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ChapterNine
Hunter
Peyton double checks with Harley that she’s alright running the café for the night before I drag her out the door and over to my car. I finally had the rest of my stuff moved here from Charleston a couple of days ago and my assistant had driven down to bring me some of the paperwork that I needed from my old office.
I’ve set it up with my restaurant managers and my assistants so that they’ll be working more hands-on for me. I’ll still have to go check on things once or twice a month but otherwise, I can spend the rest of my time on the island with my girl. I’ll help Peyton and Harley get the bakery up and running and take care of the office work for them at both places.
Peyton and I have started looking for a place to buy together. There’s not that many choices here on the Island and we both wanted something close to the restaurants. Peyton suggested just buying the place she lives in now but it’s not big enough. Besides, her lease is almost up on the house she rented with Harley so it will be perfect timing for us to get a bigger place. We’ll just have to keep looking.
Tonight, I’m taking Peyton out on our first date. I would have done it before now but the girls are too busy at the café to slip away that much. They’re working on hiring some more help but they only just put up the help wanted ads this morning.
I help Peyton into the car before I slip behind the wheel and head towards the beach. I’ve planned something romantic for our first date. We drive down the coast for a couple of minutes until we pull into a parking spot along a stretch of beach that most people have abandoned at this time of day. All of the tourists will be closer to their rentals now that the sun is going down.
I put the car in park and help Peyton out before grabbing the picnic basket and blanket out of the trunk. I made us some dinner at the house before I went to the café to pick her up. We walk across the sand until we get close to the water and Peyton helps me set out the blanket and take the food out of the picnic basket.
I packed some of this carbonated water that Peyton loves along with some fruit and cheese and some paninis. Peyton’s stomach growls and I chuckle as I pass her some of the fruit and cheese on a plate. I open the wine and pour us each a glass while she starts to eat. The sun is just starting to go down over the water and we both sit in silence as we admire the view.
I take Peyton’s plate from her when we’re done eating and place everything back in the picnic basket before I refill our glasses before I wrap my arm around her shoulders and tug her into my side.
“This is really nice. I can’t remember the last time I came to the beach.”
“You work too hard.”
Peyton just rolls her eyes at that. I’ve been trying to get her to cut back, even if it’s just me going in so that she can get some more sleep but she insists on working every day. I can’t wait until they’ve hired some more people so that I can have some more free time with my girl. I don’t mind spending my time with her at the café but it would be nice if I could take her out more, spoil her with fancy dinners or shows.
Peyton finishes her water and I ask if she wants some more but she shakes her head no so I take the glass from her fingers and put it with the dishes in the picnic basket. I feel around inside until I find the small velvet box that I hid in here earlier. I had ordered the ring a couple of days after I got here and Peyton and I had made love for the first time. My assistant brought it down with her when she brought me my car.
I asked Harley for her blessing and for Peyton’s dad’s phone number and I called and asked for his blessing as well. He was surprised but when I told him that I loved his daughter and would do anything for her, he finally gave me his blessing.
“Peyton.” I say as I open the ring box and hold it out for her. The sun is just setting over the water and Peyton looks away from it to me. She gasps when she sees the ring shining in the evening light.
“I love you, Pey. We’re already living together, working together, committed to each other. I know that it’s soon but you know how I feel about you. You know that I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I’ve given up my life in Charleston because I can work from anywhere but I can’t live anywhere that you’re not. I want us to be a team, I want to support you in whatever that you dream up. You have my heart, my time, and whatever else you want from me. I love you, Peyton. Will you marry me?”
Tears are glistening in her eyes as I ask her to marry me and take the ring out of the box, holding it up to her ring finger. I look into her eyes and she nods as a single tear slides down her face. I slide the emerald cut diamond ring onto her finger before my hands cup her cheeks and I kiss her. I wipe away the tear as my lips meet hers and she kisses me back hard.
“I love you, Hunter.”
“I love you more, Peyton.”
My lips hover over hers, ready to claim them in a kiss when Peyton’s cell phone goes off.
“It’s Harley.” Peyton says apologetically as she pulls out of my arms.
I smile as she answers the phone, putting it on speakerphone.
“Hey, is everything ok at the café?”
“Yeah, yeah, of course, it is. I just wanted to know if you had anything to say to me yet.”
I laugh with Peyton as Peyton tells her that I proposed. I start to pack up the rest of the picnic basket. It’s getting colder now that the sun is down and I don’t want my girl to get a chill.
I can hear Harley’s excited voice on the other end of the phone and I know that she’s asking Peyton about the proposal. Peyton laughs and tells her about the picnic and the beach and I smile as I see the happiness shining from her eyes. She looks down at the ring on her finger and my smile widens.
More screaming sounds from Harley and I can hear Cooper in the background, asking her what’s wrong. She screams that I proposed to Peyton at him and then he’s on the phone too, offering us his congratulations.
“When’s the wedding?”
“Maybe next year after the bakery is open?” Peyton asks me.
