Page 94 of A Sudden Romance

“What’s the urgency?”

“Remember I told you about another property I wanted you to draw plans for me?”

“For the house or restaurant?”

“Both.”

Aboard the vessel now, they approached the captain, and he greeted them before they took their seats. He must already know where Nate was headed since the vessel started moving.

Nate continued telling her about the land he’d purchased. “I want you to be the first to see it.”

“We have dinner at six.”

“We’ll be back way before dinnertime.” A thrill ran through Nate’s voice as he told her about his recently purchased pineapple plantation.

After they landed, he walked with her around another oceanfront property, pointing out all the things he wanted her to include when she drew up plans for his house. “It’ll still be a vacation home, but someday if I have a family, it would be an easy place to lay low.”

“Seriously? You are talking about having a family?” She grabbed his arm, stopping their stroll. Who could imagine Nate, who lived life in the fast lane, wanting to settle down? “Do you even have a girlfriend?”

He shrugged, his gaze distant as if he were imagining possibilities a long way off. “In the future, maybe.”

Hmm... Nate and Vanessa might need a chance to connect over the next three days.

Iris wasn’t sure if they’d make it back to the superyacht on time when the captain piloted them to Nate’s plantation for another tour. Over thirty-five hundred people called the island home. Although the residents had been hesitant when the Stones bought the island, their promise to keep tourism minimal had earned them trust. And they would keep that promise, though they had built a small resort to accommodate the few island guests who needed an escape from their hectic lives and endless media attention.

By the time they returned and disembarked from the yacht, Iris had no idea what time it was. Nate was leading the way to another detour. As the sun started setting, smearing the sky with the first hints of glorious color, they trudged a sandy path between the bluffs.

“Aren’t you concerned we’re going to be late?”

“It’s a family dinner. No tardy handouts.”

“Really funny. Sabastian’s probably wondering where I am.” Perhaps he was done with whatever he and Logan had been up to earlier.

“I wouldn’t worry about Sabastian.”

The path led them to an opening in the shrubs, and a sea breeze kissed her bare arms. “Wow, I don’t think we’ve ever explored this part of the beach.”

Watching her footing, she stepped carefully over rocks jutting in their way, then froze when Nate stopped and stepped aside.

Sabastian stood under the sunset’s glow next to a massive sandcastle half his height. With his eyes awash with so much love, she had to swallow before drowning in it. That shy smile just for her curved his sensual lips when he waved. Purple iris petals were scattered along the heart etched from the sand at his feet, and their vivid color offset the elaborate many-turreted sandcastle beside him. Two elephants linked their trunks to a puffed sand heart at the building’s focal point with an immense bouquet of irises set before it.

He’d never been so handsome. Her heart squeezed—oh how she loved this man!

No wonder he’d skipped out on some activities so he could build this, but he had to have had professional help. Besides having Nate distract her with his sudden tour.

The clapping and cheers had her take in the gathering. Her siblings, parents, and friends were standing, some seated on chairs cliffside, and most of the kids on blankets sprawled on the sand.

“Now’s the time you should be heading to your boyfriend,” Nate whispered, then moved to join the rest of the group.

Iris took a wobbly step, sand seeping into her sandals as she scuffled one foot in front of the other. With her legs suddenly weak, could she even make it to Sabastian? He must have noticed her struggle because, in two long strides, he was at her side, kissing her cheek. He then held her by the hand and led her to the center of the heart-shaped “stage” drawn in the sand and carpeted with petals.

He scooped up the iris bouquet before the castle, but instead of handing it to her as she expected, he tossed it aside, fully revealing the heart the elephants clung to. On its sandy surface, underlined by a single fresh-cut iris, arched the words Will you marry me, Iris?

What a romantic proposal!

“Is this why... you’ve been acting strange today?” Breathless, she could barely speak.

He smiled sheepishly, fumbling to retrieve something from the pocket of his coconut-tree-print shorts. He then knelt in the sand on one knee.

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