Page 66 of Beginnings By the Sea

Miles clutched my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly. “Want to dance?”

The dance floor was filled with people, all swaying slowly to a Hadley Rivers country song. He winked at me and smiled.

“Seems fitting since we have a history with Hadley Rivers.”

I laughed. “Yes, we do.”

I looked at all the people and focused on his parents, staring at each other as if they were the only two people in the world. They’ve been married for forty-five years and still going strong.

“It’s been nice seeing your parents again,” I said, clutching his hand. “I used to love talking to your mom.”

Miles kissed the top of my head. “She loves talking to you, too. And just so you know, my parents are thinking of visiting us soon. They want to see Oak Island.”

That made me smile. “Anytime.”

The song was almost halfway done, but before I could stand and pull him to the dance floor, two teenage girls rushed over to us, holding what looked to be tabloid magazines in their hands. One of the girls had long blonde hair and braces, while the other had shorter brown hair and glasses.

The blonde held out the magazine along with a black marker. “Can we please have your autographs?”

My mouth dropped and I had no choice but to take the magazine from her. The other girl handed her magazine to Miles. On the cover was a picture of Cohen, Miles, and me with the headline: The Choice Has Been Made. Then under that, the subtitle was: New York’s Famous Bachelor is Now Single Again.

Miles narrowed his gaze at them, his lips pulling back in a sly grin. “Before we sign these, do you think we’re the bad guys in the story?”

The blonde snorted and shook her head. “Definitely, not. Anyone can see that Cohen guy is a jerk.”

I signed my name underneath my picture on both magazines and Miles did the same. The blonde gasped and opened the magazine, sliding it to where I could see.

“I don’t know if you’ve read this or not, but Hollywood is thinking of making a movie about you guys. Won’t that just be epic?”

Miles and I turned to each other, and his shoulders shook with laughter. “I wonder who they’d get to play me?”

The girls looked at each other and snickered, but the brown-haired girl was the one who spoke up first. “I’d say, Chris Hemsworth.”

The blonde shook her head. “No, Ryan Gosling.”

My eyes widened, and I laughed when Miles sat back, grinning triumphantly. “Girls, you’re going to make Miles get a big head.”

Miles threw his arms up in the air. “What are you saying? Do I not look as hot as those guys?” The girls giggled and walked away, leaving me alone with him.

Leaning in close, I nipped his ear playfully and whispered. “You are way sexier than them, sweetheart.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

I moved back and shrugged; there was no doubt in my mind. “It’s the truth.”

The music faded to silence, and an expectant hush filled the crowded hall. The bride, radiant in her white gown with her dark curls woven into a ball of cascading flowers, stepped up onto the stage and surveyed the guests. She grinned mischievously and held the bouquet of rainbow-hued blossoms high over her head.

“All righty, ladies!” Her voice echoed across the room. “Who wants to catch the bouquet?”

A chorus of squeals erupted from the single women around me, and they began to sprint toward an empty patch of the dance floor at the center of the room.

Miles nudged me in the ribs with his elbow. “You better get out there. You’re not married.”

“No, but I was before,” I said, dreading the thought of joining the crowd of crazy women who looked as if they’d scratch my eyes out if I caught the bouquet. “That should count me as being ineligible.”

I glanced over my shoulder at his mother, who was beckoning me with a wide smile. With a sigh, I reluctantly joined the other eager single ladies on the floor.

Kristina spun around so her back was to us and shouted, “On three! One! Two! Three!”

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