Page 93 of The Hermit on the Hill

"That wasn't your choice, Sam, and that's not how relationships work. You were supposed to stand by me. We were supposed to figure it out together."

Sam stopped backing up. "You're right. I never should have left, and I sure as hell shouldn't have lied to you."

"I'm strong enough to put up with some people being rude to me and talking behind my back."

"Of course you are, but—"

I held up a hand. "No buts. I'm strong enough. If you ever lie to me or hide something from me, because you think I can't handle it, I'll…" Shit, where was a good threat when I needed one?

Sam stepped closer and put a hand on my waist. "I know you can handle it, I just didn't want you to have to. I never want to see the light in your smile dim because of me."

"But it did dim because of you, you big asshole. You make me happier than anybody in town could ever make me sad. I love you, Sam. Please don't lie to me and please don't ever walk out on me again just because things get hard."

He dropped his forehead to mine. "I won't. I'll regret for the rest of my life that I ever did it the first time."

"You should." But my anger was already fading.

"I love you so fucking much," he said against my lips right before he kissed the hell out of me.

This time, I let the joy fill and flow through me. Also some other feelings that had me wanting to rip his clothes off right there because it had been way too long since I'd had him in my arms.

"Come on," Cody said with a groan. "Seriously? You're just going to make out in the middle of an orchard while your family is standing here watching you?" When we ignored him and kept kissing, he went on, "Let's go. I need to wash my eyes with bleach. That's my little sister, you pervert."

"I don't want to leave," George said. "I want to know what's in the holes."

"Ugh," Cody said. "You're a fucking voyeur now? Vegan wasn't bad enough, now you want to—?"

"He's talking about the holes in the ground," Jared said in his calm, professional voice.

"I'm with George," May said. "Stop making out so we can see what's in the rest of the holes."

I had to stop kissing Sam because I was laughing. When I pulled away, he looked at me with amusement. "You want to find out what's in the rest of the holes? Or do you want me to send them away? Maybe both?" He said the last wistfully, and I laughed again.

"They can stay." I slid down his body to my feet. "I love you, and I'm dying to find out what your Nana's treasure is. Have you already seen it?"

"I found it. But I haven't opened it. It's not another charm bag, that's all I know for sure." Then he leaned down close and whispered in my ear. "Say it again."

I pressed my lips to his cheek and spoke against his warm skin. "I love you, Samuel Oakley. So much."

"I love you, too." He steered me with one arm around my shoulders and stopped in front of a hole with the number two on it.

Sam insisted on doing the digging. At the bottom of the shallow hole, he pulled out a plastic baggie with an index card inside and handed it to me.

I studied it. "Is this a recipe for apple pie?"

Sam grinned. "My grandmother's secret recipe. Figured it should stay in the family."

"Can I get a copy of that?" Cody asked. "Mom would love to bake it for her guests."

Sam glared at Cody. "I'll give it to your mother myself after she promises never to share it with her meddling, terrorizing sons."

Cody shrugged. "Long as she lets me eat the pie, I don't really care."

"Next hole," I said, before a fight broke out.

The next hole held a small velvet box in a plastic bag. My heart thudded as I lifted the lid, but there wasn't an engagement ring inside.

I let out a breath of relief and studied the red ruby in the shape of a heart on a gold chain. "Sam. This is gorgeous."

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