Chapter Sixteen #2
He chuckles. “I think you should have a few more if you’re going to go all soft and gooey on me.”
“I don’t need cocktails to go all soft and gooey on you. You make me feel as if I have warm caramel inside.”
“Aw.” He kisses my forehead. “That’s a nice thing to say.” He pulls me close and starts humming in my ear as we turn slowly to the music.
Around us, other couples are doing the same. It warms me through to see so many happy people here. All the Three Wise Men are dancing with their wives. So are Hal and Izzy, Albie and Remy, Leon and Nix, Summer and her husband, Zach, Noah and Abby…
As we turn, my gaze falls on Archer, standing alone by the breakfast bar.
He’s sipping from a whisky glass, looking at the dancers.
I follow his gaze and realize he’s watching Beth.
She’s dancing with Jude, but they’re a little apart from the others, over by the window, and it’s easy to see from their stony expressions and stiff postures that they’ve obviously had an argument.
I frown, remembering what she said about Jude. They’ve been together a while now, and in one of our phone calls she mentioned getting married and having kids, so she’s obviously serious about him. But it concerns me that she doesn’t look happy.
As I watch, her gaze slides across the room to Archer.
She doesn’t wink or wave, but she’s obviously looking at him.
I glance back at him. He sips his whisky, but I watch him hold her gaze for about ten seconds until she finally looks away.
He finishes off his drink and goes over to the bar to order another one.
It’s obvious that he likes her, and I think she likes him too.
Hmm. I wonder what the New Year will bring for them?
“Look at that dog,” Cullen says to me, and I follow his gaze to see Miss Daisy sitting to one side of the dance area, looking up adoringly at where Hal is dancing with Izzy. “She adores you,” he calls out to Hal, gesturing at the collie.
Hal glances at her and chuckles, and Izzy grins. “She’s like that twenty-four-seven,” she replies. “Has been since the day he rescued her.”
He shrugs. “Women can’t resist me, what can I say?”
Izzy snorts, and we laugh.
“I think your position as Chief Dog Whisperer might be under threat now,” Noah says to Hal, where he’s dancing with his wife beside us. We follow his gaze outside to see a happy Max surrounded by about eight dogs who are all trying to get his attention.
“Hey, I hear congratulations are in order.” It’s Stefan’s voice—he’s dancing nearby with his wife, Jules. He appears to be talking to Noah and Abby.
Abby blushes. “Yes,” she admits, and looks at her husband. “You can’t keep a secret to save your life, can you?”
“Nope.” He smiles unashamedly.
“I’m eleven weeks pregnant,” she reveals.
We all cheer and stop for hugs and kisses. Noah adopted Ethan, and he loves him as if he’s his own son. But I know everyone’s going to be thrilled that he and Abby are having their own baby.
As we start dancing again, I reach out and touch Stefan’s arm to get his attention. “I just wanted to say thank you for talking to Noah about me,” I tell him. “I do appreciate it, and I’m so excited to be working at PAWS.”
“I was frustrated at not being able to offer you a job,” he states. “These guys are lucky to get you.”
“Thank you.” I’m incredibly touched by the compliment.
“You seem so surprised,” Cullen says as we move to the music.
“I didn’t think I was anything special,” I admit.
“You couldn’t have been more wrong,” he says softly. “With that in mind… I wanted to put something to you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Look, you said your divorce isn’t going to take two years now—that it should come through much more quickly if Rob doesn’t contest it.”
“He’s told me he won’t. I think he’s accepted there’s no way I’m ever going back to him.”
“So it might just take a month or two, is that right?”
“Yes, I believe so.” I’m renting another small house not far from our current bach for a few weeks while I try to work it all out.
“Well,” he continues, “I was thinking… Once your divorce is through, I wondered whether you’d like to move in together.”
My jaw drops. “Oh…”
“You have some time to think about it, so obviously you don’t have to answer now. But I just need you to understand that I’m serious about you.”
My lips curve up. “Oh, Cullen…”
“If it wasn’t for Rob, I’d ask you to marry me,” he says. “I know we’ve not been seeing each other for long, but that’s how I feel about you. I’m crazy about you, Isla.”
Tears sting my eyes, and I have to fight not to let them fall. “I’m crazy about you too.”
“But you need time,” he says. “To put him and your marriage behind you. We don’t have to rush into anything. But I know the whole process is going to be tough, and I thought it would be something to look forward to.”
“I don’t have to think about it. The answer is yes—I’d love to move in with you.”
It’s his turn to look surprised, and then a huge smile spreads across his face. “Really?”
“I know it’s been fast, but I don’t feel as if I’ve just broken up with Rob,” I admit. “My marriage ended a year ago. And since meeting you, I’ve been so happy. I don’t have any doubt at all.”
He tightens his arms around me, looking suddenly emotional. “I know there’s a lot to sort out,” he says huskily. “But we’ll do it together.”
“I’d like that.”
He touches his nose to mine, then lowers his head and kisses me.
Around us, everyone else continues to dance, caught up in their own worlds. Outside, the sun has set, and the moon is slowly rising, turning the Pacific Ocean silver. The Bay of Islands has faded into the darkness, but to the north I can just see the twinkling lights of Sunrise Bay.
Cullen and I will have to start looking for a place to live there. I’ll tell Max tomorrow. He’ll be so excited about it—I know that without having to ask him.
I can’t believe I’ve been so lucky. I have a new place to live, a new job, and a new love. The New Year lies ahead of us like the reflection on the moon on the sea, gleaming with promise.
Sometimes Christmas wishes really do come true.