Page 130 of Only for Love

Cally’s asleep, and I’m lounging in Grayson’s arms outside on the deck overlooking the beach, feeling as though this night is supposed to make up for the one when he left me. There’s a glass of wine in my hand, and the baby monitor sits on the nearby table. The stars shine overhead, and a cool breeze rolls over us. I tug up the blanket and let the heavy weight of his arms tuck me in and hold me tight.

My shoulders are a tiny bit sunburned, and we’ve grilled for almost every meal since we arrived—basically, my beach-time ideal. “This is how you’re supposed to do a vacation.”

“Hooah to that.”

His breath tickles my neck, and I snuggle closer. Grayson has taken up wearing his board-shorts uniform that I love, and I haven’t for a single moment taken for granted how ruggedly handsome he isandhow amazingly sweet he is to Cally. Life is perfect in a way that I never saw coming. “Love you, baby. Thank you for this.”

“Pretty mama, it’s you that deserves the thanks.” His lips press to the back of my head before he takes a pull from his beer.

The ocean crashes around us. “Did you think we’d ever be at the beach again?”

“I don’t know,” he murmurs. “I thought about what was best for you last time we were at the beach together, and I got it wrong that time. I’m not going to try and predict the future again. Maybe I’ll just pray I get it right.”

I shift to gaze up at him and touch his cheek, letting the weekend’s worth of scruff scratch my fingertips. “Everything was supposed to happen for a reason.”

“I’m a lucky bastard you think like that.”

My head tilts. “I think like that, and every day I wake up to you, I smile at all I have.”

“At every hurdle we’ve cleared.”

“Yup.” I sip my wine and burrow against him. “Want to go inside?”

“Not yet.”

“Whatdoyou want to do?” I ask, teasing him because there is something I definitely want to do, and it involves going inside and losing the remainder of our clothes.

“Just sit here for a few more minutes.” He sighs, holding me firmly, then breathes in deeply. “So, you like your camera?”

It hasn’t been out of reach, and I’ve been completely addicted to it, starting with the ride out to the beach and through every moment since. “Of course I do. I love it. You’re too generous, baby.”

He chuckles against me. “Got any good pics?”

“I think so. Maybe I’ll wake up early and grab a couple at sunrise before we leave.” I cast my gaze into the black, inky ocean. “I got a couple super-cute ones tonight while you guys were grilling.” Grayson and Cally made dinner with aprons over their bathing suits. Cally mixed her bowls on the ground, sitting across from him while he manned the meat and veggies.

I reach for my camera, curious about how those turned out. I flick the switch on and turn the setting to show the photos on the small screen. There are a couple of pictures I don’t recognize of Cally making faces into the lens very,veryclose up. I laugh. “Snugglebug got the camera when we weren’t looking.”

He shifts us so we can both see. Slowly, I start clicking through the pictures. More Snugglebug pics, then there are some of CallyandGrayson. “Busted. You were there!”

Laughing, he whispers against my neck, “Guess so.”

Then one by one, I click through. Cally and Grayson pose in their daddy-daughter selfies. Then they hold a piece of paper between them with Grayson’s outstretched arm holding the camera. Black ink clearly stands out in block letters.

Will

What the…? I click to the next picture, sure that this is not what I think it is.

You

Oh my God…

Marry me?

I spin toward him. “Gray!”

His smile shines in the light from the camera’s screen. “We had an art project while you went to the store.”

“You’re asking me to marry you!”

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