Page 79 of Grand Escape

Leave it to Chewy to butt in, but in fairness to him, we were all standing there. Still, Rylan gave him the side-eye.

“To be our wedding and event planner. I can’t tell you how many special touches Rylan brings to the resort.” Mr. Banks sang Ry’s praises as she stood there, blushing.

“I like my job,” she said. “And I love this place. It’s my home.”

“Well,” Mr. Banks said, glancing at me, “you always have a place here at the Grand.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“Now, all of you, go enjoy yourselves,” he said before hurrying off.

Sarah turned to Rylan, grinning from ear to ear. “You have to take it. You’re absolutely perfect for it. I know, I was mad at Chew for getting so mixed up with your relationship because I didn’t want anyone to get their heart broken, but now is the time. You know you could live part of the time in the States and part here. Adam said he could do that. And did you know—”

“Um, Sarah, how about you let me discuss the possibilities with Ry?” I finally interrupted, taking Rylan back in my arms.

“Sorry,” Sarah said, having the grace to do a little blushing of her own. “I got carried away.”

After watching Rylan’s attention ping back and forth between the two of us, I decided it was time to go see the house.

Picking up on the vibe, Chewy tugged his bride to his side and winked. “Come on, babe. Let’s go consummate our marriage again while your brother takes the kids to see the turtles.”

Sarah smacked his arm. “Chewy, shhh.”

“Never,” he said as he steered them away.

“You’ve been a very busy bee, haven’t you?” Rylan asked me as we made our way out of the hotel.

“You too. Look how your coworkers brag ... and want you to do more.” Stopping in my tracks, I muttered, “Shit. We need a car.”

“No worries. Tony!” Rylan yelled to her friend.

Although Tony and I had had a rough start, I found it hard to be mad at him after he’d advocated for her. She stood there for a few minutes chatting with him, using her hands, probably explaining the events of the last twenty-four hours. Finally, he tossed her a set of keys.

“Come on,” she said, and we jumped into a Jeep with no top on it. As she tied her hair back in a messy bun, she said, “Address?”

“Well, remember the house where we went that night?”

Rylan’s eyes widened comically. “No. No, you didn’t.”

“I did.”

“Adam.”

“Rylan.” After grinning at her for a few seconds, I said, “Let’s go. I’m hungry, so why don’t we get a bite to eat first.”

A short time later, moaning over a plate of Caribbean-spiced pancakes with pineapple at a little roadside place, Rylan said, “Is this really happening? Seriously? This has to be a movie and not real life.”

“It is happening,” I said.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded. “The house needed an owner, and now it has one. Two, actually. I want you to think of it as yours.”

Rylan gaped at me, her hair still swept up in a messy bun. Noticing she had a smudge of pineapple syrup above her lip, I leaned over and used my thumb to wipe it off.

“Thanks. I mean, you’re planning to visit here? It’s yours? I have a place ... but I like my place.”

“As much as you want me, I plan to be here. If it’s year-round, I may have to find a new gig and either marry you or hope they give me a visa, but I’m here. I know you’ve built a life here and it’s important to you, Ry, and I support that.”

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