Page 46 of All You Need Is Love

A shy smile replaced her look of astonishment. “I would like that. Very much.”

Marshall gladly complied, kissing her as lightly as possible before deepening their connection. At her small intake of breath, his chest expanded. How was he so lucky a man, to be the only one in the world who had ever tasted the honey mint of her lips—to experience the sweetness that was Shannon Baker?

Marshall ended the kiss then pressed his lips to Shannon’s hairline before hugging her again. She could probably hear the pounding hammer that was his heart, but at the moment he couldn’t be bothered to care about that.

“Shannon. This … it feels …” The last thing he wanted to do was scare her away with the depth of his emotions, but he also didn’t want to lose her out of some misguided sense that he shouldn’t speak up.

“I know.”

Of course she did, because more than anyone in his life, she got him. How was that even possible after so short a time?

Maybe he should stop trying to figure it out and, instead, just be grateful for it.

They started walking again, still off the beaten path as they crested a sandy ridge and stopped. Marshall inhaled a sharp breath. Spread below them were hundreds of fat brown seals with strange faces, their noses drooping down over their hidden mouths like elephants’ trunks. The animals mostly lay along the surf, bathing in the sunlight, their grunts echoing out toward the sea.

“Whoa.” The breeze nipped at his cheeks, but Marshall couldn’t turn away. “I’m locked up in my office so much that I tend to forget how awesome nature is. But it never ceases to amaze me.”

“It’s easy for me to take it for granted, having lived here my entire life.” This time Shannon reached out for his hand. “I get so used to the view and forget there’s a whole world out there just waiting to be discovered. A world beyond all the problems facing me right now—the adoption, Quinn … whatever this is between us.”

“You see that as a problem?”

“Don’t you? Everyone here thinks you’re Quinn’s boyfriend. How do you think they’re going to react if they see us together?”

“Yeah, you’re right. That is a problem. But I’m not sure what to do about it. I don’t want to keep pretending, but telling the truth would probably cause more trouble between you and Quinn.” And yeah, he wouldn’t get that promotion either. But as he stared into Shannon’s eyes, he realized she had been right last night. He didn’t have to be like his father. If he had to choose between Shannon and the promotion, she would win. No question. “The only other option that I see is for Quinn to tell the truth herself. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“I know.” Shannon looked away, lips pursed but not tight. More like resting, considering. “She’s so desperate to keep her secret that she threatened me.”

“What? How?”

“Yesterday at the shower, when I told her I knew the truth. She implied that if I told anyone, she’d make sure the town thought I had broken you guys up—which in turn would ruin my chance of adopting.” She shrugged a shoulder. “If I still have one.”

“That’s messed up.” He inhaled through his nose. “It almost makes me want to tell everyone, just to spite her.”

“Don’t think I didn’t consider it.”

“Aw, so you’re not a complete saint.” Marshall winked at her.

Shannon poked him in the ribs, a hint of a smile lingering for a moment before disappearing. “We can’t expose Quinn. It would embarrass her.”

“Seems like it would serve her right.”

“Probably.” She frowned. “I just wish I knew why she hates me so much. Why she has always seemed so set against me. We’re sisters. We’re supposed to be on the same team, but she’s never acted like she wanted that. I know we’re different, but …”

“You are different. She’s mean and hateful, and you’re the exact opposite.”

“I know she acts like that, but there has to be a reason, you know?”

“Sure, there’s a reason. There always is. But people can choose how they react to those reasons, and she’s chosen poorly.”

“Maybe I wasn’t a good enough sister. Maybe I should have—”

“Stop. Don’t let her behavior be a reflection on you.” He tugged her close again. “Honestly, I think she’s probably jealous of you.”

“Why? There’s nothing to be jealous of.”

“False.” He kissed her softly on the lips.

Her cheeks pinked in that adorably humble way she had. “Look at her, at her life, and then me and mine. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, but it’s not glitzy or glamorous. It’s quiet and comfortable, but that’s never been Quinn. She was made for the spotlight.”

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