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After arriving at the airport, we flew to Ft. Myers, Florida. When Ryan rented an SUV, I wasn’t sure if we were continuing on our journey or staying somewhere close. Despite my desire to know where we were going, I fell asleep as soon as I got inside the rental vehicle and didn’t wake until Ryan gently shook my shoulders.
“We’re here.”
I sat up and looked around. It was dusk. He’d parked behind a condo building. Opening the door, I smelled salt and sand. The beach. But which one? Florida had a million.
Ryan held his hand out to me. “Come on. I’ll get the bags later. There’s something I want to show you.”
Taking his hand, we walked on the sidewalk between two buildings until we reached a sandy path between greenery, leading presumably to the ocean.
“What is this place?” I asked as we walked on the narrow path, him in front of me, still holding my hand. There were signs about not disturbing the turtle nests, but nothing that gave me any hint as to which beach we were at.
He gave me a small smile but didn’t respond.
When the path gave way to an expanse of white sand and water, I said, “It’s beautiful.”
There was no one on the beach. Other than the soft lapping of the water on the shore, it was quiet. Serene.
“I want to get married,” he said, leading me to a spot of packed sand where the water was coming in and out.
I looked up at him. “We are.”
He held my hands as we faced each other. “I want to get married here.”
I looked around. “I don’t understand.”
His fingers shook a little. “I want to get married here, just you and me.”
My heart picked up. “What about Corey? Our families?”
Ryan cleared his throat. “They’ll have their ceremony like we planned, but this is just for us.”
The thought of getting married in secret by ourselves was attractive. “Okay.”
“Okay, you want this, too?” His expression was so earnest.
“Yes. I like the idea of doing it by ourselves.”
He brushed a strand of hair out of my face when the wind picked up. “Good, because I have it all planned.”
My mind raced with everything I’d need if we wanted to get married in the next few days. “I’ll need a dress.”
“Brooke packed one. Unless you’d like to shop for your own.”
I shook my head, suddenly overcome with emotion. “All that matters is that I’m marrying you—”
He cupped my cheek. “I love you.”
I rested my cheek in his palm. “I love you too. It sounds perfect.”
“I can’t wait to be your husband.” He lowered his head, the breeze lifting my hair, and kissed me. Pressed against him, my toes curling in the sand, I knew there was nowhere else I’d rather be.
