Page 170 of Ten Day Affair

“You better.”

She leans down and kisses the top of my head and is through the door. If I could bottle half of that woman’s energy, I would be unstoppable.

Once Arden’s gone, Cole settles beside me again, his thigh brushing mine, and one hand lazily skimming the rim of his glass.

The waves roll in slowly and steadily. The sun melts toward the horizon. It’s almost too beautiful, like the kind of scene you’d think was overdone in a movie.

He was right about this place. I do need it. But not as a lifeline to my mom anymore. She’s with me wherever I go.

Now, it’s a home base. Ours. Before, it was all sharp edges and empty spaces. With him here, it’s full and alive in a way I didn’t realize I’d been missing.

I watch the water and let the quiet sink in, breathing it all in like I want to keep it.

“Do you keep tabs on what’s happening at Good Samaritan?” I ask softly.

Cole glances at me. “Some.”

“Is it true? Did Kings finally close the sale for less than they planned?”

He nods. “It took longer than they expected. And yeah, profit was thinner than projected. But I think everyone is happy. Pope Lawson’s team moved fast once it was finalized. Concierge care’s rolling out in phases now.”

I process that for a moment. “You think it’ll work?”

“I do. Palm Beach is ripe for this type of model.”

I nod slowly, tracing the rim of my glass. “Istill can’t believe how fast everything unraveled. My residency, the wing, the hospital as I knew it. Next week will be exactly a year since the vote.”

Cole stays quiet, but his hand finds mine.

“I hated it,” I say. “At first. It felt like being ripped out of my own life.”

He nods, watching the water. “I wish it hadn’t gone down the way it did. I’d change that part if I could.”

I squeeze his hand. “I know you would. But you were right, even if I couldn’t see it then. The wing, the hospital... it all needed to evolve. So did I.”

He looks at me, something unreadable in his eyes.

“This forced it. Losing that part of my world made space for something new. Something mine. It hurt like hell, but it had to happen.”

His thumb brushes my knuckles. “I know your mom would be proud of you.”

A lump rises in my throat. “I think so, too. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

“You are.”

I glance over. “So are you.”

He watches me for a second, like he’s memorizing something. “You know I never believed in forever before you.”

My breath catches as he leans in, kissing me gently.

“I love you,” he murmurs against my lips.

“I love you, too.”

He sets his glass down and stands. I expect him to reach for his phone or head inside, but instead, he drops to one knee in front of me. Right here, on this weathered old deck.

My hand flies to my mouth.