Page 63 of The Love Audit
Her eyes widened, filling with unshed tears. “You did?”
“I’m not going through with it.”
“You’re not?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Why?”
“I can’t have any part in destroying Miller’s Cove.” My voice was steady but soft. “Not after everything I’ve seen here, not after getting to know Eleanor and David—and you.” I lifted my free hand and curled it under her chin, tilting her face up so our eyes met. “This place is special, Jasmine. It’s where I fell in love with my wife.”
A watery laugh escaped her lips, and she shook her head. “You’re impossible.”
“You know it’s true.” I smiled at her and brushed my thumb across her cheek. “But you’re right—just backing out isn’t enough. MasonCorp will find someone else to push this through if we don’t stop them.”
“My proposal is basically done,” she admitted, her voice laced with guilt. “It’s sitting on my desk in New York. Cassie hasn’t submitted it, but it exists. Even if we don’t pull the trigger, MasonCorp still has the ammunition. We have to tell Eleanor and David.”
“I know.” I sighed, pulling her closer. “But we’ll do it together.”
Her gaze softened as she looked up at me. “You really think we can fix this?”
“I know we can,” I said with conviction. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned living here, it’s that family and community matter more than jobs, money, or status. Eleanor and David know that. We’ll figure it out—together.”
She nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I thought you’d abandoned me,” she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. Ilooked at her in confusion before she continued. “Thirteen years ago, I thought you’d abandoned me.”
“I had,” I admitted, the words heavy in my throat. “I was so caught up in the fallout of my parents’ divorce, the lawsuits, the blame—it overwhelmed me. I used our attorney’s advice as an excuse to cut ties, but the truth is… I was scared. And I’ve regretted it every day since. I’m so sorry, Jasmine.”
Her tears flowed freely now, and I wiped them away with my thumbs. “Can you forgive me?” I asked, my voice soft but earnest. “I’ll spend the rest of our lives proving you can trust me.”
“The rest of our lives, huh?”
I held up her hand and kissed the rings on her finger. “Isn’t that what these mean?”
She let out a laugh that was half sob. “Well, I did poison you and lose your dog, so I guess if you can forgive me, I can forgive you.”
I pulled her into my chest, resting my chin on the top of her head. “Are you worried about what our parents will say?”
She snorted. “Your mom always liked me. And I’m pretty sure your dad doesn’t care about anything unless it involves money.”
“True,” I said with a chuckle. “But what about your mom? Think she’ll let me off the hook?”
“She’ll come around,” Jasmine said confidently. “She’ll have to—especially once she finds out about the grandkids.”
“Grandkids?” I pulled back to look at her, my brows shooting up.
She grinned mischievously. “Relax. Not yet. But… someday.”
I shook my head, laughing as I kissed her. “One thing at a time, kitten. First, we fix Miller’s Cove.”
“And then we fix everything else.” She leaned into me with a contented sigh.
“Together,” I promised, holding her tightly. For the first time a strange, beautiful feeling filled my chest with warmth. It was hope.
Preparations for the Founders’ Day picnic made the next week fly by in a whirlwind of activity and excitement. The days blurred together as Jasmine poured herself into researching, planning, and coordinating while spending her nights wrapped up in my arms. Through her relentless energy and the warm camaraderie of the Pikes, I learned even more about the heart of Miller’s Cove. But most importantly, I learned more about myself—what I wanted, what mattered most to me, and how deeply I’d fallen for this extraordinary woman.
Sunday morning came far too quickly, heralded by the soft press of Jasmine’s lips against mine as she kissed me awake at six o’clock. Even half asleep, I couldn’t help but marvel at her. By seven, she was out of bed and rushing to the shower, leaving me to savor the sight of her tousled hair and sleepy smile. By eight, we were in a taxi heading to Greenwood Park to meet Eleanor, David, and some other community members for the final setup.
Greenwood Park was nothing short of stunning—a sprawling, tree-lined haven at the edge of town, almost four times the sizeof the park where we walked Tora every day. Its lush green lawns were dotted with colorful tents, picnic tables, and booths, each more charming than the last. The air buzzed with excitement and the tantalizing scent of barbecue, fresh flowers, and baked goods.
Despite the park’s enormous size, it felt like every single person in Miller’s Cove was there. Thousands of people dressed in their Sunday best filled the space, their laughter and chatter blending harmoniously with the upbeat tunes of a live band. The music emanated from a grand wooden bandstand adorned with twinkling lights and flowers with a polished wooden dance floor stretched out in front.
I barely left Jasmine’s side the entire day. If I wasn’t fetching her drinks or helping David man one of the massive grills, I was glued to her, soaking in her joy and the way she seemed to light up every corner of the park she touched.
