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The tropical evening breeze, filled with the scent of hibiscus and a hint of saltwater, whipped Vanessa’s ponytail around and she knew she’d probably need a hairbrush the second they got out of the open-top Jeep, but she was too happy to care.
“Having fun yet?” Jake grinned at her as he slung one arm over her shoulders and steered with the other hand.
“Jake, you’d better watch the road!” she said between giggles.
“What road?” He laughed and gestured to the barely visible track through the Costa Rican jungle that they were currently navigating.
“True, there isn’t really a road at all.”
“Gotta love secret back ways to hidden beaches.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, and her heart zinged.
“Why yes, as a matter of fact, I do.”
“I should hope so,” he teased. “This little trek was your idea.” Jake swerved to avoid a large chunk of rock.
Vanessa laughed again and settled Jake’s sunglasses onto her face.
“Are you ever going to give me back my sunglasses?” Jake said, but Vanessa knew he was joking.
“How could I? They’re a piece of history.”
Jake grinned. “Very true. That was a historic moment, the first time you stole them from me when I asked you to be my girlfriend.” He shot Vanessa a sideways glance that looked somehow...nervous?
Vanessa gave a mental shrug. Probably just a remnant of her jet lag.
“Time flies, doesn’t it? Can’t believe that was a little over ten months ago. But who’s counting?”
“Obviously you are.” She nudged him. “But you’re right. It doesn’t seem like that long ago since we found the pearls, and then had our first trip together to Morocco.”
“Pretty amazing, wasn’t it?”
“Definitely. I hadn’t realized there are so many layers of history in that place.”
“Probably why it made such a good second episode for the second season.”
“Which started off with a bang, I’d say.”
“I know. It’s incredible just how well that 355 episode did. Sara and the whole network were celebrating for days.”
Vanessa laughed. “So did Kali, and the entire museum board. Funding has been taken care of for the next few years, because of the money the exhibit is bringing in. And now that her husband’s condition has stabilized, Kali’s been so great about giving me regular time off.”
“Which means we get to spend even more time together.” Jake squeezed Vanessa’s hand.
“Yes. But you know, I don’t even mind our occasional separations with the long-distance element.”
“It’s working for us, and helps keep things interesting, for sure,” Jake winked.
Another large rock loomed up, and Jake put both hands back on the wheel as the Jeep crept up and over the larger outcropping.
“Think we’re almost here,” Jake said.
Something in Jake’s tone made her heart skipped a beat. Was he...planning something?
Jake downshifted and the Jeep rumbled over the last bit of trail. Vanessa unbuckled her seatbelt as Jake turned off the ignition and pulled the parking brake.
“We got here just in time,” she said. “The guidebook mentioned this spot was the best place in the whole region to view the sunset.”
Jake unbuckled his seatbelt and then grabbed the beach towels and a small cooler from the back seat. He held up the cooler. “And the perfect place for dessert.”
She took the beach towels from him, and tucked them under her arm. “Come on.”
But just then, Jake’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID. “I should probably take this. It’s Sara.”
“Sure,” Vanessa said. “Wouldn’t want you to miss some prime treasure hunting opportunity.”
Jake grinned. “I knew you’d understand. Hello?”
“Yep, we’re having a great time. Just got here a few days ago and—what?”
Vanessa took a deep breath of the softly scented evening breeze. This place was almost magical. Sometimes it felt like she was dreaming, getting to do so much travel with Jake.
“Oh, really?” he said, “That’s amazing. Yes. In South America, then?” He paused. “Uh-huh. Sure, I’ll run it by Bryce, and we can get things ready to go when Vanessa and I get stateside again. Mmm-hmmm. Okay, sounds good. Talk soon. Bye.”
Jake hung up and slid the phone into his pocket.
Vanessa turned to him with a smile. “Okay, I know that tone of voice. What sort of exciting thing have you guys dug up this time?”
Jake’s eyes sparkled. “Sara has the next episode idea all lined up in South America. Something about an emerald...”
“Ooo, sounds intriguing.”
“I’ll fill you in on the details later. But,” Jake interlaced his fingers with hers. “That can wait. Right now, we have a sunset to watch.”
He interlaced his fingers with hers and they walked together the last few feet of the jungle path.
Vanessa stepped out from the dense jungle foliage onto the smooth white sand, and gasped.
“It’s...stunning.”
“Just like you,” Jake murmured in her ear as he slide his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck. Vanessa shivered with happiness.
The white sand stretched out in front of them, and a group of palm trees swayed in the quiet, framing the expanse of warm turquoise waters. Pinks and purples of the sunset sky were beginning to meld into the water.
“But there’s something else I wanted to show you,” he said.
Vanessa looked around. “I don’t see—”
Jake tugged her hand. “It’s just over here...” He led her to the group of palms near the water’s edge.
Vanessa’s jaw dropped as they came around the corner. “Oh, Jake,” she breathed. Her eyes widened as she took in the flickering semi-circle of tall taper candles, the fuchsia flower petals sprinkled around, and the pile of jewel-toned silk pillows.
Her heart fizzed at the intense look in Jake’s eyes as he sat on one of the pillows then pulled her gently down beside him.
“Vanessa,” he murmured, “these past months have been...amazing.” He paused. “More than I could’ve ever hoped for, or thought possible. We’ve been able to make things work so well between us, and I love that. I love how we just get each other, how we have this mutual respect and admiration for each other that’s...” he swallowed “...beyond anything I could’ve imagined before I met you. I love this, I love what we have together, and I love you.” He blinked a few times.
Vanessa’s eyes filled at his expression, and she reached out and softly brushed her fingertips against his face.
She gasped as Jake reached into his pocket, pulled out a small black velvet box and opened it.
“That’s why,” he continued, his voice husky, “I want to make sure you’re always in my life. Vanessa, will you marry me?”
The expression in his blue-green gaze seemed to look into her very soul, and she knew, in that moment, that her journey together with him had just begun.
Vanessa threw her arms around Jake’s neck as happy tears streamed down her face. “Yes, yes, I will, Jake. I’d marry you in a second. I love you, I love us, and I’d love to have you in my life forever.”
Jake slid the ring on her finger and then sealed his promise with a kiss.