Page 104 of Love, Legacy, and Little Green Aliens

She hadn’t seen him this polished since Casa Francesca, and she was going to have so much fun rumpling him as soon as she could get him alone. Her mouth watered at the thought.

“There’s my beauty.” Xander beamed. “Are you ready?” He crooked his arm in an old-fashioned, courtly gesture.

“Ready for what?” She slid her arm through his. “And if you tell me it’s a secret, I’ll smack you.”

Xander tutted in mock consternation. “Violence in front of your mother?”

“Go on, you two,” Mom said with a laugh. “Xander’s kept us waiting long enough.”

“Right as always, Linda.” He gave her his other elbow, and together, the three of them promenaded across the street.

Once again, the parking lot held a crowd—a smaller one, this time, and Hannah recognized all the expectant faces turned their way.

“Is the whole town here?” she asked.

“Pretty much.”

His smug grin was so unbearably cute, she had to give his butt a quick squeeze, onlookers be damned.

Xander put two fingers to his lips and let fly a piercing whistle. Conversations dwindled and stilled.

“Friends, thanks for coming out tonight. We’ll all be busy over Memorial Day weekend, so I wanted to take this chance to introduce Trappers Cove’s newest attraction to the people who made all this possible. Truly, I couldn’t have done it without you.” He grasped Hannah’s hand and gave her a wink. “But first, let’s have some bubbly.”

The sound of popping corks carried in the expectant stillness, and soon, bartender Quinn and her Salty Dog crew were circulating through the gathering with trays of plastic champagne flutes. Even Ryan Lee, the brew pub’s owner, and Lilo, his girlfriend and head brewer, helped serve.

Xander claimed two glasses and offered one to Hannah, then raised his high. “A toast to the lady who helped me understand Trappers Cove.” Twinkling with affection, his eyes locked on hers. “I didn’t make it easy for her. But she never gave up on this stubborn Greek, and I think—IhopeI’ve got it right. Everyone ready?”

Gripping her hand, he walked her to the shrouded archway, now minus its chains, she noted. He nodded to Matteo Verducci, who nodded in turn to his two helpers, young guys she recognized from the Sons of Italy dinner-dances.

Hal Horvat, their silver-haired mayor, stepped forward, holding a giant pair of scissors.

“Xander?!” Hannah squealed, bouncing on her toes. “You said you’d be working right up to the weekend.”

“We still have some interior work to finish, but I wanted to give our friends and neighbors a sneak peek.” He squeezed her tight in a side hug. “You’ve been so very patient,” he teased before releasing her. “Ready, Luz?”

The new reporter stepped forward and lifted her camera.

“Drumroll, please.”

Tongues trilled and hands patted thighs as, laughing, everyone awaited the great unveiling.

“Now!”

The tarps tumbled to the ground, revealing a driftwood archway spangled with glittery stars. Dangling from chains at its crest, a carved wooden sign readSouvenir Galaxy.

Cheers and applause rang out in the golden evening air.

Hannah clapped her free hand over her gaping mouth. Unable to speak, she gawked up at Xander, her whole face a question.

He gave a sheepish shrug. “So, I may have been unfairly prejudiced against the UFO schtick.” He touched his glass to hers. “Do you like it, beauty?”

Like it? She didn’t have words to express how much she loved the idea, loved him for finding room in his dream for those goofy aliens and room in his heart for Trappers Cove—and for her.

She gripped the back of his neck and crushed her mouth to his.

Hoots of approval rose from the onlookers.

Hannah thrust her glass in the air and hollered, “To Xander!”