Page 158 of One Touch

“No freaking way,” Ethan whispered.

“A shooting star!” Ava cried out. “Another one? Quick, make a wish!”

I closed my eyes, my heart full of hope. When I opened them, I caught Ethan’s gaze. The tenderness I saw made me weak at the knees.

“I wish for us to be happy forever,” Ava announced proudly.

Ethan cleared his throat. “Sweetie, you’re not supposed to say your wish out loud. It might not come true.”

Ava shrugged, giggling. “I don’t need magic. It’s going to come true anyway. Because we love each other, and that’s all you need.”

Soon, it was Ava’s bedtime. Ethan gently guided her back inside, his large hand enveloping her tiny one.

“You want me to take her in?” I asked.

“You rest,” Ethan said. “It was a big day today. Why don’t you light a fire? I’ll bring out a drink for us.”

“Sounds perfect,” I replied.

I kissed Ava goodnight and got to fire-building. I wasn’t a pro, but I knew the basics. Get sticks. Get wood. Make flames. Be warm.

I used my prehistoric instincts to get a little fire going, and by the time Ethan returned with a couple of glasses of red, there was a tiny bit of heat coming off it.

“Whoa, this blaze is out of control!” Ethan joked.

“You’re not on duty tonight, are you?”

“Nah, not working nights anymore. Not now the training is over. But, you know, I can’t help the muscle memory kicking in. Cheers,” Ethan said, passing me a glass.

We took a sip and I savored the taste: velvety, spicy, robust.

A sparkle from the fire danced in Ethan’s eyes.

“Thought we might do a little stargazing ourselves,” he said, resting a hand on my hip.

“Is that a euphemism?”

“Actually no,” he said with a grin. “I mean actual stargazing. There’s something I want to show you.” He led me to the telescope.

My heart raced as he positioned me in front of it. What was he up to?

“Take a look,” Ethan urged, his voice low and filled with excitement. “Hopefully that blazing inferno of yours won’t stop you from seeing it.”

I peered through the eyepiece, gasping at the brilliant pinprick of light. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

“It’s yours,” Ethan replied, pressing something into my hand.

“Mine?”

“Look at the certificate.”

I tore my gaze away from the telescope, my eyes widening as I read the paper. “You . . . you named a star after me?”

Ethan nodded, his blue eyes shimmering in the moonlight. “Lily’s Star,” he said softly. “Because you’re my guiding light.”

Tears pricked my eyes.

“Oh, Ethan,” I breathed, unable to find the words to express the emotions swirling inside me.

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