Naomi was dressing in the guest room—“to surprise you”.
He wondered if he should have told her that she always looked beautiful to him. He waited in the front hallway, walking restlessly the length of it and around the internal courtyard veranda. Finally, he heard footsteps on the stairs and looked up.
Naomi wore her hair down in a long, blond, curly tangle that tried for elegance, but got hijacked at sexy. He wasn’t complaining! Her dress was short, making the most of her incredible legs. It was also a dark midnight blue that clung to her curves.
You look amazing, was what he said in his head. The noise that came out of his mouth was a croak.
She laughed and spun on the last step. “You like?”
“Oh yeah.” He put a hand on her left hip and caressed the curvy line up to her breast. “You are sensational.”
She stepped down the last step and into his kiss. She ended up pressed back against the wall, both of them breathing heavily.
“Is your make-up ruined?” he murmured against her mouth, unwilling to move back enough to check. Her eyes were spectacular, blue and dreamy, pupils wide with arousal.
“Kiss-proof, but maybe I should check. That was some kiss.” Her hands were inside his jacket, roaming.
He groaned. “I have a table booked.”
“And I have a very nice dress, and a very nice man, to show off.” She smiled at him.
Unbelievably, he felt himself blush.
Her smile changed fractionally from passion and teasing, to something that looked like love. “You look handsome. Debonair.”
He ran his hands down her back, pulling her away from the wall. “Do you have a jacket?”
“A wrap. I left it on a hook here earlier.”
He hadn’t even noticed it during his pacing. He found the black and turquoise wrap and draped it around her, pressing a kiss to the side of her throat and feeling her shiver. His nervousness vanished. “We’re going to have a magical evening.”
Naomi smiled at Caleb across the table. He was keeping his promise of a magical evening. The waterfront restaurant had candles on their table which overlooked the harbor on which boat lights shimmered like fireflies. Out there somewhere were Cait and Otis on the Haunted Beauty.
So much had happened in such a short time, but of all incredible happenings, meeting Corey was the most wonderful.
She loved the crooked, rueful curve of his mouth, the humor of him. She loved how quietly confident and kind he was, how capable. And his green eyes…she sighed. She could stare into his eyes forever.
“Have you finished your golden rum cake?” he asked.
She glanced down at her forgotten dessert. It was delicious and she’d only eaten half of it. She looked back at Corey, who was more delicious. “Yes.”
He smiled, green eyes pools of mystery and promise, and paid the bill. In the foyer, he helped her into her wrap, his deft hands lingering against her skin.
She leaned back against him for an instant, reveling in being with him, in his strength and care.
Outside the restaurant, the air was cool enough to make her glad of the angora wrap. Rather than walking to the pickup, he guided her along the beach path. Mid-week and not yet summer, there were few tourists.
He halted under a palm tree. “Naomi, we haven’t known each other long, but time won’t change my feelings for you, only deepen them.”
Her breath caught. She stared into his eyes.
“I love you,” he said.
“Corey.”
“Wait!” He grasped her shoulders and turned her to face the beach.
Fire ignited on the sand. It ran swiftly, controlled yet fierce, tracing loops and lines. Naomi gulped, shocked and happy. The flames spelled out a message.
Naomi, marry me?
Corey hadn’t used magic to ignite the blazing message, just human ingenuity and love. It was perfect. Beyond perfect.
He watched her with hope and all the love in the world shining in his brilliant green eyes.
“Yes! Yes, oh yes. Corey, I love you.”
His kiss swallowed the “you” of her acceptance. His mouth was firm and compelling. His hold on her eager and possessive.
Dimly, she heard cheers and applause. When their kiss finally ended and she looked around, she saw Cait and Otis first, but they were by no means alone. Islanders and tourists, alike, had appeared seemingly from nowhere, drawn by the romance of it all.
In her moment of distraction, Corey produced a small box.
The click of it opening drew her attention back to him. “Oh.”
“May I?” He smiled at her.
She nodded, speechless. The diamond ring was beautiful. He slid it onto her finger and she had to bite her lip to stop tears forming in her eyes. Okay, the tears were there, but she wouldn’t let them fall.
Nor would Corey. He kissed her, gently this time; a promise conveyed in the touch of his lips.
Applause broke out in the crowd. There were flashes of light as people took photos.
All Naomi saw was Corey. All she heard was his vow. It wasn’t elegant, but it was real and from the heart.
“You and me, gorgeous. Always.”
Note From The Author
Sadly, the lighthouse on Catalina Island doesn’t really exist. I needed one for my story, so I made it up. I adore lighthouses. If I could live in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage and write, write, write, that would be perfect.
Fantastical Island is the second stand-alone novel in the Old School series. The first book, Phoenix Blood, is available now. The third novel, Storm Road, will be out in late April 2017.
If you haven’t already discovered it, don’t miss my complete paranormal romance series, The Collegium. Magic, mystery, shifters and demons.
Demon Hunter
Djinn Justice
Dragon Knight
Doctor Wolf
Plague Cult
Hollywood Demon
Alchemy Shift
Catch up with me on my Facebook page, Twitter @Jenny_Schwartz, or at my website.
Jenny
Fantastical Island (Old School Book 2) Page 20
