Allen looked across the small table at Sara. Gone was the weary, scared look he'd seen an hour earlier. Now her eyes sparkled and he could tell she was really enjoying their dinner. “I'm sorry the night didn't turn out exactly as I planned.” He looked across at her and took her hand.
“It's perfect.” She smiled and nibbled on her roll. He'd cooked lasagna, one of her favorites. He'd gotten the recipe from her mother and had spent three hours cooking it today. He’d burned the first one, but he'd had enough time and ingredients to try it again. This time it had turned out perfect.
“I really wanted to do this at the beach. That's where I imagined it all.”
“What?” She took a sip of her wine and set the glass down when he reached for her hand.
“Sara, I know we've only known each other for a few months, but I feel like I've known you…” He cleared his throat and stood up. “This isn't going like I planned.” He turned to her and tried to smile. She sat there and looked up at him. “Listen, I can't think when I'm around you. I had everything planned out, but seeing you in the candlelight, it does something to me.” He stood over her and became more frustrated that he didn't have the right words. “My tongue gets tied, my palms sweat. I don't know what I would have done if anything had happened to you. I almost lost you once and I don't think I could bear it if it happened again.” He knelt next to her. “Sara, I'm trying to tell you that I love you.”
She smiled and took his face in her hands. “I love you, too, Allen.” She laid her lips on his and he released the breath he'd been holding.
Chapter Sixteen
Everything had turned out perfectly, she thought, as she looked up at Allen. He may think he didn’t have the right words, but what he had said meant more to her than any poem.
The soft candlelight, the romantic dinner here at her bakery. When he pulled her up to stand next to him, she pulled away for a moment.
“I have something for you. It's a two-part gift, but I don't see why you can't enjoy the first part tonight.” She started walking backwards. “Stay right here. I'll be right back.” She rushed into the kitchen and pulled out the masterpiece that she'd finished minutes before Bethany had shown up.
Pushing the door open with her back, she turned and presented her gift. His eyes went huge and he started laughing when he saw it.
There in vanilla and chocolate were his and Beast's faces with the words “I Love You Both” written below.
He walked forwards and took the cake from her. “Wow! Look at this.” He moved it closer to the candles to get a better look. “How did you do this?” He set the cake down and looked at it.
“Practice.” She smiled and stood next to him.
“It's perfect. I can't believe it. I've never seen anything like this before.” He reached into his pocket and snapped a picture with his phone. “I've got to send this to someone. I mean, there ought to be an award.” He smiled down at her.
“Well, it was easy. The two of you are such easy models.”
He laughed. “Right.” He turned to her and pulled her closer, placing a kiss on her lips. She held him close, not letting him pull away.
“Mmm, more.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he deepened the kiss. Then he started walking her backwards, towards the kitchen.
“Allen,” she laughed, “where are we going?”
“Kitchen. There are too many windows here. Too many people that might walk by,” he said against her lips.
“Really?” She laughed when he pulled her into the kitchen and pushed her against the wall, his hands running over every inch of her.
“I have to have you. I love you, so much.” He repeated it over and over as he rained kisses over every inch of her. She'd never stood naked in her kitchen before, never imagined she'd be doing so, but now they were both naked and out of breath. Just before she crested, she brought her mouth to his ear and whispered, “I love you, Allen.”
The next morning the bakery was crowded. Everyone had heard what had happened the night before. Some came hoping to hear the details, some came just to have a warm breakfast. But almost everyone in town stopped by.
Her Valentine’s baskets had been such a huge hit that she'd run out and had had to purchase small baskets at the local hardware store to replace the ones she’d special ordered.
Half way through the day, Zach showed up. He shuffled his feet, looking down, and apologized for New Year’s. She hadn't seen him since that night and asked him where he'd been.
“AA.” He looked embarrassed. “After New Year’s, I decided it was about time I got some help. I overheard at the Golden Oar what happened here last night and I just wanted to stop by and make sure everything was alright.”
“Yes, thank you. I'm so glad you did.”
“Well, I'm really sorry about New Year’s.”
“It's okay. If you want, there's a box of Valentine cookies. You're welcome to them.” She pointed to the small box on the countertop.
“Thanks. I better be going. Thanks for the cookies.” He walked out and she smiled at his back, happy that he was getting help.
When Josie came back into the kitchen half an hour later, she looked like she was on cloud nine. She danced around and even took hold of Sara's hands and twirled around the room.
“What's gotten into you?” Sara stopped her from spinning again.
“Larry. Larry Hamill. I'm in love with Larry Hamill!” She screamed.
“Really?” Sara laughed. “So quickly?”
“Sure. If you can fall for Allen fast, why can't I fall for Larry faster?” Her friend frowned and Sara laughed. “He's caring, funny, smart, and so very romantic. What did you think would happen with me and a guy like that?”
“I don't know. I've known Larry my whole life. I guess I've never thought of him that way.”
“Good.” Her friend squinted her eyes at her and gave her a look, trying to scare her. “You've got your own man. Leave mine alone.”
Sara laughed. “I promise. I will never fall in love with your Larry Hamill.”
Josie smiled. “Good, then I guess we can remain best friends.” Sara laughed and hugged her best friend.
At lunchtime her mother stopped in. She was dressed up and looked wonderful. It was the first time in a long time that she'd seen her mother wearing a dress and lipstick; she was shocked.
“Where are you off to?” She smiled and hugged her. “You look wonderful.”
“Oh, well, thank you dear.” Her mother messed with her hair a little. “I'm just meeting an old friend for lunch.”
“Really?” Sara leaned back against the counter and smiled. “Do I know this person?”
“Yes, well, Eugene Leachman has been a family friend for years.”
Sara coughed. “Doctor Leachman?” When her mother nodded, she smiled. “You bagged a doctor.”
Her mother shook her head. “Really, where did you learn such language?” Her mother smiled.
Just then Becca walked in from the front room, smiling. “Did you hear that mom bagged a doctor?” Sara looked at her mother and they broke out laughing.
Epilogue
The Sunday after Valentine's Day, the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Allen leaned back against the large driftwood and smiled at Sara and Beast playing in the surf. He knew the water was probably very cold, but they splashed around like neither of them cared.
The large picnic blanket and empty plates around him would have to be packed up soon, judging by the level of the sun, but for now he smiled and laughed at his two greatest loves playing in the water.
Mr. Mathis had been released when his wife had confessed to stalking Sara. Allen had been told by Robert that the woman was being evaluated at the local hospital for mental stability. Apparently, she'd been posing as a prospective home buyer in Pride. She'd been going around town telling everyone she was moving in soon.
Watching the pair play in the water, her hair flowing wild in the wind, he remembered what she'd looked l
ike last night wearing the sexy lace she'd surprised him with. He'd been shocked and pleased and had enjoyed taking his time slowly peeling it off her.
How had he gotten so lucky? Sara laughed and he looked over. Here he was on the perfect beach, with the dog, and the woman of his dream from so long ago. Just then Beast rushed up to him and stood and shook himself clean of the water. Beads of water smelling like wet dog rained down on him and the blanket.
“Beast!” He jumped up and tried to escape the attack. Sara laughed from her position by the water.
“He just wants you to join in the fun.” She smiled and tossed a stick into the water. Beast bolted after it.
Allen walked over and grabbed Sara around the waist, spinning her around. “What do you say we head home and have a different kind of fun?” He leaned over and kissed her until both their heads were spinning.
“Mmm, sounds like a great plan.” She started walking backwards, but he stopped her.
“This is going to last, you and I.” She stopped and looked up at him.
“Of course it is.” She smiled, holding his hand.
“Good. I don't want it to ever end.” He pulled her closer.
“Never.” She smiled up at him.
“Good, then you won't have any objections when we get married.”
“Of course not.” She smiled at him, looking pleased.
“Good. Just so you know, that's where this is heading.”
“That's good. Because I was starting to figure out how to bake another cake for you.”
“Oh, no. What would this one look like?”
She smiled and stood back from him, her arms crossed over her chest, her head tilted to the side as if thinking. “One with you down on one knee, a diamond ring in your hands.”
He laughed. “Like this one?” He pulled a small box out of his pocket. His sister had brought him his grandmother's ring last month. He'd brought it along today knowing the time was right. That Sara was the right person.
She looked stunned, much to his enjoyment.
“Well?” He nodded towards the box. “Don't you want to see it?”
She took the small box from his hands. Her fingers shook as she flipped the lid open.
“It was my grandmother's, so it's a little old-fashioned.”
“It's perfect.” She looked up at him quickly. “It's perfect,” she repeated.
“Good.” He smiled as he removed the ring and waited for her to hold out her fingers so he could slip it onto her ring finger. He dropped down on his knee. Beast came running over, thinking it was a new game. After several attempts to push him away, Sara said,
“Sit.” Beast sat and looked up at her.
“Perfect. Now you can both propose.” She smiled and nodded. “Continue.”
He laughed.
“Sara, would you do me…um…us, the honor of marrying me…um, us?” He slid the ring on her finger.
“Yes!” She smiled and pulled his hand until they were spinning as the dog ran circles around them.
If you’ve enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review where you purchased it. Thanks! --Jill
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About the Author
Jill Sanders survived 80′s pop music and life as an identical twin in a chaotic family of nine. A feat by any standard! She was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, relocating to Colorado for college and a successful IT career at IBM in Boulder.
Narrowly escaping before all creativity was squashed, she jumped at the chance to trade the mundane world of computers for the sexy, exciting world of her own imagination. She now lives in charming rural Texas writing wonderful novels such as the Pride series.
Her debut novel, Finding Pride, was shortlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards 2013, and has since climbed to #1 on Amazon Bestsellers – Contemporary Romance & Romantic Suspense. Each Pride Series novel has spent time on bestseller lists for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple. Watch out New York Times, here she comes!
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