Page 84 of To Have and to Scold

“I’m glad it happened when I was there so I could help you through it.”

“You did help me through it. I’ve never seen such an expert surf raker.”

I shrug. “It comes with growing up in a beach town, I guess. Like someone in Calgary learning to drive a Zamboni. Same thing.”

This earns me a smile and, if I’m not mistaken, the bare echo of a laugh. “Well, I appreciate it. And the food you brought me later. And helping clean up. Everything.”

She’s wistful and her blue eyes glow. It distracts me so much I’ve forgotten about the breakfast I brought until she glances back at it.

“Oh. I brought you a breakfast sandwich.” I hand her the box and a large insulated cup. “And a boatload of caffeine.”

“Bless you,” she whispers, taking the cup from me and ripping the tab off the lid. It seems like she’s going to try guzzling it, but she only takes a sip. “Mmmm.” She stands from the sofa and begins to pace.

“Hey, you can sit back down and relax. It’s Sunday. Neither of us are working today. I’m all yours.”

She stares at me pointedly, her cup in front of her mouth. Still, I can tell her lips curl into a smile. “Areyou all mine?” she whispers.

Whoa, baby.

“I want to be.” I wait to step to her. I have to give her space and time to figure out what she really wants.

She lowers her cup just enough to bite her bottom lip. “It’s what I want, too. I’m in love with you, Beck.”

She’s in love with me.

I ratchet in a breath. Take it all in.

I close the gap with three steps to reach her. I take the cup out of her hands, set it on the counter, and sweep her into my arms. “Dallas? There’s a lot that needs to be addressed right now. But first things first. I love you, too. Will you be my date to Elliott’s wedding, please?”

“Your date?”

“I don’t know how that all works with you being the wedding planner and all. I want to be your right-hand man.”

“You want to be my Mary?”

I chuckle. “I want to be your Mary, yes. But I also want it to be known, far and wide, that I’m in love with you.”

She gasps and wraps her arms around my neck. “Oh, Beck.”

I want to kiss her. Terribly. But I can be patient. There’s still more to do and say. Around our hug, I sling the bag off my shoulders. “Let’s see. I brought some foot cream so I can rub your feet. And some peppermint oil to wake you up even more than your drink will.” I start to go through the bag. “Oh and a photobook. It’s just…”

She grabs it out of the bag and thumbs through it. “Ace? These are photos of Ace!”

“And my family. My parents. I wanted to share a little more about them before you meet them.”

“Thank you, Beck.”

“Well, it’s not without a price.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”

“Will you check the sea turtle nest with me today? They have to be about ready to hatch by now.”

Her grin lights up her whole face. “You think we’ll really be able to catch it happening? That would be so lucky.”

“I don’t know, but I already feel like the luckiest guy in the world.” I rake my gaze over her. “Anything else would be a bonus.”

The phone on the coffee table starts to buzz. When Dallas picks it up, her eyes widen. She shows me her screen. “It’s Shoshana.”

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