Page 49 of Royal Agenda

“I didn’t get to say it back, and I’m pretty sure that when I do, we’re going to do that again.” She kissed his neck. “And I’m not upset about it.”

“Do what again?” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Make gelato?”

Giggling, she swatted at him and then took both his cheeks in her hands and pulled him close. Her lips brushed her as she spoke the words he had longed to hear. “Ti amo, Ryker Rockefeller.”

He moaned with pleasure as the words seeped into every lonely nook and cranny in his soul. They were the balm of healing and hope he did not know he needed. He grabbed her thighs and lifted her up, pinning her against the wall once again, and then kissed her with every bit of passion that dwelled in his Isolad$ heart.

Grace was it for him. No other woman would ever compare nor be able to find a place in his life or heart because she was in it, through it, and around it. She was everything. With her, he could finally let go of the past and see a future that he was excited about in Diamond Cove.

Eighteen

Grace hurried up the sidewalk to the main building at The Palms. Today was a very big day, and she was too excited to walk at a normal speed. Elizabeth was in town, visiting Chad, and they’d come for lunch with her and Grandma. Not only was she going to officially meet her future brother-in-law, she was going to wrap her sister in her arms and hold her so, so tight.

She’d spent the morning on a conference call with Celsest, going through each of the images she’d taken of the church register. They were crisp and clear. She wasn't lying when she’d said it was her best work. The ink on the image was as real as if she were leaning over it.

The fact that the project had reached this stage left Grace reeling. Where had the time gone? It seemed like only yesterday she’d pulled into Diamond Cove in that horrible van with–what was his name? She giggled at her mental snub. Maybe it wasn’t nice, but she was so grateful she hadn’t settled for an imitation of a man when a real one was waiting to be discovered.

Discovery was the best.

Celeste was losing her interest in staying in the small town—–she and Diego disagreed over her staying in San Juan or him following her around the globe. He didn’t want to leave his little flock of believers, and she didn’t want to stay forever.

“Sometimes your life’s calling can get in the way of your love life,” Celeste sniffed. “I thought he’d want to be a traveling preacher. I mean, it’s not my thing, but we could do it, ya know? This totally sucks.”

Grace agreed wholeheartedly. She didn’t even want to think about what it would be like to leave Diamond Cove. Eventually, she would have to. And, if she was going to stay, she’d need to find a place. But things with Ryker were going well. They were in this bubble of time and she didn’t want to burst it by changing things up.

Grandma didn’t mind the company. They’d gone shopping when Winnie told them Leather & Lace put out a whole new selection of dresses and added a jean wall. Not that Grandma bought anything–nor had she worn the one dress she did buy–but she had a ton of fun picking things out for Grace and planning dates for her and Ryker.

That’s how Grace came up with the spray painting idea. Actually, it was Walt who told Grandma about the painting project on the old cement wall on the way into town. He knew all sorts of hidden places and activities in Diamond Cove and was a treasure trove of ideas.

They’d had dinner together last night at a French restaurant on the pier. The lobster rolls were absolutely delicious, and she’d relished every single bite. They’d taken a box of eclairs, and a bag of shrimp, o the beach. They fed the shrimp to the Fab Four so they’d leave them in peace to eat dessert and then fed each other eclairs between kisses.

Her man tasted like chocolate and cream and said all the right things in his deep accent that made her want to lie down in the sand and make a sand angel. She was so incredibly happy.

As long as she was with Ryker and stayed in the moment, she was happier than she’d ever been in her life. There was a huge lesson there, right? Like, thirty-seven YouTube pep talks told her to keep at it and not let go of the here and now.

But, when they were together, and she wasn’t in an old lady workout class that was still kicking her butt (thank you!) or teaching a genealogy class (Betty had broken right through that dead end last week), doubts crept in like flamingos at a picnic.

Ryker dropped hints to his past. She’d pick them up and put them in her pocket, and pull them out for observation later. He’d wanted to go to La Bella Bella for dinner last night, claiming their marinara sauce was the closest thing to authentic IS$ that he’d found in Diamond Cove.

She’d played it cool, not letting him know that he’d strayed from the “I’m Italian” story by admitting such a fact. Sure, he could have visited the country and tasted their marinara sauce, but the way he said it was the same way Grandma said, “My lemon-scented cleaner is the best on the market.” They spoke with ownership.

There was more to his life story than he let on. While she could respect his need for space and give him time to learn that he could trust her, she filed away the things she gathered about him that he didn’t know he told her.

The list was small—for now. She’d continue to pile them up until she had a clear enough picture to ask him for specifics.

Things will change between you, a voice whispered in the back of her head.

She shoved the warning away. Normally, she heeded that voice and allowed it to guide her in her life. It was a wise voice. One that had always served her well. But she wasn’t ready to let go of what they had just yet, so she filed the warning away too.

If she kept this up, she’d be stuffed with files, not have any answers, and be frustrated with herself.

They don’t have to, she told her inner voice.

It wasn’t like Ryker had a calling to cut hair in Diamond Cove, he could do that anywhere. With some work, she talked herself out of identifying too deeply with Celest’s situation before she broke into a panic. Besides, she continued her internal soothing conversation, we’re in love. Love is the strongest force on the planet.

She pulled open the large front door, expecting to see Sweetie sunning herself in the fountain with Bear lounging nearby. Instead of the serene scene, there was a room full of men and women talking over one another.

“I’m just not going to go,” Betty said loudly.

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