Page 42 of Meant for Me (Magnolia Bay #3)

“Of course I did.” Linc took her other hand, rubbed the ring on her finger with his thumb. She stared at it, vision blurring. “But you were always more important than my wants. I couldn’t risk messing it up. Messing us up. Was afraid I’d lose you.”

“Until Amelia came along.”

He nodded. “I thought marrying you would guarantee your staying. Then everything started falling apart.”

That was one way to put it.

“When we kissed, I thought for sure I’d messed it up. But you seemed to want the same thing, and?—”

Boy, did she.

“—for a minute, I had this…hope.” Linc shook his head. “It’s dumb. But the stuff with Kirsten threw me back to the past, and then when Amelia left, I panicked.”

“Understandably.” She loosened her grip on his hands. “I panicked too. Felt like I couldn’t show it. Felt like I had to hold us together.”

“You can’t hold broken pieces, Zoey. They’ll cut you.”

“That’s awfully poetic of you.”

“Don’t you know by now?” He let go of one hand to swipe a tear off her cheek. “I’d write a sonnet, for crying out loud, if it made you smile. Or what’s the one with the syllables?”

“Haiku.” She choked on her laugh.

“That too.” His fingers trailed her jaw, then cupped her cheek. “I realized, after our fight, that I was so afraid of you leaving, I pushed you away.”

She nodded.

“I said awful things.”

She nodded again.

“I was such a jerk.”

Nod.

He hesitated. “Feel free to jump in here.”

“You’re doing great on your own.” She pressed her hand against his, the one still on her cheek. “I’m sorry too. I wasn’t real with you—if I had been honest about how I felt all along, none of this would have been so bad.”

“Are you really forgiving me?”

“What are friends for?” She smirked.

He winced. “I deserve that.”

“Before I came here, I stopped at my old shop.” Zoey drew a shaky breath and let go of his hand. “I finally released it—all of it. I’d held too much in for way too long.”

She might have let go, but he didn’t. He wrapped his arms, his ridiculously strong arms, right around her waist. Held on tight. “Good.”

“Earlier, in the truck, I told you something my parents always said to me, about faith and prayers.” Zoey winced. “And I think I got it wrong.”

“How so?” His brow furrowed.

“Well, I mean, yes, God invites us to participate in His plans, and our prayers do matter. But it’s never up to us. It’s never God plus our efforts. It’s God, working it all for good.” She blew out her breath. “Usually despite us.”

“I think that makes me Exhibit A.” Linc snorted.

She grinned. “And B.”

“I said I didn’t need you, and that was a lie.” He pulled her in tight against his damp chest, whispered against her wet hair. “But the even bigger lie would be to say I don’t want you.”

Tingles rushed down her back. She snuggled closer into his arms. “Then you definitely shouldn’t say that.”

“I’d much rather say something else.”

“Mmm?”

He abruptly pushed her away, stepped back. “Zoey Lakewood Fontenot.” He dropped to one knee. “Will you marry me?”

“Again?” Dunkin’ donuts, this was happening. Her heart leapt. Joy burst.

He held her gaze, the depth of his feelings shining through his eyes. “Still.”

She didn’t even try to hold back this second round of tears. Because as she was learning, sometimes the sun could shine even through the rain. Like grace.

Amazing grace.

“I love you.” Still on one knee, he grasped both her hands. “Always have.” He let out a little huff. “I should have known I’d somehow end up with a woman who jumped on my back during a cooking class.”

She let out a half laugh, half sob.

“Zoey, you need to know I still mean every word I said during our elopement. Every vow, every promise.” His voice sobered. “But I’ll do it all again for you. Big wedding. Whatever you want.”

She already had everything she wanted.

“Well… will you marry me?” He lumbered to his feet, as if suddenly concerned she hadn’t actually said yes.

“Yes.” She tapped her chin, pretending to think about it. “On one condition.”

“Condition?” He frowned.

She fought to hold her straight face. “Twenty pushups.”

He tilted his head. “You’re kidding.” But he really couldn’t tell if she was or not, and she loved it.

Loved him.

“I never joke about fitness, Linc.” Zoey pointed at the ground, shot him a saucy wink. “Count ’em off, Muscles.”

“Better than a haiku.” He hit the ground, his lats bunching under his wet shirt. “One. Two. Three.”

She waited until he got to ten, then dropped down to the ground in front of him. He paused at the top of his next rep, a question in his eyes. She flipped over on her back and scooted across the wet grass until her face lined up perfectly under his. “Ten more.”

He grinned, pushing down into his next rep, lips grazing hers. “Eleven.”

Kiss.

“Twelve.”

Kiss.

She giggled. “I would have worked out much sooner if I knew this was an option.”

He growled, then came to his knees, grabbed her. Hauled them both to their feet. She shrieked with laughter, and he held her up against him, like he had on the dock. Tucked in his arms. Safe.

Secure. He pressed his lips to hers, a kiss full of promise and anticipation.

Zoey’s heart soared. “I love you too, by the way. You big jerk.”

“Glad to hear it.” He pressed his damp forehead against hers. “Ready to go get our kid? I’m sure she’s all sugared up by now, if Mama D had anything to do with it.”

Zoey snorted. “Yep.” Linc kissed her one more time, stealing her breath. She closed her eyes, relishing his scent. His strength. This moment. “And then let’s go home .”

Where they were meant to be.

The End