Page 56 of Sea Glass Serenade

He shook his head. “You look absolutely perfect.”

She flushed, and he pulled out a chair for her to sit down in. “Did you do all this?”

He nodded. “Julia made the dinner.”

“You did everything else?” She looked a little starstruck as she gazed at the flower petals and flickering candles. “Are—are Mom and Julia joining us for dinner?”

He shook his head. “They went to the pub to eat. They wanted to give us some privacy.”

She nodded, smiling at him shyly. “Thank you for this, Grayson. It’s—well, it makes me feel like I’m very important to you.”

“You are.” He smiled at her, feeling a glow of love for her in his chest. “And I’m going to keep making sure that you knowthat. I don’t ever want you to feel as though I’m neglecting you again. I want to do things with you. I want to do life together with you every day.”

She reached for his hand and squeezed it tenderly. “That sounds wonderful.”

“And I have some news I’d like to share with you.”

“Oh?” Her eyebrows lifted curiously. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath, wondering how she was going to feel about his news. “I’ve been offered a finance job. The pay is good, and it starts in a week.”

She blinked at him for a couple of seconds, and then nodded slowly. She looked worried, and his heart sank a little.

“And I’ve taken it,” he said. “But I’m not going to let it affect our relationship, Alexis. This time I’m going to make our marriage my priority.”

“Where is it?” she asked. “Back in L.A.?”

“What? No.” He shook his head, laughing a little and realizing why she’d looked worried. “No, it’s here in Rosewood Beach. Actually, it’s right next door to the doctor’s office where Hazel works. You could walk to it from here if you wanted to.” He smiled, loving the way happiness was breaking over her face like a sunrise.

“You want to stay here?” she asked breathlessly. “Are you sure? Isn’t Rosewood Beach too provincial for you? I mean, there’s no glitz and glamour out here.”

He shook his head smiling. “I don’t want glitz and glamour. I thought I wanted success, but I don’t think success is what I thought it was all these years. I think a successful life is one spent doing work you enjoy and cherishing the company of your loved ones. I don’t need L.A. for that kind of life. That kind of life is here for me, in Rosewood Beach.”

She blinked rapidly, and he wondered if she was blinking back tears. “Do you really mean that?” she whispered.

He nodded, taking her hands in his and squeezing them gently. “It’s been so eye-opening for me to move at a simpler pace. It’s been allowing me to soak in life, and being able to spend time with you has been wonderful. I feel as though I’ve been able to really get to know you. I know I’d lost sight of our relationship, but I’ve never lost sight of what an incredible person you are, and I feel like I’m learning more and more about you every day. Now that I’m here, living a slower life with you, I’m able to focus on what’s important. And what’s most important to me is you.”

A tear slid down her cheek, glimmering slightly in the fading sunlight. She laughed breathlessly and brushed it aside. “I don’t even know what to say. I’m so happy.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “You don’t need to say anything. I’m here. We’re together. We get to start over again.”

She lifted her face to his, and as they shared a sweet kiss, his heart swelled with happiness.

He knew that what was in store for them was going to be incredible.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Alexis pressed her fingertips against her mouth, squirming slightly in her seat. She glanced over at Julia, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of the car, grinning at her.

A warm sunset breeze was ruffling through the open windows of the vehicle, and golden sunlight fell across Alexis’s lap, lighting up the diamonds on her wedding ring. The car was parked on the street near a flowering crabapple tree, and the fragrance that filled the air was fresh and sweet.

“You look nervous.” Dean, who was sitting in the back seat next to Hazel, tapped Alexis on the shoulder. He was grinning as well, and his eyes crinkled affectionately at the corners. “Have one of these granola bites that Hazel made. They’re almost as good as her cookies, I’m telling you.”

Alexis smiled weakly and accepted the granola bite he handed her. “I am nervous. My heart is pounding.” She popped the granola bite into her mouth and her eyes widened. “Oh, wow. That is really good.”

“Don’t be nervous!” Hazel reached forward and rubbed her sister’s shoulder. “You have nothing to be worried about.”

Alexis sighed, looking out the window as she chewed her granola bite. The crunchy sweetness of it had a nutty aftertastethat she enjoyed, and she found herself wanting to make something similar for Grayson. She imagined packing him a lunch that he could take with him to his new job, and she smiled slightly.

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