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As they made meir way along the dock, they lifted their heads to the sky, painted with waving ribbons of pink and mauve and purple. To the west, the sun was a fiery globe just begi
Grace turned to Josh with a puzzled expression. „Is it possible that this was here all along, and I never noticed?“
Josh’s voice was hushed. „If it was, I was as blind to it as you. But then, ever since I had my first glimpse of you, I’ve been blind to everything else.“ He brushed a kiss to her cheek. „Maybe it takes the two of us, looking through the rosy glow of love, to see what’s really here.“
His words had her going very still. Was that it? Had love cast some sort of spell over everything around them?
They stood together on the end of the dock, watching the spectacular sunset. For the longest time after the sun disappeared, leaving a sky washed with unbelievable color, they remained there, arms around each other, savoring the beauty of the moment. Neither of mem seemed willing to break the spell.
It was the dog’s barking that finally roused them. Barn-aby brushed past them and raced to the door of the cabin, where he stood waiting for them to catch up.
Josh gave a laugh. „I’d say that’s a very broad hint mat one of us is hungry.“
They were still laughing as they opened the door. Barn-aby was the first one inside. He moved about the room, sniffing, pausing, then standing patiently by the fire, watching as Josh tossed a log on the hot coals. Within minutes a cozy fire was burning.
„Make yourself at home.“ Josh knelt to run a hand along the dog’s coat before walking across the room. He picked up a knife and began to fillet the fish.
„Let’s see what I can find to go with that.“ Grace began rummaging through the cupboard.
Josh winked. „We could always eat a salad made of weeds, as you called them.“
„Very tasty weeds, by the way. Or we could drink this.“ Grace held up a dusty bottle of pale amber wine.
„Good thing it’s white wine.“ At her arched brow, Josh added dryly, „I figured a city girl like you would realize that red wine just doesn’t go with fish.“
„Well then, the one who left this here had very good taste.“ While Josh set the fish over the fire, Grace washed out two old, elegant stem glasses that had been hidden in the back of the cupboard. When they were sparkling, she filled them with wine and crossed the room to hand one to Josh.
He touched his glass to hers. „What will we drink to?“
Grace thought a moment before saying softly, „To strangers meeting in the most unlikely places.“
„And to lucky plane crashes.“ Josh’s gaze locked on hers as he sipped.
When the fish was perfectly browned, Josh divided it into three portions. While he and Grace settled themselves at the scarred old coffee table, Barnaby noisily polished off his food in several quick bites before flopping down in front of the fire.
Josh nodded toward the dog. „Looks like he’s ready to stay the night.“
Grace chuckled. „I was thinking the same thing. I hope Wyatt won’t mind.“
„We’ll take him back first thing in the morning.“ He continued to study the dog before turning to Grace with a strange look.
She placed a hand over his. „What were you just thinking?“
„How right everything is. Us. This cabin. A cozy fire. Even a dog. This is the exact homecoming I’ve been picturing in my mind for years. It’s been my secret wish.“
His words had Grace’s eyes widening. „Now that you mention it, that’s true for me, too. Except that in my secret wish, along with love I’d find my mother.“
„You have.“ He motioned toward the packet of letters. „In a ma
She sighed. „I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with her letters to tell me what she was like, until I can ask Wyatt for more information. And at least now I know what she looked like.“
Josh seemed startled. „You didn’t know what your own mother looked like?“
Grace shook her head. „My father was so furious when she left, he tore every picture of her from his albums. There were no photos of my mother holding me or feeding me. My father destroyed all of them. He even tore their wedding picture in two. All I ever saw was my famer in a tuxedo, gazing solemnly at an empty space beside him.“
„Now that’s what I call bitter.“ Josh rounded the table and drew her close to press kisses to her eyes, her cheeks, the tip of her nose. Against her mouth he whispered, „That’s a lot of pain to carry around for a lifetime. I wish I could do something to erase it.“
„You have, Josh. Just being here with you has brought me so much peace.“ She wrapped her arms around his neck.
He trailed nibbling kisses along her jaw until he heard her sigh. It pleased him to pleasure her. He loved the expressive look on her face, as the shadows in her eyes lifted and her little frown turned into the languid look of a lover. Her eyes were open, and focused on him. Only him. It was as erotic as anything he could have imagined. Far more exciting than the thrill of adventure. And so much more rewarding than hearing the cheers from his adoring fans. With Grace this adventure had become deeply personal and intimate. There was something about this quiet woman that touched his very soul.
Forcing aside the need to take her quickly, he ran soft, feathery kisses across her shoulder, down her throat, burying his lips in the sensitive little hollow. When he moved lower still, her sigh became a moan. Still, he kept his touch light, his kisses soft as butterfly wings, as he ever-so-slowly took her.
„What’s this?“ Grace sat up, shoving hair out of her eyes.
„Nourishment. After the amount of energy we’ve consumed, I thought we needed sustenance.“
„Very thoughtful of you.“ She eyed the sandwich, cut into quarters. „Peanut butter and jelly?“
„And the last of the wine. Can’t have P, B, and J without wine.“
„Of course not.“ She laughed. „Makes perfect sense to me.“
„I’ve been waiting a lifetime to hear a woman say that. Now I know we’re compatible. Will you marry me?“ He settled himself beside her on the sofa, completely unconcerned about his nakedness.
„Only if you promise to make me this for a midnight snack at least once a month for the rest of my life.“ She bit into the sandwich and made little humming sounds as she devoured it.
„That will depend on just how you plan to express your… gratitude for this extravagance.“
„I intend to be… extremely grateful.“
„I love it when you purr like that.“ He set down his glass of wine and leaned over for a quick kiss. „I wasn’t joking when I asked if you’d marry me.“
She pulled away and sucked in a breath. „Josh…“
„I know. You told me you’re no good at relationships. Neither am I. But it’s different with us, Grace. There’s something special here that I don’t want to lose.“
„I feel it, too. But…“ The question she was about to ask died abruptly on her lips when she saw the fierce look in his eyes. „Oh, hold me, Josh.“
Suddenly the midnight snack was forgotten as they took each other with all the force of a hurricane.
Grace’s head was pillowed on Josh’s chest. She awoke to the strong, steady beat of his heart and thought it the most wonderful music in the world. When she opened her eyes, she found him watching her with a look of such intensity, it had her breath hitching in her throat.
„Good morning.“
He brushed a hand over her cheek. „Morning, sleepyhead.“
She actually felt herself blushing. „Have you been watching me sleep?“
„Yeah. Did you know that you wiggle your nose while you’re sleeping?“
„I do not.“ She started to sit up but his arm was around her, holding her close.