“Rafael, is something wrong?”
Bryony’s soft voice slid over him at the same time her hand slipped through his arm and she hugged herself up to his side.
He disentangled his arm from her grasp just long enough to wrap it around her waist and then pulled her in close again.
“No, just thinking.”
“About?”
“What has to be done.”
Instead of pressing him for answers as he thought she might, she said, “Why don’t we take off, go for a long walk? Mamaw won’t mind. She’s having fun being the center of attention. She won’t even notice we’ve gone.”
Unable to resist, he leaned down to kiss her brow. She was so in tune with his moods. It shouldn’t have surprised him that she could read him so easily. He’d found that he could pick up on the nuances of her moods just as quickly. He anticipated her reactions much like she did his own.
It was something he imagined a couple doing after years of marriage.
When he drew away, she took his hand and tugged him toward the stone path leading through the garden and down the dune onto the sand.
Sand slid over his toes but he found he didn’t mind as much as he had when he first started wearing these ridiculous flip-flops.
They ventured closer to the water that foamed over the sand. Soon the cool waves washed over their feet, and Bryony smiled her delight as they danced back to avoid a larger one from getting them too wet.
Soon Laura’s and Bryony’s cottages were distant points behind them as they approached the land that he’d purchased from her.
“My father used to bring me here,” she said. “He used to tell me that there was nothing greater than owning a piece of heaven. I feel like I’ve let him down by selling it.”
Rafael grimaced feeling even guiltier over his part in the whole thing. It didn’t matter that if it hadn’t been him it would have been someone else. She could no longer afford the taxes and if someone hadn’t bought it, eventually the land would have been seized for taxes owed. Either way it would no longer belong to her.
But you have the power to give it back to her.
The thought crept through his mind, whispering to him. It was true. He owned the land. Not his company. Not his partners. He’d purchased the land outright. The building of the resort and development of the land was what he’d brought investors in for.
“I love you,” she said as she squeezed his hand.
He looked curiously at her, startled by her sudden affection.
She smiled. “You just looked like you needed that today.”
He stopped and pulled her into his arms, brushing a thick strand of her hair from her eyes as the wind blew off the water. “I did need that. I shouldn’t be surprised that you always know just what to say.” He took in a deep breath. “I love you, too, Bryony.”
Her eyes went wide with shock and then filled with tears. Her body trembled against him. “You remember?” she whispered.
He shook his head. “No, but it doesn’t matter. You said I loved you then. I know I love you now. Isn’t now all that matters?”
Wordlessly she nodded.
“The whole story doesn’t seem so crazy anymore,” he admitted. “I couldn’t accept that I fell in love with you in a matter of weeks and yet here I am in love with you after only a few days.”
“Are you sure?”
He smiled but his heart clenched at the hope and fear in her eyes. She seemed so worried that he’d change his mind or that he wasn’t really sure of himself or his feelings.
He tipped her chin up and leaned down to brush a kiss across her lips. “I’ve handled this whole thing so clumsily. I don’t have any experience with telling a woman I love her. I imagine there were more romantic ways of doing it but I simply couldn’t not say it any longer.”
“Oh, Rafe,” she said, her eyes bright with love and joy. “You’ve made me so happy today. I’ve been so afraid and unsure. I hate being uncertain more than anything else. The not knowing just eats at you until you’re a nervous wreck.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t want you to worry. I love you.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him to her. “I love you, too.”
He slowly pulled her arms away until he held her in front of him. She looked a little worried at the sudden seriousness of his expression and he tried to soften his features to reassure her. But he couldn’t really offer her any reassurance. Not yet.
“I need to leave tomorrow,” he said grimly.
Her expression went blank and her mouth opened but nothing came out. “Wh-why?” she finally stammered out.
“I need to go back and work things out with my partners and our investors. I’ve avoided it for as long as I can. I can’t do so any longer. I wanted you to know how I felt before I leave. I don’t want you to have any doubts that I’ll come back this time.”