Page 116 of Tempting Me

“We don’t know,” Shay answers.

As if I can sense him looking at me, I meet Miles’s gaze. He mouthsLeoto me, and suddenly all the dots connect.

If Leo was making bad choices, stealing money could have been one of them.

The thing that boggles me is why, after all these years, if it was him, hasn't he come clean?

“Speaking of The Marina, when can we see it?” Ruby asks. She brings the last tray of food to the table and takes a seat. The kids dig in first, stealing most of Sadie's famous quiche.

“Soon.” The pride that beams off my girl is a sight to see.

There is no way her parents can come back, see that place, and decide to sell it to someone else.

As soon as breakfast is over, Shay and I get back in my truck.

I have a surprise for her for the rest of our day.

“Where are we going?” she asks as I turn onto the highway that leads out of town instead of toward The Marina.

I grab her hand, bring it to my lips, and kiss the back of it.

“We are going to Wind Valley.”

“For what?”

“So that I can take you on a proper date where I can kiss you as much as I want and hold your hand as much as I want.”

“There you go again,” she says with a massive smile on her lips.

“What?”

“Being cheesy.” I shrug as she leans over the center to kiss my cheek. “But I really like cheesy.”

“Good, because once you’ve been on a date with me, there is no going back.”

“I’m pretty sure there’s no going back as it is. You don’t need to court me at this point.”

Her words hit me in the chest.

They’re exactly what I needed to hear.

There’s no going back.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SHAY

Watching Luca move around The Marina as if he belongs here just as much as I do never gets old.

Yesterday all the new tables and chairs showed up for the dining room, and Luca has been moving them in and the old ones out all day.

I finally caved after that day with his family and let him work anytime he wants. The town obviously knows—we may as well use it to our advantage and get things done.

I’ll admit, working during the day is much more effective. It also gives me more time with Luca.

This summer started stressful, but it’s turning out to be so much better than I could have ever hoped. The stress is still there since I don’t know the outcome of The Marina yet, but having Luca here helps.

Adding final touches in the dining room makes everything finally feel worth it, even if we still have the cabins to finish.

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