Page 84 of Fall Love

“I love your kind of service, Rosie,” he jokes, reminding us of my New Year’s Eve costume. “But I also believe you can do this.”

I stare at the building. The vision grows more distinct. The two-bay garage with auto equipment. The office upstairs with a fresh desk. A play space for Little Wrench.

I could set my own hours. I could be my own boss.

But a new business would be a lot to tackle when I have other things pressing on me, like a baby due in a matter of days.

“I’ll think about it,” I say.

Tate looks at me skeptically. “Will you? Will you really consider it?”

“I will.” Because I think I just might.

Because Tate was always doing nice things for me, I wanted to do something for him. Something that said, I appreciate you. I care about you. I’m falling for you.

But what?

Admittedly, romantic gestures were not my forte, and I wracked my brain for ideas. I wanted something special that reminded him of his summers in Lovewell Landing, but being fall, hiking, biking, and fishing were out, especially that biking part. At least, on my end. He also mentioned boating, but most boats were pulled from the marina, and as competent as Tate is, I didn’t want him to deliver our child, if I suddenly went into labor while we were out to sea.

In the end, I decided recreating something special from his childhood wasn’t going to happen.

My cooking skills were lacking, so I didn’t dare attempt another pie.

Eventually, I had to ask Lumi for advice.

“Simple is always best,” says the woman who hand knitted Saint a pair of socks, and he reacted like she invented the footwear. Saint also believed the gift was extremely thoughtful.

Finally, I had an idea and acted fast to implement it.

“Let me take you somewhere?” I ask him the following morning, flipping the script on his typical question to me.

Tate arches an eyebrow, skeptical, but he can’t hide the slight gleam in his eye. “Where?”

“Let me surprise you,” I say, leaning over him as he sits in the rattan chair in my living room. His laptop already open on his lap. “Unless you have to work.”

He hits one button on the keyboard and slams the lid down with a soft tink, causing me to laugh.

“Eager?”

He reaches for my hips and lifts his face for a kiss. “Always, for you.”

I give him that kiss, but before we get sidetracked, I pull back, asking him to give me ten minutes. We need to make one stop before we get to our destination.

I’m big as a barn, but I can still drive, which takes some cajoling because Tate really does not want me to chauffeur him.

“At least drive the SUV,” he eventually says, holding out the keys for his fancy vehicle.

“Fine,” I grumble like it would be a hardship to sit on heated leather seats and drive in comfort.

When we make the first stop, I ask Tate to just sit tight while I run into a local bar. With a name like Barnacles, you’d think their food wasn’t appetizing, but they have some of the best clam chowder in the area, and my order is ready for pick up.

Back in the driver’s seat, our destination is only a short distance and rather obvious as I pull into the parking lot of the Lovewell Landing lighthouse.

Tate squints out the windshield. “The lighthouse?” He turns toward me with a hesitant smile. “Looking for a redo of our meet-cute here.”

“Meet-cute?” I giggle. “What the hell is that?” Although something in the back of my head says I might know what that means.

“You know, that romantic moment when a couple meets. All the best romcoms have them, as do romance novels.”