Page 61 of Ethan's Command

“It looks like an island.”

Brooklyn glanced at the mark. “Yeah. Like the Big Island. I think that’s probably why I ended up here.”

Ethan’s nostrils flared and he frowned as he wrapped his hands around the warm ceramic without taking a sip. Instead, he watched her, his gaze steady. "We need to talk."

She nodded, but before he could go on, she set down her fork and looked him in the eye. "I owe you an apology."

His brow furrowed. "For what?"

She exhaled slowly. "For being mean to you. And for pushing you away." She took a breath, steadying herself. "That night—the night of your accident—we slept together." She forced herself to hold his gaze. "You were at my place. You left early in themorning, and I had no idea why. But then you never called. I called you, but you never called back. I thought…" She shook her head. "I thought you ghosted me."

Ethan’s expression darkened, his fingers tightening around his mug. "Brooklyn?—”

She cut him off. "I was hurt. My ex had an affair, and I—” She swallowed. "I assumed the worst. I didn’t trust my own judgment when it came to men anymore, and you… Your behavior seemed to indicate that I’d made the same mistake again. Instead of confronting you, I just shut you out. I’m sorry."

Ethan stared at her. He set his coffee down, his jaw tightening. "I don’t remember much about that night," he admitted, his voice rough. "Mostly just flashes of scents and color and sounds, like laughter. But I can’t remember… But that birthmark…"

Brooklyn’s stomach twisted, but before she could say anything, he leaned in slightly, inhaling.

"You smell like vanilla," he murmured.

She blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"The woman in my dreams…you, I guess." His voice dropped lower. "She smelled like citrus and summer rain."

Brooklyn let out a soft laugh. "I ran out of my usual body lotion."

Something shifted in his expression. He reached for her, his hand sliding to the back of her neck as he pulled her forward. His lips met hers, warm and certain, a kiss that stole her breath. She’d hoped he might feel the same way about her as she felt about him, but she didn’t know for sure. All she knew was she was falling in love with Ethan Foster and doing her best to stop the tumble.

He pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips, "I don’t remember that evening, but I do remember you. You’re thewoman in my dreams. I am so fucking glad you’re real. I feel like I’ve been searching for you forever."

Then he kissed her again, and this time, Brooklyn let herself fall.

Six weekslater

“That was a beautiful wedding,” Nova commented, then sipped her champagne.

“Yes, it was,” Sienna agreed. “Cliffside at sunset is damn hard to beat.” She glanced at Nova, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Is that the type of wedding you and Cooper are going for?”

Nova laughed. “I have no idea what kind of wedding we’re going to have. Neither one of us can seem to make a decision on it.”

“Elope,” Rusty suggested, lifting his beer to his lips. “Then throw a big party afterward.”

Bellamy and Octavia swayed together on the makeshift dance floor, wrapped up in each other while the rest of the guests twirled and laughed around them. The golden glow from overhead string lights made everything feel warm, intimate, and perfect.

Sienna smiled. “It’s nice to see them so happy—especially Octavia.”

“They’d better live it up now,” Cooper said, smirking. “Because once that baby comes, there’ll be no sleep and no private life.”

Nova snorted. “Like you would know.”

Cooper shrugged but didn’t argue.

“How’s the apartment hunt going?” Brooklyn asked, shifting the conversation.

Rusty and Sienna exchanged a glance before sighing in unison.

Ethan chuckled. “That bad, huh?”

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