Page 34 of Christmas in Kiwi Country

I kiss her lips softly before pulling back to meet her gaze. “I love you, Gwen, and I’ll love you for as long as you let me. And if there’s any question,”—I nod toward the shell—“I’ll be replacing this one soon enough.”

She waves her hand this way and that, the shell resting snuggly on her finger, and I can barely resist dropping down to one knee right here in the sand.

“I dunno,” she teases, completely oblivious to my internal struggle. “I kinda like this one.”

I snort and she rolls her eyes.

“Of course you do,” I say as I take her other hand and lead her down the beach. I won’t propose in the same place I let go of my past. Gwen deserves a moment all her own, and I’ll be damned if I don’t give that to her.

20

CULLEN

Saying goodbye to Riley and Eve was harder than I expected. We’d exchanged information, or more accurately the ladies had, with promises of keeping in touch and hosting them in Tennessee sometime after Isla had the triplets. Aside from my brother and Rob, I didn’t have many friends to speak of before moving to Clementine Creek.

Even there, the list wasn’t extensive, but I’d added Flora’s husband, Vincent, and his sons and friends. Mostly, I’d been steamrolled into their family and it had been pretty damn great. They loved my daughter and, by extension, me.

I knew I’d been a bastard for a lot of years but Isla’s acceptance of me seemed to assuage them into including me in the family. Still, it had all been a process—still is—but each day the load got a little easier, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it.

“You’re making that face again,” Gwen says with a hand on her hip, causing a chuckle to rumble in my chest.

“What face?”

“The ‘I’m thinkin’ hard about something’ face,” she says pointedly, and I shrug because she’s not wrong. I’d been lost looking out at the water from the private villa I’d booked at the resort.

The drive to Paihia had been spectacular. Bends and curves and cliff faces lined the road, bringing the water back into view as often as it pushed it away. It was spectacular and refreshing, and I found myself being just as excited as Gwen to see what was around the next turn.

“I’m just thinking that Ilikedoing this with you.”

She holds up her hand where the shell ring still sits and huffs, “Well, I’d hope so.”

Pulling her against me, I kiss her nose as her arms wrap around my back. “I like experiencing this with you. All of it. And while I’m sure it will come as a surprise to you,”—I pause for dramatic effect—“I’m not particularly social.”

She mockingly gasps, and I steal her smart-ass remark with a kiss that leaves her panting.

“I just meant that it was nice to make friends with Riley and Eve. It’s not something I’ve ever really done before.”

“I like them too, and I like doin’ this with you too,” she says as she leans in for another kiss when my phone beeps.

I ignore it but then it happens again.

Again.

Growling, I take her hand and lead her to the bed where I’d thrown the damn thing earlier.

HANK: (picture of sonogram)

HANK: We went to the doctor today and they said everything looks good. Probably have to start going every week to make sure they don’t have to induce her.

OTTO: That’s great!

CASE: Hank I can totally see your big head in this picture

WAYLON: That’s awesome man. Marlee squealed when Isla sent the picture so I think that’s good right?

CASE: Hank, Hannah says stop hovering you’re making your wife crazy

HANK: I’m doing no such thing

---