the sandy shore. Two pretty blonde teenagers, clad in gaily striped swim shirts over tiny bikinis, played a game of Frisbee with an overjoyed chocolate Lab, who ran in and out of the surf in joyous frenzy.
Levi and Ella sat in brightly painted Adirondack chairs under the shade of the palm trees separating the slender strip of beach from the rest of the property. The famous orange ATV was parked a short distance away, next to Levi’s newest toy: an equally garish lime green beach buggy, complete with a striped top and a built-in cooler in the back.
“Hersch is going to sleep really well tonight, Levi. Those girls have more energy than puppies.” Ella laughed as Kara grabbed the Frisbee from Katlyn and dashed into the Gulf, followed by Hersch.
“It’s not Hersch I am concerned with, darling. It’s that damn cat. Lady Marmalade’s been coming over and yowling outside my patio door at five in the morning for the last two days. I think she’s jealous of Don when he stays over with Missy. Which you’d know if you were sleeping here instead of at your villa.” Levi grumbled as he pulled his sunglasses down his nose so Ella could have the full benefit of his accusatory glare.
“Whine all you want, darling. You don’t have your new girlfriend sleep over at your house during your girls’ first visit in almost a year. You should have known better than to even suggest it. They need to get to know me first, then feel comfortable with me and you together before we have any pajama parties here.” She wagged a slender finger with a bright pink nail at him before she continued. “Besides, you don’t want them telling Anne about Daddy’s lover, do you?”
“She’ll find out soon enough. We have to tell the girls sometime that we’re engaged.” Ella snorted at his statement. Levi pulled his sunglasses all the way off before he asked. “I hope you’re not going to back out on your promise to marry me this summer.”
“It’s only March, Levi. We have some time before you have to start worrying. Besides, you haven’t even gotten me an engagement ring yet.” She reached out and patted his hand, his oh-so-talented hand, whether it was holding a scalpel or skimming along her body, his touch left sparks of desire in its wake.
“I made an appointment for us at Barefoot Brides for next Monday after we take the girls to the airport. You get the ring then.” When she gasped, he reached over and captured her hand for a soft kiss and a quick nip on her palm.
From the beach, they heard Katlyn squeal, “Oh, Daddy, you did that just like Rhett Butler! You’ve been living in the South too long!” Kara joined her sister in laughter at their father’s expense.
“Girls! I love that movie! How about a ladies night at my villa? We can watch Gone With the Wind, eat some fried chicken and key lime pie, and do facials?” Ella called out to Levi’s daughters.
The twins yelled their agreement before dashing into the waves again with Hersch.
“You’re changing the subject, Ella. Don’t think you can get out of discussing wedding plans with me as soon as Kat and Kara go back to school.”
“Levi, did I ever tell you how I came to find Barefoot Bay?” At Levi’s quizzical look, Ella continued. “After the assault and the surgery and all, I knew I needed to get out of New York for awhile, to put my life back together. And to figure out what I wanted to do with my writing. The winter was becoming one of those unpredictable, nasty New York winters. I was bemoaning the cold to my grandmother, to Grammy, who has an independent living condo in West Palm Beach and she invited me to come stay with her. I love my grandmother but I knew I would go crazy with the mah-jongg and bridge and pickle ball with her and her friends. The youngest in her group is eighty! Well, she mentioned that her bridge partner’s great-niece had recently gotten married at a beautiful resort on the west coast of Florida. I said I wasn’t looking to get married, just to get tan and rested. She told me in that Long Island accent of hers not to smart-mouth her and said the resort was known for its elegance, luxury, and privacy—not just its weddings. I checked out Barefoot Bay and Casa Blanca Resort and Spa because my grandmother knew someone who had gotten married here. I almost didn’t come because of that—I didn’t want to be surrounded by young couples in love.”
Levi started to laugh. “I love it. We almost didn’t meet because they do weddings at Barefoot Bay and now I want to plan our wedding there!”
Ella joined in, giggling. “Yeah, but it’s okay because we’re an old and in love couple. And from what I’ve seen, we’re not the only ones!”
Looking out at the sparkling turquoise water lapping on the pale pink sand, sunlight making diamonds in the sea spray, Levi sighed. His sweet daughters and his beloved dog were romping in the waves. A warm breeze brought him the citrus fragrance from his lemon and orange trees mixed with the heady scent of the woman he loved. He took Ella’s hand in his again, squeezing gently but not letting go. Never letting go.
“We may not be the only couple planning a wedding here, but I’d say we’re certainly the luckiest ones.”
The End
Dear Reader,
I’ve been reading romance since the age of twelve when I snuck my mother’s copy of Gone with the Wind under the bed covers to devour by flashlight. A published author at the age of eight, I have been writing romance for the last eight years, after retiring from a thirty-year career as a judge and counsel at a small New York State agency. I live near Saratoga Springs, NY, with my chocolate Labrador retriever, Marley. Hersch is based on my loveable Lab, with one exception: Marely is terrified of water! But, he is sweet, funny, demanding and loyal. I love him!
I am so thrilled to be part of Rocki’s Barefoot Bay Kindle World! I love Mimosa Key, and writing about Levi and Ella during the cold New York winter has warmed me up almost as much as a vacation on the pink sand beaches of Casa Blanca Resort and Spa! I hope you enjoy their “second chance” love story. Most of my books feature silver foxes and the smart, sexy, mature women who tame them. My next Barefoot Bay book, coming in September, is Fitz’s story. Known for his slow, precise hands in surgery and his love of fast cars, it will take a special woman to capture Fitz’s restless spirit and I think I have found his match in Maureen, FL-Ortho’s office manager, who has some deep secrets of her own.
I’d love to hear from you. Please visit me on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morgan.malone39
or at my website: http://www.morganmaloneauthor.com
If you enjoyed Shoulder to Lean On, please consider telling others and writing a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Thank you and stay warm!
Morgan
ALSO AVAILABLE BY MORGAN MALONE
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Shoulder to Lean On Page 11
