Page 65 of A Heart to Find
“And you’re nutty.”
“You’re a buzzkill,” she teased while crossing her arms over her chest. She eyed the mugs quizzically, tapping her chin as she playfully pondered. “Promise you’ll use yours if we paint them?”
“Every day.” He held his free hand over his heart as he made the pledge.
“Okay, I’m sold!” She took one from his hand and brought it to an empty seat.
She thought he’d sit across from her, but those familiar shivers ran up her spine as his arm brushed hers when he leaned over to set his mug down at the spot beside her.
“I’ll grab paint.”
She nodded in response. Her throat wouldn’t work.
By the time he returned with paper plates of various colors squirted on the perimeters, she had regained her ability to speak. They spent the next couple of hours chattering about random topics while they painted. He feigned frustration at having to go over every detail three times for best kiln results, and she chastised him for making a huge mess of his plate when he tried mixing colors. The more they teased, the louder their laughter grew.
After leaving their mugs—their gloriously tacky mugs—with the person manning the counter, they slipped back into the still late-morning air.
“Definitely the calm before the storm.” Jared sniffed the air.
“You’ve been saying that forever.”
“But it’s coming. Not much longer.”
She pulled her phone from her purse and opened her weather app. “Sorry, buddy. You appear to be wrong. Yet again.”
“Not a chance.” He grinned a smug grin. “Your weather report is wrong. Wait and see.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Anyway, before the storm comes, I have another special event planned for you. I’m glad you followed my advice and dressed in warm layers.”
“Where are we going next?”
“You’ll see.”
Refusing to reveal the surprise, he led her into the chocolate shop and picked up a basket that had been pre-ordered and held behind the counter, another shop where he picked up two blankets—a thick quilt and a fuzzy red throw. They then boarded the trolley and got off at a stop she hadn’t yet seen, where he then told her they had to walk a short distance to their destination.
After a few minutes of wondering if this was a romantic escape or if she had upset him and he was going to lose her in the wilderness, the sound of waves and the smell of salty air alerted her to where they were going.
Minutes later, they emerged from the woods and onto a small, secluded sandy beach. She shivered against the wind, and he stopped to place the things he carried on the ground before wrapping the fleece blanket around her shoulders.
“We’re almost there,” he promised, and then planted a tender kiss on her forehead, sending warmth along her body to cast away the chills.
They approached a wooden dock, and he shifted the quilt over the arm that carried the basket and then grabbed her hand to walk her to the dock.
Seagulls flew overhead, eager to savor dropped crumbs.
“Will you tell me what’s in the basket yet?”
He shrugged and placed the basket on the dock before spreading the quilt beside it. “You’ll see in a minute.”
“I can’t wait for my turn to plan the super secret surprise date for you. It’ll be payback.”
The crease in his cheek deepened.
“You were never good at waiting for the reveal.” He gestured for her to sit. “Warm enough?”
She nodded, hugging the blanket closer to her before remembering that he might be cold, too. “What about you? I can share.”
