Chapter 38
RAFE
G eorge was possessive of me, but I was the same. I didn’t let him far from my side all evening, as more locals stopped by and chatted us up.
My quiet George wasn’t so quiet after all, and it was interesting to meet people that knew him as a local sailor, not the captain of a superyacht.
There was a real sense of community down here that I was drawn to.
Everyone was welcoming and laid-back, not constantly on their mobiles or talking themselves up to get attention.
So very different to the pace of Miami. I had no regrets about leaving.
After an hour at the bar, we finally got a table.
We shared a whole grilled snapper, along with mango salsa, plantain fritters, and a passionfruit mousse (to share, of course).
Daylight turned to dusk, and George was right, the sunset view from up here was spectacular.
No one rushed us along, which I appreciated as much as the quality of the food and the friendliness of the staff.
I was looking forward to many more nights like this.
“Would you like go for a walk on Smuggler’s Cove?” George asked as he settled the bill.
“I would. Given the time, I say we head to the rescue shelter in the morning.”
George nodded and we said our goodbyes to the staff and thanked them for the wonderful evening.
We drove back west on the main road, down the mountainside until we reached the parking lot near the marina.
The briny air down by the water was fresh and felt wonderful.
As we walked past the yacht club, the beach came into view.
It was a lovely shallow bay, with barely a ripple on the water.
We both took off our shoes and left them by the beach shack at the entrance.
“This is one of the best swimming spots on the islands, the water is very calm, and the area isn’t overcrowded. A lot of families come here. Locals are allowed to walk their dogs as well, prior to nine in the morning and then after 5 p.m.,” George explained.
We walked hand in hand down to the water’s edge, the soft sand and the gently lapping water lulling us closer. The last streaks of light turned the sky and the sea gorgeous shades of fuchsia and violet.
“And this is only a ten-minute walk from our condo. So we could come with the dogs for a morning walk or in the evening with a picnic.”
The image of our life together was becoming so clear to me.
“I notice you said ‘dogs.’ Are we going to adopt the entire brood of rescues tomorrow?” George teased.
“I don’t know if one is enough. I mean, I don’t want them to get lonely. I did some research online and, from what I read, it’s better to get two dogs, so they keep each other company when their humans are busy.”
“First one, now two,” George laughed. “Something tells me that our dogs will be spoiled rotten and be our constant shadows.”
“Good, they can protect you when I’m not around. I don’t want men chatting you up thinking they can go home with you,” I whispered and stopped walking, turning to face him. “Your home is with me.”
George stood in front of me and raised my hand up to his mouth, gently kissing my knuckles. “It is.”
“George,” I whispered and looked into his eyes. “I want to ask you something.”
I casually slipped my other hand into my pocket and searched for the ring I’d hid earlier. Nervous beads of sweat popped out all over my body. My hands were suddenly cold and clammy.
What if he said no? I’d been so confident up until this point, but the thought that he might reject my proposal made my stomach flip over.
“Are you all right, love? You look pale.”
“I’m fine, just…Can we sit down over there for a bit?” I pointed to the end of the bay and the group of rocks that lined the edge.
“Of course.”
Without saying anything else, he lowered my hand and we walked over.
The large slabs of cut stone that bordered the property were honed and smooth to the touch by ages of salt water and sand.
I sat down on one and leaned forward on my knees.
That was better. I was lightheaded, and I didn’t want to spoil this life-changing moment by being a silly git and fainting away.
George rubbed soothing circles on my back, and I leaned into him.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
“I’m fine, more than. Just a little nervous.”
“Nervous? About what?”
I licked my lips.
Please, please say yes …
I reached into my pocket, pulling out the ring. The channel set diamonds in the eternity band glimmered brightly as the darkness of the evening surrounding us. I turned to George and his eyes welled up. Shifting off the rock, I knelt in the sand in front of him.
I took a deep breath and plunged ahead, saying what was in my heart.
“I wasn’t sure that I would ever fall in love.
And despite our rocky start—which is oddly appropriate given where we’re sitting right now—things began to shift inside me.
That longing for a deep connection sparked to life, and suddenly, the only thing I wanted was you.
I know we haven’t been together long, but I love you more than I could have possibly imagined.
And the way you love me in return, well, I don’t have enough words to describe how you make me feel.
It’s like I’m soaring. I want to spend the rest of my life with you—building our family, traveling, exploring, and growing old together under the stars.
I’m not roses and love letters, and I’m sometimes forgetful, so I can’t guarantee that I’ll remember every anniversary.
I leave dirty clothes on the floor, I can’t cook, and my feet are always cold.
I’m impetuous and chatty and highly likely to forget to lock the door and file our yearly taxes.
” I paused, and George chuckled as he wiped the tears off his face.
“But you’ve made me realize that when I love, I love with my whole heart.
And everything I have and everything I am, I’m giving to you.
I promise to love and cherish you every day of our lives.
And to be the partner that you, George Hugo Bernard, deserve.
Will you do me the honor of being my husband? ”
George slid down to kneel in the sand in front of me, cupping my face and kissing me with such intensity that I nearly toppled backwards unto the sand. I grabbed his shoulders and held on for dear life, the start of our unforgettable journey together.
He finally reared back, and his languid smile gave me the answer that my heart already knew.
“There’s nothing I want more than to spend my life with you, you sweet, loving, beautiful man.
Yes, yes, yes,” he replied and punctuated each word with a kiss.
“And it’s not too soon. Not for us. I was working on a proposal plan of my own, but this was perfect.
The best surprise of my entire life. I want to get married as soon as possible.
And I can’t wait to tell everyone that you’re going to be my husband.
Mine.” George moaned and claimed my mouth again.
We came up for air only to kiss again. And again. Until I remembered the ring.
I drew my hand back, and thankfully the ring was still clutched in my fingers. I took his left hand and slid the heavy band on. I heard his sharp inhale, and mine, as my emotions had the tears falling unheeded again.
“It fits perfectly,” George whispered. “I’ll never take it off.”
“I went to a custom jeweler in Geneva, so if you’d like, we could contact them and design a similar ring for myself.”
“Yes.”
“And I was thinking we could get married on Now, Voyager . How does a Valentine’s cruise sound?” I asked. “It’s only a few months away. Long enough to give us time to plan a weeklong party with all our family and friends.”
“An entire week?”
“Yes, we can have an engagement party, stag night, rehearsal, and wedding all in one. Eight days should do it.”
“But that’s only four events, why a whole week?”
“People need a day after each event to recuperate, George. Especially the stag night,” I waggled my eyebrows.
“This is going to be wild, isn’t it? It’s the longest party I’ve ever heard of. Wait, will I have to dance?” George replied with a grim face.
“At our wedding? Are you joking?”
George’s sudden, deep chuckle had me shaking my head.
“Teasing me like that, and after I just proposed! Dancing is required, but the only person you’ll be dancing with is me.”
George’s smile was luminous. “Then let’s make it happen. Do you think Rowan would let us borrow the ship for a two-week Caribbean honeymoon?”
“Of course, he would. And it’s a wonderful idea, but only if we hire someone else to captain the ship.”
“I don’t know, my love. I’m used to being in charge,” George confessed and pulled me in tighter.
“Oh, no worries there,” I replied and leaned in for a soft kiss. “You’ll still have plenty of duties on board. You’ll be working very hard in our cabin, day and night. And of course, I’ll be your dedicated subordinate, bending over backwards to assist you in any way I can. In any way.”
“Such a dedicated shipmate,” George teased and kissed me again. “How did I get so lucky?”
“It’s not luck. It’s the love spell.”