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“Come on,” August says, glancing outside. “It’s nearly sunset. Let’s go for a walk on the beach.”
Gladly, I follow him down the garden path, leading down to the private beach. My feet hit the warm white sand, and I feelfree. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like this, other than when I dance. August grabs my hand and we stroll down to the water. I take in a deep breath and fill my lungs with the fresh, salty, clean air. The peaceful sound of waves crashing echoes in my ears. The feel of August’s warm hand fills me with a sense of safety and calm.
When I woke up this morning, I was not anticipating ending my day at a place like this...
I open my eyes again and spot something shining by the waterline.
I point at it.
“What’s that?”
August shrugs nonchalantly.
I drag him over. It’s a clear bottle, with something inside. I pick it up and show it to my boyfriend.
“It’s a message in a bottle,” I remark, focusing on the rolled piece of parchment inside the thing. “Holy crap. I’ve always wanted to come across one of these. I’ve read about them in books, but never thought they were actually real. Someone’s written a message and threw it into the ocean. What a strange thing to do. It’s so mysterious.”
“Open it up,” August tells me. “Read what it says. I’m sure it’s something interesting.”
I do. My fingers find the paper, and I pull it out.
I read the handwritten message inside.
I love you, Emma.
I freeze.
And then I look up at August. He’s staring at me in expectation.
He already knew what the note was going to say...
It’s his handwriting.
“You wrote this?” I ask him. “You got the staff to put this here? You knew I would find it on this beach?”
“Yes, Emma,” my boyfriend replies. “I wrote that, and it’s the truth. I got the staff to plant it here for you to find.”
And I can’t help myself. I fling myself onto August Penmayne, wrapping my legs around him and holding him tight so that he takes my weight.
And I’m kissing him.
And I don’t stop kissing him for a very long time.
18
EMMA
“That was one hell of an amazing meal, August.”
I lean back in my chair and gently close my eyes, savoring the taste lingering in my mouth. I feel totally at peace here, in this remote island villa under the stars.
Just August and me...
After we came back from the beach, August arranged for a private chef to cook us dinner in the villa, and we ate it on a table outside on the patio overlooking the roaring clear ocean as the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars came up above our heads. A dinner under candlelight - things can’t get better than this.
Today has been, simply put,magical.
“I’m glad you like it,” my boyfriend purrs from the opposite side of the table. I can hear the satisfaction in his tone.
