Page 90 of California Dreaming

She was already strong.

In fact, she always had been—but was only now finally seeing her own worth.

Arch had helped her see that she was extraordinary. He’d supported her dreams, believed in her art, treated her as though she was vitally important to him.

Now she was able to blossom in every way—artistically and emotionally.

It was time—long past time—to let him know.

Taking one last, deep breath of the salty air, she shivered and waded out of the ocean.

Time to head home.

* * *

Arch could hardly stand it. He’d gotten rid of Smith by saying he had a phone interview scheduled, which was a total lie. But he couldn’t joke around with his buddy when his mind was in turmoil.

He’d watched from the living room window as Tessa headed out to the beach. He’d seen her walk a little, stand there undecided for a moment, and then walk into the water fully clothed.

He wanted to run out there, make sure she was okay—but he had to respect her wishes to have some time to process. He also knew how healing the ocean could be, and he hoped it would help heal the wounds from her marriage.

Despite his resolutions, he never took his gaze off the woman he loved, ready at any moment to run to her if she needed him. Well, he’d be limp-hopping on his still-healing leg, but he’d get there.

She must be so cold. The water temperature wasn’t that high, and she wasn’t doing anything to stay warm, just bobbing on the swell, looking out at the horizon.

At last, when he couldn’t stand it another second, she turned. She waded out of the surf, soaking wet and more beautiful than ever. She paused to put on her shoes, not even bothering with the socks, and then walked up toward the house.

As quickly as he could on his booted foot, he went into the bathroom and gathered a thick, warm towel and his bathrobe.

When he got back to the window, she was nearly home. And even from this distance, he could see that there was something different about her. Even the way she walked was different, almost as though she’d gained some power in the ocean, just as he’d hoped she would.

Just as he had so many times in his life.

When she opened the door, he was standing there with the towel, which he wrapped around her. But she barely seemed to notice. Droplets fell from her hair and her wet clothes, but she only had eyes for him.

“I love you, Arch. I love you more than I ever knew I could love anyone. And I don’t want to lose you. So if I have to wear pretty dresses and smile on red carpets with you every day of the week, that’s what I’ll do.”

Arch had never believed he could feel this happy, just from hearing her say I love you.

He pulled her into him and kissed her lips, tasting seawater and then her. He wrapped his arms around her, giving her his warmth and getting very wet in the process.

“All I need is you, Tessa. We can skip every red carpet in the world from now on if that will make you happy.”

She kissed him again. “You are what makes me happy. It took so long for me to allow myself to see or feel it, but you did the impossible—you broke through all my walls. I never thought anyone could, but you did.”

He couldn’t stop his smile, one that started deep in his center and blossomed all the way out to his lips. “I knew from the first moment I saw you on the beach with Margaret that you were going to be mine.” He remembered how struck he’d been by Tessa, and every moment since, she’d only become more precious to him.

Another kiss, and then she said, “You can call Jay now and tell him I’m your girlfriend.”

“No.”

She looked confused. “No? But I thought—”

He stopped her sentence with another kiss. “When I call Jay back, I hope to say that the beautiful woman by my side is my fiancée.”

She gasped. “Wait—what? Are you saying you—”

“Yes, Tessa.” He couldn’t stop kissing her, even on the verge of proposing. “I’m saying I want to marry you. You’ve healed more than my leg. You’ve made every part of me better. And I don’t want to live the rest of my life without you. I can’t even imagine it now, not after all you’ve come to mean to me.”

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