Page 109 of Tide and Seek
My throat was tight as I admitted, “I’m thinking that I can’t wait to go home tomorrow.”
Obvious surprise fluttered through his eyes.“Really?”
I nodded slowly.“It sounds crazy, right?Me missing Rainy Dale.”I laughed.“But I kind of miss the smell of sage, and the lack of humidity compared to here.And I miss Grumpy, and Girdy, and even some of my patients.”
“I miss home too,” he said quietly.
I met his gaze.“I didn’t really appreciate it before, but the sunsets are beautiful in Rainy Dale.So different from here.I like how, behind the yucca and the prickly pear, it’s like the whole sky catches fire every night in orange and violet.”I gave a self-conscious laugh.“Okay, that sounded a little dramatic.”
“Nah, it was poetic.”He smiled.“The sunsets here are mighty pretty too.”
“Yes, they are.”I nodded.“And I definitely want to come back here with you again.But, honestly, I… I can’t wait to get on that plane.”
He bit his bottom lip.“It’s awful nice to hear you say that, Max.Part of me worried you wouldn’t want to go back.”
“Of course I want to go back with you.”I frowned.
He hesitated.“When we actually have the wedding… did you want to do that here?”He kept his voice neutral.“I know there are way nicer restaurants and venues in Malibu than Rainy Dale.You could have your dream wedding in a city like this.”
I couldn’t help smiling because he was trying so hard to be diplomatic.“Marrying you is the dream part, Royce.And yes, the restaurants here are far more sophisticated than anything we’ll find in Rainy Dale.”I smiled.“But you know what?I don’t feel very sophisticated these days.I have no one to impress anymore.When it comes to our wedding, I’m thinking small.Intimate.We could do it in our backyard for all I care.”
He grinned.“You’re just trying to incorporate your beloved pool into the festivities, aren’t you?”
I laughed.“Oh, my.A pool-party wedding.That sounds very Rainy Dale-ish.We could barbecue a hog over a spit, and hire a horrible country band just to round it all out.”
He chuckled and reached his hand out to me, looking happy.“I want to run something by you.”
I tensed.“Okay.”
He laughed.“Don’t look so worried.”
“You just looked really serious all of a sudden,” I murmured, trying to relax.
He cleared his throat, tensing his fingers on mine.“I know you’re worried about meeting my mom one of these days.”
I gritted my teeth.“Yes.”If I had my way we’d never actually meet, but I knew it mattered to Royce so meeting her was inevitable.Much like death and taxes.
“But I think you should definitely meet her before we actually tie the knot.”He added quickly, “Even if you two hate each other, I’m still marrying you, Max.I want to be sure you know that.I’d just like you two to meet first, that’s all.It seems like the proper thing to do.”
“Of course.”Hopefully I sounded appropriately agreeable.
“As you know, she loves cruises.”He sounded a little uncertain now.“And she’s always wanted me to go on a cruise with her.”
I blinked at him with trepidation because I was no fool and knew exactly where this was going.“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
He laughed sheepishly.“Is it too crazy of an idea?”
“Well, I won’t pretend I love the idea.”I grimaced.“What kind of cruise?”
“She invited me on a cruise to the Caribbean a few months back.I didn’t give her an answer because I wasn’t thrilled about going on a vacation without you.But if you came with us, then it could be fun.What do you think?Have you ever had any interest in going on a cruise?”
“Well, to be frank,” I said cautiously, “I’m turning forty soon, and I’ve never once felt the desire to book a cruise.”
“Yeah.I figured you wouldn’t be thrilled.”He gritted his teeth.“But I was thinking since she loves cruises she’d be in a really good mood.And then if you and I joined her, she’d feel super special and maybe you two could bond.”
I laughed gruffly.“What exactly are we bonding over?She loves cruises and probably people too, and I hate both.”
He gave a crooked smile.“Well, obviously, you’d be bonding over your adoration of me.”
