Page 116 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

‘If that thing takes flight, I’ll be sure to spring into action.’

He was sprawled out in his beach chair, his tan chest on display. Hazel couldn’t help but reach out and trace his new tattoo, the little book over his heart with the letters HK+NB written inside.

Noah grabbed her hand and brought her fingers to his lips.

Hazel smiled. ‘This is my favorite vacation.’

Noah hummed a happy little sound. Hazel could feel it vibrate through his chest where her hand still lingered.

‘You know what would make a good story to tell when we get home?’ he asked, eyes still closed.

‘What?’ They had already complied quite a list: snorkeling over the top of the shipwreck that Hazel was sure housed a fleet of sharks and probably a few ghost pirates, eating their weight in shrimp, the fight Noah got in with that pelican, drinking more ‘happy punch’ than was advisable on their sailing trip. Not to mention all the stories they wouldn’t be telling anyone like the day they hadn’t left the room at all...

‘If we got married while we’re here.’

Wait.What?

‘Married?’ Hazel squeaked.

Even the iguana looked surprised.

Noah turned his head toward her, a mischievous grin on his face. ‘Yeah, married.’

‘Noah...’

‘Say you’ll be my wife, Haze.’

He squinted a little in the sun, creases forming next to his eyes. His hair glinted copper and gold, his smile competing for brightness. He was so beautiful her heart ached.

Hiswife.

‘It’ll be fun. I promise.’

‘Noah, I...’

He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the chair and took her hands in his. ‘And sometimes it won’t be fun. Sometimes it will be boring and sometimes you’ll be mad at me and sometimes I’ll be mad at you. But, Haze, it will be me and you. Forever. Do you want that?’

The mischievousness was gone now, the grin, the smirk, the casual playfulness Noah did so well. Now he was earnest and sweet and serious. He was good at those, too.

Did she want that?

Did she want him forever?

An adventure partner and a reading buddy.

‘Yes. Of course I do. Yes.’

Noah whooped loud enough to scare the iguana and several nearby sunbathers before he grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her hard and strong and real.

She was laughing and crying by the time he pulled away.

‘We’ll get a ring. Whatever you want,’ he was saying. ‘And I did all the paperwork, Haze. I got things apostilled, and I learned what that word meant, and we can get married right here on the beach, if you want.’

He still had her face in his hands and he brushed the tears from her cheeks. His eyes sparked with excitement and love and happiness.

And she knew her life with Noah would be filled with good stories. This one would be one of her favorites, for sure. The time she married her best friend on a tropical island and promised to love him forever.

It would be hard to beat, but they had a lifetime to try.