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A half hour later, Kit stood beside Beau at the helm of Royal’s hybrid bay boat, the salt breeze whipping through her hair and her eyes focused on the bursts of color along the horizon as the sun slowly set.
“It’s so beautiful,” Kit said after drawing in a deep lungful of fresh sea air. “I’d forgotten how gorgeous and peaceful it really is down here.”
Beau palmed the steering wheel with one hand, maneuvering the boat around a sharp curve lined with dense cordgrass. “Did you miss it at all while you were in Highlands?”
Kit nodded. “A lot.” She thought it over for a moment, then said, “But I missed the people I loved more. I missed being home, and I missed . . . the way home used to feel.”
The boat emerged from the curve, and Beau directed it toward the mouth of Hope Creek. “And does it feel like home now?”
“Yes,” she said, tilting her head back and looking up at him. “It feels more like home than ever.”
He smiled and moved to speak but hesitated, a hint of regret in his eyes. “You miss her already, don’t you?”
“Viv?”
He nodded.
“Yeah.” A humorless laugh left her. “I missed her before she even left. But . . . as strange as it sounds, we’re much closer now even apart than we were when I first came home. And if time away is what she needs to heal, then it’ll be worth it in the end.” She returned her attention to the sunset; the bright pink, purple, and gold hues streaking across the sky and reflecting off the water warmed her on the inside. “Viv and I are both on our way to being happy again, and that’s what our mom would’ve wanted.”
Beau blew out a heavy breath and tugged her tight to his side. “That’s good, because I have no intention of ever letting you go. And you’ll be too busy to miss Viv too much, because I’ve got a lot planned for us.”
Kit laughed. “Oh, really?”
“You can bet on it.” After slowing the boat, he dipped his head and brushed his lips across hers. His blue eyes, full of affection, lingered on her lips before he focused on the creek again. “I’m thinking a few more Sutton family and Teague family get-togethers are in order. And a few trips on the water with Cal would be a great chance for you and him to get to know each other better. After that, I’m thinking we’re way overdue for another night of stargazing in the moonlight.” He grinned, his blond hair ruffling in the breeze. “And this time, I think we’ll plan ahead a bit better. Maybe bring a few warm blankets, a lantern, and a lot more time.”
“Really?” Warm tingles spread over Kit’s skin, urging her to brush her lips along Beau’s strong neck and jaw. As she did, the salty taste of his skin mingled on her tongue with the fragrant island air, filling her senses and her heart. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than spend an entire night in your arms.”
“It’ll be longer than that,” Beau said softly, slowing the boat to a crawl and wrapping both arms around her. “There’s nothing I’d rather do than spend a lifetime with you. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m desperately in love with you.”
Kit grinned as his lips met hers, and whispered against his smile, “I love you, too.”
EPILOGUE
“Mama, Daisy won’t give me any stones!”
Kit, who’d been eyeing the empty waters of Hope Creek in the distance, glanced over her shoulder and smiled at the five-year-old brunette frowning a few feet away on the edge of the dock. Her daughter Ashley stood beside another little girl, who was an exact replica of Ashley, and pointed accusingly at her twin.
“I asked her to give me at least one,” Ashley said. “And she won’t give me any.”
Kit stifled a grin. It was a routine occurrence—her twin daughters fussing over one thing or another—and though it grew tiresome at times, she’d always been pleased to see them continue to stick by each other, no matter how many arguments they had. Actually, everything about Ashley and Daisy had been a blessing.
Six years ago, after one year of stolen kisses, frequent trips on the water with Cal, and more sensuous nights spent under the stars with Beau than she’d thought possible, Kit had been overjoyed when Beau proposed. He’d chosen to do so on one of those very nights they’d spent together under the stars, the full moon glowing brightly and the soft summer night breeze cooling their sweat-slicked skin, after a few particularly pleasurable hours in each other’s arms.
That night had been perfect, as had the months that followed. They’d chosen to marry quietly on the island, with Cal serving as Beau’s best man and Viv making a return visit from Highlands to stand as maid of honor. The most surprising—and delightful—discovery had been made three months after the honeymoon. Kit had been nervous about becoming a mom, and she and Beau hadn’t spoken in depth about having children, though they’d tossed the idea around a bit. At the time, their focus had been on Cal, who had broken out of his shell and was thriving on Hope Creek Island.
Still, they’d both been overjoyed at the news of the pregnancy and even more excited at the prospect of twins. When Beau had set eyes on Ashley and Daisy moments after their birth, he’d fallen for them then and there. From that moment on, the twins had Beau wrapped around their little fingers . . . and the same had been true for Cal, Mackey, Royal, and Nate.
“Did you ask Daisy for a stone nicely?” Kit asked, squatting down beside Ashley and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Ashley thought this over for a moment, then made a face. “I could ask her nicer, I guess.”
Kit grinned. “Then please do so.”
Nodding with intent, Ashley rejoined Daisy by the edge of the dock and asked for a stone again in low tones, tacking on apleaseat the end. Daisy hesitated, narrowing her eyes at her sister.
“Daisy . . . ,” Kit said, injecting a warning in her tone.
“But I wanted to practice skipping them,” Daisy said. “So I can show Aunt Viv when she gets here.”
