Page 75 of Three Hearts Hideaway

Her cheeks flushed. “What?”

“Oh, nothing, darling. It’s just so lovely seeing you both so happy. When you arrived in my hotel months ago, I never thought you’d end up living here. Let alone with a boyfriend! Well, two boyfriends.” She chuckled.

“I’m still shocked you don’t think it’s strange.”

Gertie shrugged her shoulders. “Who am I to judge? Love is love is love. When we find even a sliver of joy in this world, weneed to hold it close to our hearts and let it bloom. We need to feed it and let it flourish. How that looks is different for everyone. You and your men are no different.”

Ava blinked away the tears threatening to spill onto her cheeks. “You’re a beautiful person, you know that, Gertie?”

She waved her away. “You flatter an old woman.”

“Truly, you are. Thank you for your kind words and your friendship. That you, and so many others here, accept us and our relationship fills my soul in a way you can’t imagine.”

Gertie patted her hand. “I’m glad you’re happy here in our little slice of life.”

“I am, Gertie. I really am.”

“Well, I best be returning to the hotel.” She downed the rest of her drink. “It’s almost time for late check-out.”

“It was lovely to see you. Want to meet earlier next week so we have more time to chat?”

“Sounds good, dear. Here comes your other man,” Gertie said, pointing to the front of the pub as she left.

Logan swaggered through the door, eyes locked on her. No matter where she was, he always zeroed in on her in an instant. To a stranger, it would be unnerving. But to her? It sent her heart fluttering a mile-a-minute.

Every. Single. Time.

“Let’s go, sweetheart.” Logan held out his hand, waiting for hers.

“Go where? I haven’t eaten yet.”

Roman appeared from the back room, fidgeting with her takeout container. “Everything’s packed up, including your extra gravy. Plus an extra, extra gravy.”

Roman seemed like he was about to spill a giant secret, and Logan kept glaring at him. So typical of her men.

She playfully pointed a finger from one to the other. “What’s going on, you two?”

“No more questions,” Logan said, a bit too quickly. “Let’s get in the truck and go.”

Obviously, they’d planned something. Whatever it was, she didn’t want to ruin it by prying too hard. She’d humour them.

“Take me away, boys.”

The water of Kawawaymog Lake was smooth like a perfect pane of glass. Not a ripple in sight. Of course, they’d been to the lake numerous times, but this spot was different. Secluded and private. Almost like a secret retreat made just for them.

“This is breathtaking. Why haven’t we come here before today?” Ava asked, taking a gulp from the thermos of homemade hot chocolate Logan had brought.

She snuggled between them, wrapped in a wool blanket, in the bed of Roman’s pickup. Lined with blankets and pillows, the truck bed was surprisingly comfortable.

“Big Softy wanted to save it for a special occasion,” Logan said, pulling her closer to his side.

“This is a special occasion?” She searched Roman’s face for any hint of what was going on. Then she wracked her brain, trying to think if she’d missed something.

It wasn’t her birthday. It wasn’t either of their birthdays. Nothing stood out.

Roman exhaled slowly before saying, “We’ve been waiting a while to tell you this?—”

“Only because Roman insisted we do it at the same time.”

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