Page 54 of One Small Spark (Love in Sunshine #4)

WREN

“This is my favorite so far.” I stand facing the ocean at Onemana Beach, my arms outstretched as the waves wash over my toes.

It’s hotter than I thought it would be for early March, but I’m not complaining.

A warm breeze ruffles my coverup skirt, my thin linen top billowing around my waist. My dual braids are almost shot this late in the afternoon.

I’m windswept and sunburned and have several hellaciously itchy bumps around both ankles.

But we’re here, and I’m loving every second of it. Itchy bumps aside.

Shepherd wraps his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on top of my head. “You say that about all of them.”

“I mean it about all of them. Look at this place. Beautiful green trees on shore. White sandy beach along the bay. Pure blue ocean stretching out in front of us. Yup.” I nod, making his chin bob above me. “My favorite. ”

We’ve been in New Zealand a week already, with six days of exploring left to go.

We decided not to overwhelm ourselves with too many options, so we’re sticking to the upper end of the North Island for our stay.

We move from tiny house to tiny house, beach bums with nothing better to do than sit in the sand and take a dip in the ocean.

I’ve got my swimsuit on beneath my clothes, ready to get back in the water at a moment’s notice.

“There’s room in the beginner classes for us every day we’re here.” Shepherd releases me so we can stand side by side. He nods down the beach toward a small surf shack. “If you want to give it a try.”

I sigh. I’ve got nothing better to do than sit around. He’s trying to convince me this is a good time to learn how to surf. He’s a big fan of doing things, that one.

“Mmm.” I try to work up a grumble, but it’s not very serious. This trip is too out of the ordinary to pass up something like that. When will I get the chance to surf in New Zealand again? “Okay. Tomorrow, though. Tonight, I just want to watch the sun set and eat all the noodles we have in our hut.”

He swoops in to kiss my cheek. “That’s my goddess.”

Ugh. The happiness in his voice is the best sound ever.

“It’s really your fault, you know.”

He rumbles an agreement. “Most things are.”

“You keep getting me to do things.”

His smirk softens. “Are you okay with that?”

Why is my throat getting tight, like my heart jumped up in there? This is so ridiculous.

“Yes,” I say softly, as if it’s some big deal. “I want to do all the things with you.”

Shepherd’s smile ignites something comforting and warm beneath my ribs. “You had to go and give me the perfect opening, didn’t you? ”

“For what?”

He pulls something out of the pocket of his board shorts, takes a step back from the surf, and drops onto one knee. He opens the little velvet box in his hand, gazing up at me as the setting sun paints him with golden highlights.

“Wren Kitten Goddess Krause,” he starts.

I snort, wrecking the moment. He’s undeterred.

“You are my favorite person in this world. I love every part of you, the good and the bad, the sweet and the salty. I might especially love the salty.”

I laugh again. He really does love it when I’m crabby. My perfect other half.

“I want to spend every day with you, from your grumpy ‘Good mornings’ to your sleepy ‘Good nights.’ It will take a lifetime to learn everything I want to know about you. I am never going to finish falling in love with you, Wren. Will you marry me?”

I drop to my knees in front of him. “All the yeses.”

We kiss in celebration, with just enough push and pull to remind us what we love about each other. I’m barely thinking when he pulls the ring from its cushion in the box. It’s a square-cut solitaire, which I only know is called a princess cut from hanging out with Lila so much.

And maybe the occasional peek at jewelry websites. I’ve been secretly hoping, what can I say?

“I thought classic elegance suited you,” he says, watching me admire the ring. “But it’s got a secret…”

He tilts it toward me so I can see the inscription inside the band.

Krause + Callahan

“You are such a cheeseball,” I whisper. He knows it’s my highest compliment .

“You love me,” he says as he slides the beautiful ring onto my finger.

He kisses me again, a sweet, soft precursor of vows to come. I hold his face in my hands, look into his eyes, and admit the truth.

“I’m obsessed.”