Page 96 of Beauty and the Beach

“You will,” she says, turning her head to grin up at me. “We’ll watch them both. Many, many times.”

Even though we were already married, we never had a proper honeymoon. Neither of us wanted to go back to the honeymoon suite at the Vida Grande, so we picked a different hotel on the mainland instead. We’ll head home in the morning, and then it’s back to the grind—my job, Holland’s, our life.

I smile into her hair, inhaling deeply. “You always smell like peppermint and vanilla,” I say.

“It’s because I stock up on my favorite scent every winter,” she says with a laugh. “I get enough of the soap and the lotion and the body spray to last the whole year.”

“I like it.” I pause and then go on. “By the way—I got you a wedding present.”

“Did you?” she says, pulling away so she can look at me better. “I didn’t get you anything.”

“I did,” I say with a nod. “It should be at home when we get back.”

“What is it?” she says, and I grin at the excited look on her face.

“I’m not telling,” I say. “It’s a surprise. But you’ll like it.”

She’s not convinced. But when we get home the next day and she sees what’s in our living room—I had Wyatt set it up—her eyes go wide.

“It’s a dog bed,” she says faintly.

“Not just that,” I say with a smirk. “It’s ahuman-sizeddog bed.”

She stares at the large plushy bed; she looks at me. Then she laughs, and it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard.

“What’s the verdict?” I say, flopping down on the giant plushy pillow and pulling her with me.

“Good,” she says, her voice still breathless with laughter. “Great. I love it.” She kisses me. “I loveyou.”

I kiss her back, sliding my hands into her hair and relishing the feeling of her lips against mine. “I’d hope so,” I murmur as my lips move to her jaw. “Because you’re mine, sweetheart.”

“And?” she says, gasping as I reach her neck.

I smile. “And I’m yours.”

Ten Years Later

Holland

The water is a little chilly,but we all get in anyway.

Aeri’s long, dark hair is pulled into two braids that drip water down her back, and even though I’ve told her twice now to stop splashing her brother, she keeps going. Trevor doesn’t seem to mind, so I guess I shouldn’t either; he just giggles from his perch in Phoenix’s arms.

“Why are your kids so much better behaved than mine?” I say to Cat as we sit on the shallow bank of the river, water lapping at our legs.

Cat snorts and glances at where her husband, Noah, is chasing their kids through the knee-high water. “You should see them at bedtime,” she says. “Noah included.”

I look over at Phoenix, staring unashamedly as he lifts Trevor over his head, pretending to toss him. Trevor shrieks with laughter, his chubby toddler cheeksso perfectly squishy, and from below Aeri grabs at Phoenix’s legs, begging for her turn.

“Hold on, hold on,” he says, grinning down at her. He looks over his shoulder at me, and I stand up, wading over to take Trevor.

“Come here, sweet boy,” I say, scooping him out of Phoenix’s hands and into my arms.

“Yes,” Cat says from behind me. “Come to Aunt Cat.”

I laugh and pass Trevor to her.

“You’re such a handsome boy!” she coos, tickling Trevor’s belly. “You’re so handsome!”

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