Page 83 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

“Yes.” He ran after the dog before Breeze could get into any mischief. “But I wanted it to be a surprise.”

Skylar gasped behind his back. “It sure is.”

Dallas caught up with Breeze and leashed her before she could get close to any candles. “Stay. I really need you to stay.”

He’d thought the same thoughts before Skylar had left for college. He winced as he straightened. History wasn’t going to repeat itself, was it?

But now that Skylar had decided to stay in their small town for good, he’d never forgive himself if he didn’t try for the second time. The third time, if needed, but he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Her eyes were huge. “You did... all that?”

“My brothers helped. Marina, too. And your grandmother by keeping you busy.”

He did his best to see it through her eyes. Peach-scented candles on the ground, a little picnic with her favorite foods on a makeshift table, and the words he’d constructed from seashells on the sand. It had taken a lot of time to gather those seashells, but he’d had a lot of patience and brothers with eagle eyes. Even if some of them had groaned when he suggested he should spell her name with seashells.

He’d thought to write those words on the sand at first but had been afraid the tide would wash them away.

Then he noticed Breeze messed up one letter in her frantic run. “Oh, oops, theYgot moved.”

Skylar blinked. “I don’t know what got moved, much less why.”

“TheYin ‘marry me.’” His pulse skyrocketed, and his mouth went dry. All thoughts flew out of his brain, except one. What was she going to answer?

She stared at him. “Do you mean it?”

Breeze nudged his hand as if to give a gentle reminder. He slapped himself on the forehead. “Oh no!”

Skylar’s lips trembled. “You... you don’t mean it? You didn’t mean to propose?”

Breeze stretched on the ground and covered her head with her paw.

“I’m messing it up, aren’t I?” he whispered.

Breeze barked as if to say, “Welcome to the club.”

“I mean, of course, I mean it.” He dropped to one knee.

“But you never said you loved me. Well, not after I came back. Even after I said I loved you,” she whispered.

“Of course, I love you! I thought it was clear.”

Skylar laughed and rolled her eyes. “You’re supposed to say it, as well. Spell it out, if you will.” She gestured at the seashells.

Oh. “I loved you long before I realized it. I loved you my entire life. And even when I wanted to stop loving you, I just... couldn’t. I’ll love you till my last breath. Skylar, you’re the very air I breathe. You’re my sunshine in the sky. You’re the breeze from the ocean.”

Breeze barked again at the sound of her name.

“Maybe that didn’t sound right,” he added fast.

Tears appeared in Skylar’s eyes, and he swallowed hard. Did he upset her? “No,” she whispered.

No? He’d never been great with words. And he’d never been a creative type. He didn’t know how to show how he felt.

“No, you’re wrong.” She wiped her tears and took his hands in hers. “That sounded right. And perfect. And more than I ever could wish for.”

Was there abutcoming? He went cold. “But?”

“There’s nobut. I love you. I never stopped loving you. If you can forgive me for leaving you—”

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