“I’m all about the fun. Wait till you see inside.”
The first thing she noticed was the fresh, cool briny air. It dragged her back to her wedding day when the ocean and sun had greeted her with the most incredibly perfect day. Having Deacon standing there with the sun at his back was nothing compared to the smile he’d had been wearing the moment their eyes met. It felt like it had taken forever to get down the aisle to him.
If the scent of the ocean brought that memory back every single time, she was totally okay with that. She sniffed and pressed her nose into his neck.
“Hey, what’s this?”
“Just remembering a certain day.”
“It’s a good day, I hope?”
“The best.” She nuzzled against the beard that was filling in along his jaw. “November first.”
He turned his lips into hers. His kiss was as solid and strong and as intoxicating as it had been when he’d actually asked her marry him in front of her family and their friends.
She cupped his face with her free hand and tasted salt and Deacon there. She gave a watery laugh when he finally pulled back and his eyes were as misty as her own. “God, I love you, big guy.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, and they shone even brighter in the dim light a moment later. “I never get tired of hearing that.”
She smoothed her thumb over his bearded cheek. The idea that this man didn’t know love before them continued to astound her. And now he was hers. As overwhelming as he could be sometimes, he was hers and she’d never change that. “Ready?”
He rounded the car, his long stride eating up the stone walkway dusted with sand. Solar lights led the way with their soft glow. He took the stairs slowly as if he knew she needed to take it all in. Wrought iron scroll work made up a small canopy at the door. Frosted white glass lit up with the same ethereal glow from the path made the old iron light seem otherworldly.
But it was the door that took her breath and made her curl into Deacon tighter. “Oh, wow.” Stained an intense and almost iridescent purple, it was a work of art. Made out of heavy wood and huge iron hinges, the door dominated the space, adding to the fairy cottage feel.
“Lila helped me find this place.”
“Lila is amazing.”
“And she knows it.”
Harper laughed. “Put me down. You need two hands to pull that bad boy open.”
“I texted the caretaker when we were close, and she came to open it up for us.” He hefted her higher, juggling a hand free for one of the large iron rings. “I’m carrying you over the damn threshold.”
Delighted, she held on as the twelve foot purple door creaked open. A fresh blast of salt air hit her first, followed by the roar of the tide. The back door was open and diaphanous sheers fluttered in the late night breeze.
It was a small place. The kind of cozy perfection created for honeymooners. A kitchenette filled one corner with gleaming butcher block countertops and dark wood cabinets with oiled brass antique fixtures. A simple pendant light let off a warm glow. Part of her ached to go check it out. She could never quite turn off the cooking side of her, but the huge canopy bed that dominated the main living space blinked out all thoughts of food.
More filmy sheers fell from each corner of the dark four poster structure. A half dozen pillows and a sinfully decadent duvet in frosty white teased them both closer.
“Whoa,” Deacon said as he let her slowly slide down to the floor.
She wandered past the bed, sliding her fingertips over the sateen luxury grade bedding. She could feel her husband at her back as if they were both drawn out the French doors. A beautiful pergola strung with white twinkle lights framed out the space, but also left a blanket of stars visible. It was cool, but not cold. A huge hammock swung gently in the breeze off the water.
Winter stark waves ate up the sand leaving a trail of seaweed and foam. It was endless, open and private as only the ocean could be.
Deacon’s arms came up and around her. One across her shoulders, the other loosely banded across her belly, enveloping her in his warmth. He rested his chin on the crown of her head and she felt the relaxing exhale of his breath.
“We needed this,” she said quietly as she smoothed a hand over his forearm.
He brushed his lips against her cheek before burrowing into her hair that had come out of her braid. He drew in deep, his exhale teasing her neck and shoulder. “I didn’t think I’d ever get you alone.”
The rumble of his voice made her shiver.