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“Did you do this?”
I jump at hearing a deep, gravelly voice from behind me. Despite the man’s serious expression, the most gorgeous dark brown eyes stare back at me.
Is he a ranger?
“Am I in trouble?”
“What? No. I’m curious.”
The handsome man is dressed in a white shirt and black tie and could easily be someone important. Holding my gaze, he runs a hand through unruly brown hair. It’s windswept despite there being barely a breeze.
He pulls out his wallet—it’s only now I notice his rolled-up trousers and how out of place he is dressed like this—and starts counting his money.
“What are you doing?”
He glances up at me and keeps counting. Then he shoves a wad of cash toward me. “Same place. Tomorrow night.”
I hold up my hands to halt him. “I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea. This is for a friend.” A friend who will be walking toward us any minute.
He raises his eyebrows. “I have a thousand dollars. Can you do it or not?”
No, and it’s not about the money because if he is proposing tomorrow and hasn’t thought about it until now, he might regret it, and I don’t want that on me.
Wait. A thousand dollars.
Why is he so desperate?
“I could just take your money and run.”
“You won’t.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I’ve been watching you for the past five minutes. You’re passionate about perfection. You won’t run.”
“And you can tell that by looking at me?” I fold my arms defiantly. “I’m more than meets the eye.”
His eyes lower, taking in my bare legs in denim shorts. Every inch of me feels the heat where his eyes invisibly trace along my skin. When his eyes meet mine again, a slow grin spreads across his face. “I’m sure you are.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Your offer is no longer appealing.”
He closes his eyes and slowly opens them again. “Please. What you created here is romantic,” he pleads, holding out the money.
In the distance, I make out Hugh and Sienna walking toward us. “We have to go,” I say quickly, grabbing his hand to pull him along. I drop it quickly when the heat from his skin seeps into mine.Not what I expected. We head up toward the path leading off the beach.
“Here.” He shoves the money in my hand. “I’ll double it tomorrow night.”
“I don’t want anymore,” I shoot back.
He strides ahead of me. Aware I’m on a public beach, I shove the cash in my pocket before I’m mugged, then turn to watch Hugh lead Sienna along the candle-lit path.
Even from here, I can see her joy. She touches the sign, and when she turns, Hugh is on one knee. She throws her arms around him, and they kiss. He slides the ring on her finger and then leads her to a cushion. They sit at the table, and Hugh serves the appetizers and the non-alcoholic champagne.
Happy birthday, Hugh.
And just like that, happiness pennies fill my emotional jar.
When I head to the car, the mystery man is gone. Still, I’m smiling as I drive to get a taco, wait until Hugh sends a text to tell me they’re leaving, and return to pack up my romantic setup.
