Page 81 of One Bride for Three Single Dads

Harrison and Boone leap from the couch and head toward our bedroom, happy that the situation is resolved.

I walk toward Ambrose and into his open arms. He folds those strong limbs around me and squeezes me to his chest. For a couple of seconds, I just listen to the heavy, calming sound of his heartbeat.

“Dinner was really wonderful,” he whispers into my hair.

“Thank you,” I smile against his chest.

“I’ll miss you,” he says softly, ending with a little bit of a chuckle.

Pulling away, I stare into his handsome face. His beautiful green eyes. The tender smile on his full lips.

“I will miss you too,” I answer truthfully.

Chapter 35

JOLENE

According to everything I read on the internet, there is a way to get to the ocean from here.

I mean, aside from the obvious jumping-off-the-cliff method.

Apparently, there is a staircase.

It’s actually supposed to be about fifteen yards from the front garden of the cottage, an area I haven’t gone yet.

After the guys leave for the job site, and before Cole and Alexis wake up, I decide to hike up my socks and explore a little. I won’t be gone long. Still, it feels strange to walk away without them following me like baby ducks.

It doesn’t take too long. Just outside the split-rail fence of the garden the stone debris seems to organize itself into a path pretty quickly. Just like the aerial map showed, I see the staircase appear just after a outcropping of wiry shrubbery.

But is it safe? Holding my breath, I grab hold of the railing and jerk it with all my might.

No movement.

Then I go to the other one, and try the same thing.

Sturdy as can be.

Actually, the stairway looks to be fairly new. Freshly painted, anyway.

“Okay, you big chicken!” I say out loud to myself. “Go get those kids!”

With another glance backward, I convince myself that we are not very far up. We should totally do this. We should definitely do this!

Right? Shouldn’t we?

“Good morning, ducklings!” I announce as I walk into the kids’ room and open the curtains.

Harmony is already awake and sitting in the middle of her crib. She bounces back and forth energetically.

“You want to go to the beach today?” I ask her in a singsong voice. “You want to go see the water?”

Harmony pops her lips together enthusiastically.

“The beach?” Alexis repeats sleepily. “For real? Today?”

“I promised, didn’t I?” I reply with a smirk. “Get up, let’s have some toast and tea. Brush your teeth. All that good stuff.”

Alexis grins at me dreamily. Cole flops onto his belly and slides off his little cot, hustling out the bedroom door toward the kitchen.

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