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31
Cass walked through Harrison’s house with the package of cheese he’d asked her to get and bring.She caught sight of him working outside, in his kitchen there, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
Her pulse picked up the pace, though she’d spent several days at the beach with him, shirtless, in the past.She couldn’t help that she found him sexy and desirable, and she was actually glad she did.It would be a fairly boring relationship if she wasn’t attracted to him.
“Hey,” she said as she opened the door.She let Beryl go out ahead of her, and Harrison threw them both a smile.
“Hey.”He lifted the lid on the smoker, and a billow of the stuff puffed out.“Sorry, I’m right in the middle of this.”
“It’s fine,” she said.“I have the cheese here.”
“Put it by the burgers.”The raw patties sat on the stone countertop, and Cass put the cheddar next to them.“You haven’t started these yet?”
“They’re fast,” he said.“These au gratin potatoes are giving me fits.”He squinted through the smoke and did something with the tongs in his hands.
She moved over to his hammock and collapsed into it with a long sigh.“Remember when you made me my first hamburger here?”
He chuckled but otherwise didn’t answer, and when he closed the smoker, he came over to her.He leaned down and kissed her.She wanted to fist her hands into his collar and pull him into the hammock with her, but he wouldn’t be able to stay for long.
“I remember,” he murmured.“That was a great first date.”
“At least my foot isn’t dripping this time,” she teased.“And it’s just me tonight.Everyone’s on their way home.”She’d been entertaining her friends and family at her beach house for a week.She wouldn’t complain about it.She absolutely would not.She wanted everyone to come spend time with her on the island, especially her children.She just wished they’d have told her, because she hadn’t had enough food, and she’d spent a lot of the evening trying to work out the sleeping situation.
Harrison had stepped in and taken her parents to his house, along with Conrad, Jane, and Bessie and Joy.He had extra bedrooms, same as her, and he didn’t mind if he then took a week or two to put the house back together.
Cass minded, and she’d probably spend tonight after this dinner with Harrison doing laundry and remaking beds so they were ready for the next time she had company.
“Good,” he said.“It was a fun week, but I’m tired.”
“And yet, you’re cooking for me.”
“I’d be cooking for me anyway,” he said, straightening.“You’re just a bonus.”He grinned at her and went to put the hamburgers on the grill.Cass closed her eyes and listened to the hissing-sizzle as the raw meat touched the hot grill.She loved resting while Harrison bustled around and prepared dinner, as West hadn’t been much of a cook, and this was a new experience for her.
Several minutes later, he said, “Ready, sweetheart,” and Cass had to heave herself out of the hammock.
She did willingly, and she went into the kitchen with Harrison.She wrapped her arms around him from behind and laid her head against his back while he chuckled.
“Rough day?”he asked.
“Not really,” she said.“I just like you.”
He said nothing, and when he scooped the burgers from the grill and turned, she released him.He put the plate on the small table-for-two in the shade and took her into his arms again.
“I love you,” he said.“So any answer is okay, all right?”
“Any answer?”
Harrison dug into his pocket and lifted a ring to her eye level.“I know you need time, and I’m willing to give you whatever you need.If you’re not ready to be engaged, fine.But if you are, and you want to put the wedding off for another year, that’s fine with me too.Or if you want a short engagement, I’m okay with that too.I just want you to be mine, and I want to be yours.”
“You are mine,” she whispered.She pulled her gaze from the ring and looked at him.“And I’m yours.”
He nodded, his throat moving as he swallowed.“I want to get married.Will you marry me?”
Cass hadn’t had any problem saying yes to West when he’d proposed.She wouldn’t have a problem telling Harrison yes either.
But was she ready to get married again?
She didn’t have to say “I do” today.Today was just him asking if she could say that to him one day—sooner or later.
