Page 1 of Passing Ships

Amiya

“I take credit for that, you know,” I say, swallowing back tears as I watch Sebastian Harraway slide a ring onto my best friend, Avie’s, finger.

He had us all gather here tonight under the ruse of a housewarming party, but unbeknownst to Avie, his plan had been to surprise her with a proposal all along.

“Is that right?”

I glance over at Lennon, Sebastian’s older brother. The naval officer and a fine specimen of a man. He’s huge. Tall with lean muscles. Dark hair, dimples, and stormy-blue eyes. But my favorite part of him is his hands. They’re double the size of mine, and I just know they could do damage if they had to.

I bet they can be gentle too.

“Yep, this too,” Eden says, pointing between herself and Wade.

Eden is a new local on Sandcastle Cove—the island my best friend and her daughter now call home—and the paramour of Lennon’s childhood friend, Wade Lusk.

His eyes follow her motion and then come back to me, and he smirks, his dimples on sexy display.

“I’m sure you’re quite proud.”

I raise my face to his as I step closer.

“You stick around long enough, Rambo, and I’ll find you a woman too,” I whisper.

He quirks a brow, and the corner of his mouth lifts.

“I don’t need help in that department,” he states before pushing past me, one of his hands sliding across my lower back, and making his way over to congratulate his brother.

I watch as he hooks an arm around Sebastian’s neck and shakes his brother, then pulls Avie into an embrace and kisses her cheek. Leia, Avie and Sebastian’s daughter, tugs at his pants leg, and he reaches down and plucks her off her feet.

“I bet you don’t,” I mumble under my breath.

“What was that?” Eden asks as she sidles up to my side.

Wade has wandered off and entered a conversation with Lennon and Sebastian’s grandfather.

My eyes slide to her. “Nothing.”

“Uh-huh. I saw the way you were looking at Lennon,” she quips.

“And what way was that?”

She grins. “Like he’s a tree you want to climb.”

My gaze slips back to the mountain of a man, who is effortlessly tossing his niece in the air as she giggles.

“It’s been a while since I’ve climbed any trees, but if I had a mind to …”

Her eyes peer across the room. “Yep, I’d say he’s definitely the most impressive tree in the forest,” she agrees, “apart from Wade, of course.”

“Without saying,” I agree.

She laughs.

Avie skips her way over to us, waving her left hand in our faces, and the three of us squeal and bounce on our toes as we fuss over the dazzling ring on her finger. It’s a beautiful oval diamond. Simple. Elegant. Just like her.

Sabel—Sebastian’s grandmother and matriarch of the family—starts popping bottles and passing out flutes of champagne.

I take one in hand and tilt it toward my girl. “I’m so thrilled for you. No one deserves to be happy more than you.”

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