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Payton returned to sit beside her.
“I like the new name for your boat,” China said.
He smiled. “I was hoping you would. I’m a little cool. Would you mind moving closer and keeping me warm?”
China giggled. Payton always had a way of easing her jitters.
He laid his arm along the back of the bench, giving her an opening to accept. China waited a moment before she shifted over so he’d have to wonder if he’d gotten back into her good graces. She finally moved next to his big, warm body. His hand cupped her shoulder and pulled her in close but that was the only overture he made.
China was disappointed. She wanted to be kissed, made love to. She had missed him. After his passionate kiss on the pier she’d expected him to take her to the bunk the second the anchor hit the water. Instead, Payton had said he wanted to talk. She snuggled close and enjoyed being in his arms again. They sat quietly for a few minutes, looking off to the west at the pink and orange sky.
Payton broke the silence. “You know, if it wasn’t for you teaching me to enjoy the simple things in life I’d have you in that cabin, taking your clothes off.” His voice was calm and unhurried. He continued to look at the sunset. “I’m in love with you, China. If you’ll have me, I’d like you to be my wife. I know it won’t be easy. It will be years before I’m considered cured. I’ve treated you badly—”
China cupped his cheeks. “Shut up and kiss me!” She brought his lips down to hers. Her hands went to his waist and pushed at his shirt until she was forced to break the kiss so he could remove it.
“I thought you’d want to see the sunset,” he murmured, as she slid down onto the deck and pulled him with her.
“I’m more interested in seeing you.”
Payton gripped her shoulders, making her look at him. “Not until you answer my question.”
China grinned. “I never heard a question.”
“Okay, smarty pants. Will you marry me?”
“Under one condition.”
He looked uncertain as he asked, “What’s that?”
“That you never, ever leave again without telling me. I have to trust you to be here.”
“I promise I will never leave you again by choice.”
China sighed. That’s all she needed. The security of knowing he would be there for her. “Then the answer is yes, yes, yes! I love you, too.”
Payton lay on the deck and brought her down over him. “Then how about showing me under the stars just how much.”
China brought her mouth to his, waiting and warm.
A short while later the sun gave away to the black of night. China lay in Payton’s arms on the deck, with a blanket beneath them and one thrown over them.
He nuzzled her neck. “I know you’ve heard of the mile-high club. Well, how about we start a new one? The mile-from-land club.” He kissed the sensitive spot behind her ear.
China turned her head and found Payton’s lips. “I’m more interested in being a member of the happily-ever-after club. With you, I will be.”
* * * * *
