Page 27 of Searching for Sunshine (Crestbrook Cove #1)

WYATT

“ H ey, do you need anything else tonight?” Trent asks as we finish rinsing off the boats. “I need to run to the parts house before they close for some extra fuel filters.”

“Nope, I’m good. But would you also pick up some spark plugs just in case? The Fin and Tonic seems to be doing much better than she was earlier this summer, but I don’t want to get stranded with all the new tours we’ve been taking on,” I explain, turning off the water hose.

“Sure, no problem. I’ll bring them in with me on Monday. Are we still on for brunch at the pier tomorrow?”

“Damn it. My wife and her best friend really have the ability to plan some shit don’t they,” I groan, remembering Stella and Avery planned a day with our friends tomorrow since we all finally have a day off.

I’d been looking forward to having her to myself, but there was a new breakfast restaurant down by the water that our guests have been raving about, and I forgot I promised Stella we could all go together.

My brother chuckles then says, “You know, I’ve gotta admit, it’s pretty fun seeing the way you’re completely wrapped around her finger. I never thought I’d see the day where you let yourself be happy, but I’m sure as hell glad you did, man.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say,” I reply, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the serious turn this conversation took.

“Don’t get me wrong you’re still a grumpy ol’ asshole at times,” Trent teases, and I laugh, flipping him off. “In all seriousness, I do think you two are good together. But what’s going to happen at the end of this year? Are you really going to let her go?”

“Well, that’s what we agreed on,” I say, trying not to think about how much I’m dreading everything with Stella coming to an end.

“Just think about it, man. I just don’t want you to get hurt if this doesn’t go the way you’ve planned.”

“Thanks. I’ll be okay,” I mutter, not sure if I’m trying to convince him or myself.

“Whatever you say. Either way, I guess we’ll figure it out. I’ve gotta run. I’ll see you tomorrow,” my brother says before hopping off his boat and heading down the pier, leaving me to finish cleaning the boats by myself.

I grab an extra cloth out of the glove box and start to wipe down the seats before I head in for the day.

Usually, this part of my day is spent going through my to-do list for the next day’s charters, but today I can’t seem to stop thinking about Stella.

My wife has consumed more and more of my thoughts over the last few weeks and I’m starting to feel like a man obsessed.

I try not to let myself think too hard about what my brother said, but I can’t stop myself from replaying his words in my head.

It’s hard to believe how much has changed over the last few months since Stella and I exchanged vows on this dock.

I have to admit that with each day that passes, it feels more and more impossible to walk away from her at the end of the year.

I spend a moment trying to picture letting her go when the time comes, but instead, all I can think about is the happy little shimmy she does when she takes the first sip of her energy drink in the morning.

I think about how beautiful she looks when she comes around my cock, and how she smiles each time Duke runs into our room at the end of the day and maneuvers his way between us to cuddle in bed.

I think about how excited she gets each time the Hideaway gets a new booking or the hotel hits a new follower count on social media, and I know I’m completely gone for her.

Throughout all of this, no matter how hard I try, I can’t imagine signing divorce papers in ten months. No part of me can picture going back to my small apartment and telling myself that what Stella and I have doesn’t mean anything at the end of the year.

The longer I think about it, the more I realize I’m completely in love with Stella Hale.

Fuck . This isn’t how this was supposed to go, but as soon as the thought crosses my mind, I know it’s true. I’ve been falling for Stella since the first day she walked back into my life, and now I’m too invested to even imagine pulling away.

After spending most of my life not letting the people around me get too close, I should be terrified by how far I’ve allowed this to go.

But I know that even if this all goes to shit, I’ll never regret falling for Stella.

She brings out the best parts of me. All summer I’ve admired the way she took over the hotel that was sad and empty and filled it with love and excitement.

The more I think about it, the more I realize she did the same thing for me.

Truthfully, the only thing that scares me more than the thought of losing her is going back to the person I was before she came into my life.

Blinking, I realize I’ve spent the last ten minutes wiping down the same seat, lost in my thoughts.

Shaking my head, I try to clear my thoughts, but it’s useless.

Now that I’ve come to terms with how I really feel about Stella, all I can think about is convincing her to stay with me after this year is over.

A part of me knows that I shouldn’t rush into anything—I mean, after all, I have months to convince her before we have to make a decision. But I know there’s no way I can spend the rest of this year not knowing how she feels about me.

I take a breath and try to force myself to slow down, but it’s no use. I know this could go terribly wrong, but suddenly I can’t convince myself to wait. Throwing the barely used rag back in the glove box, I step off of the boat and head to my truck.

I guess now’s as good of a time as any to tell my wife I’m in love with her.