Page 32 of Between Two Shores

“Stop it, you.” She slapped his knee.

He feigned a pout but stopped his child’s play. The wind was enough to add movement.

Next, circus music increased in volume, and the Ferris wheel moved at a steady pace. Beth’s belly fluttered as the carriage climbed the peak, and she gazed at the miniature playground below. Nick touched her leg, and she flinched.

She placed her hand on his and met his gaze. “It’s higher than I realized.”

“You look beautiful tonight.” He moved across and sat next to her, still holding her right hand. He tucked the floating strands of hair behind her ear. Then stroked her cheek with a finger. “I’m sorry if I surprised you at the restaurant by asking you to come with me to Jerusalem.”

“That’s okay,” she whispered into the night air.

“I just got ahead of myself.” He shook his head.

Their carriage passed the base, and Nick nodded a hello to the operator. They began their climb again, but as they approached the top, the machine slowed until they stopped at the peak. Beth peered out the side. Perhaps they give each couple a turn at staying on the top. When she turned back to Nick, he was on one knee. Her eyes widened.

He gave an adorable smile, his eyes sparkling from the lights surrounding them.

“Bethany Michaels, you have stolen my heart. I believe my coming to Australia was no accident. We were destined to meet and meant for each other.” He held one of her hands, and in his other was a huge diamond rock.

She gasped, “Nick.” She covered her mouth with her free hand. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Oh, my goodness.” She touched her throat. “Yes! I’d love to be your wife.” Trickles ran down one cheek.

He slipped on the ring, and in one swish move, sat next to her, brushed her tears away, cupped her cheek, and kissed her tender and slow.

When Nick pulled back, he smiled the widest smile she’d seen on him. He leaned to the edge of the carriage and gave the thumbs up to the man below.

“You planned all this?”

“Of course. I wrecked the mood at Pizza Bella Roma, but you forgave me.”

She tilted her head back with a laugh. “I did have a moment of disappointment, but I should’ve known better.” Beth held out the ring and let the light catch all the fine angles. “Nick, this is beautiful.” It must’ve cost a small fortune.

“By the way, we have your dad’s approval.”

She startled. “You spoke to Dad first?”

“I knew he would appreciate the respect. Plus I didn’t want him to freak out and talk you out of it. Just because circumstances are fast forwarding our decisions, doesn’t mean it’s not right. We’re not young adults anymore. The time is right, and there’s no need to wait.”

“Oh, Nick, that’s so sweet of you to honor him like that. Thank you.” She snuggled into his side and breathed in his delicious scent. With the security of his arm around her shoulder, the view from here just got a whole lot better.

Chapter Thirteen

Nick

Nick exited the carriage first, then turned to his fiancée, and offered his hand. Wow. She looked beautiful and soon she would be all his. His heart thumped in his chest when she placed her hand in his and gazed at him with loving eyes.

He helped her to the ground, and put his hand around her waist, resting on her hip. With his other hand, he dug into his pocket for the fifty-dollar tip he had ready and handed it to the operator. “If she said no, it would be a ten.” He winked.

Beth giggled beside him. Oh, how he loved to make her laugh. One of the many reasons he found her attractive. But mostly it was his gut feeling that they were destined to meet. And now he’d seen that his intuition was right. She’d said yes. Without question.

Nick collected their photo at the booth and tucked it into his inside jacket pocket. With barely a soul around, they walked back through the Esplanade—the park theirs to enjoy alone.

“I feel like a kid at Christmastime.” He swung her around in a dance, her hair gliding through the night. “Let’s go to the swings. Who can reach the highest?”

She laughed. “I’ll race you there.”

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