Page 74 of The Library of Second Chances
Flipping over the envelope, she noticed a tag taped to the back that said, “Open Me.”It looked like the tags from the movieAlice in Wonderlandthat said things like “Drink Me” and “Eat Me.” What was he up to?
Running a finger under the seal on the envelope, she took out the note.
Island Girl,
“Every adventure requires a first step.”—Cheshire Cat
Meet me at the library.
Gatsby’s Ghost
Lucy broke into a wide smile. Logan had remembered thatAlice’s Adventures in Wonderlandwas her favorite book.
In the nearly twelve months they’d been together, he’d proven to be incredibly thoughtful and attentive, taking note of things she said she liked and surprising her with a favorite meal or the earrings she’d seen in the jewelry store window when she least expected it.
The grand opening for the new library was still a week away, and Logan hadn’t allowed her inside in weeks. He’d said he wanted the final product to be a surprise. She loved his enthusiasm for the library, and she couldn’t wait to see what he’d done with the old Hill House.
Lucy practically skipped across the town square on her way to the newly renovated building that would now be the town library, thanks to Logan and his friend Cameron. When shearrived, another tag dangling from the door handle caught her attention. “Open Me.”
The door creaked as she turned the handle and pushed it open. The formal living room and dining room sat on each side of the entryway, and the walls were covered in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. A small desk sat in what had previously been the dining room to her right and would be occupied by Rosalie, a librarian Lucy had worked with in Ocala. She still couldn’t believe one of her best friends from her time as a librarian had moved to Heron Isle to run the library. Rosalie had moved into her new place last week, and they’d picked up right where they left off, as if no time had passed.
Lucy was so busy taking in everything around her, she nearly missed what was sitting on the desk a few feet ahead: A single flute of champagne with a tag that read “Drink Me.” Picking up the glass, she looked around again.
“Logan?”
She didn’t hear anything or anyone in the house. As she walked toward the back where two more rooms were filled with books, she saw a piece of paper in the shape of an arrow on the floor. “Follow Me.”
Following a second arrow down a hallway into what had been a bedroom, she looked back over her shoulder for Logan and called his name again. When she got no response, she wandered around the room looking at the books that filled the shelves lining all four walls. She was about to give up and go looking for Logan when she noticed a book sticking out from the others. It was a hardbound book with a tag hanging from the top of the spine that said, “Read Me.”
She looked around the room again. Where was Logan? Was there a camera somewhere and he was watching her reaction to the surprise? He did love his gadgets and had recently installed cameras in her bookstore. When he’d first brought them in, shetold him people didn’t break into stores on Heron Isle, and she was pretty sure no one had ever stolen from her. But then he said the cameras were so they could watch the cats from anywhere, and they could post the live feed on her website so visitors to the store could keep tabs on Lizzy and Alice even after they left town. He’d been right. Her customers loved the Kitty Cam feature on the new website Logan had somehow found time to build between running the city’s new tour boats and other waterfront businesses and getting the library building restored and ready to open.
She set down her champagne and pulled the book off the shelf. Footsteps approached behind her just as she opened the book only to discover it wasn’t a book at all. Instead, it was one of those books that held an open space inside for storage. Wedged into the navy-blue velvet that filled the opening in the center was a sparkling princess-cut diamond flanked by sapphires on either side—the ring she’d seen in Rothchild’s with Jack.
Her mouth dropped open and she turned to find Logan behind her on one knee. His green eyes sparkling and his one-thousand-watt smile beaming, he asked the question she’d dreamed of hearing since he moved the last of his things into his rental house on Heron Isle.
“Lucy Sullivan, will you marry me?”
Tears spilled down her cheek as he took the book from her hands and plucked out the ring. He reached for her left hand, and she placed it in his, trembling as she put her right hand over her mouth. He’d barely gotten the ring on her finger before she pulled him up to wrap both arms around his neck.
“Yes. A million times yes.”
“Good, because I’ve already decided on our honeymoon.” He laughed as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
She scrunched her eyebrows together. “We don’t even have a wedding date yet, and you’re planning the honeymoon?”
“I think it’s time someone finally made it to Paris.”
She squealed with joy, jumping up and down in his arms. He had just lowered his lips to hers when she heard the front door open and voices started spilling inside. She pulled away, curious who had arrived.
“Mm, one more.” His voice was low and deep, his desire for her turning her insides to mush. He pulled her back in for a longer kiss, ignoring the familiar voices calling out their names up front.
She’d never felt happier or safer in her entire life.
Leaning back, he looked down at her, his green eyes locked on hers in a way that said he wished they were alone.
“Okay, so I’m rethinking inviting everyone.”
Someone called her name from up front, and he laughed.
