The Boxing Day party was in full swing when Cole arrived at his grandparents’ cliffside home. From the number of cars parked in front, it appeared his grandmother had invited half the town.
He smiled as he thought about how frustrated she must be at Kelli’s refusal to spill the beans about what had happened up at the lake. Fortunately, she was a good enough sport he knew she’d laugh at being caught at her subterfuge.
And speaking of surprises . . .
His nerves tangled a bit when he took the pink box from the passenger seat.
The buzz of conversation immediately stopped when he walked into the room.
“It’s about time you got here,” his grandmother complained as she caught sight of him. “We’ve all been waiting to hear about your Christmas.”
“It was okay.”
He had to bite back a laugh when his grandmother shot a frustrated look at his grandfather, who just shrugged.
With far more important things on his mind than their game, which he’d already lost interest in, Cole crossed the room to Kelli, who looked drop-dead delicious in a fluffy pink sweater that exposed her shoulders, a short gray pleated wool skirt, and black suede boots that went nearly to her knees. All gifts from her mother.
She’d told him, when she’d opened the boxes from the Shelter Bay boutique, that she suspected the women in their families had been trying to sexy her up, to which he’d answered that personally, he considered her just as hot in that flashing Christmas tree sweater or polar bear pajamas. Especially once he got her out of them.
Which had caused that cute pink color to bloom in her cheeks.
And speaking of pink . . .
“Since it’s Boxing Day, I figured a box was in order,” he said, pulling the familiar pink one from behind his back.
She drew in a sharp breath as she opened it and saw the piña colada cupcake, like the one he’d given her before the play. With one important difference.
“We’ve already done Hawaii in a cupcake,” he said, surprised at how nervous he was, since she had, after all, already accepted his proposal. “So, I was thinking this time, maybe I’d try for a Hawaiian honeymoon in a cake.”
“It’s absolutely perfect.” She cupped the box in her hands as he untied the slender white ribbon Sedona Sullivan had used to attach the ring to the umbrella topping the coconut frosting.
“It’s a pink sapphire.” The oval-cut stone was set off by tiny chips of diamonds on either side that extended onto the band.
Before meeting Ernie at the harbor where he docked his boat, he’d talked Henry Olson into opening his store, which had been closed for the day. Although he’d readily agreed when Cole explained his mission, the jeweler did warn that this was going to be the last engagement ring he ever sold him. Which wasn’t going to be a problem.
He took the ring and slipped it on her finger. It fit perfectly. Just like them, Cole thought.
“It reminded me of you.” He leaned forward, sensing everyone in the room straining to hear the murmured words meant only for her ear. “And sugarplums.”
From the way her eyes darkened and her cheeks flushed again, he knew she was remembering how he’d told her he loved tasting her. All over.
“Well, it certainly took you long enough,” Adèle said briskly, as everyone in the room began to applaud and Mrs. Carpenter began dabbing at her misty eyes with a tissue. “But you two finally got your happily-ever-after ending.”
“It’s not an ending,” Cole corrected, feeling the grin splitting his face, as Kelli lifted her beautiful, smiling pink lips to his. “It’s just the beginning.”