Chapter 12
The drive to the Sterling estate felt like the longest of her life. Standing at the gate, her breath was ragged with a desperate need to see Seb. She pressed the button, but the gates remained closed. Had she blown it? Was it too late?
She wouldn’t blame him if he’d given up on her. She’d been awful, the way she’d jumped to doubting him.
In her pocket, her phone chimed with a text. She was surprised to see Scarlett’s number, but Holly opened the message immediately. “He looks lonely” was the message under a photo of Seb and Digby on a walk near the lighthouse.
Holly was back in the truck in record time. At the lighthouse, she parked her trusty old truck next to his gleaming SUV, grateful she hadn’t missed them. She looked around as she walked out toward the famous landmark, and spotting Scarlett and her daughter, gave them a wave.
Digby noticed Holly first, barking and tugging at the end of his leash, bringing Seb around to face her.
Behind him the sky was softening toward twilight, streaked with vibrant oranges and pinks. The lighthouse stood tall and silent, but its lantern room was glowing for the first time ever. And Seb stood, waiting for her.
She might as well be floating as she hurried closer. “Did you do that?” she asked, pointing upward
“Had some help,” he admitted. “I um, wanted to be sure you could find me.” He didn’t look a lot better than the last time she’d seen him. “You saw the announcement.”
She nodded, wanting to throw herself at him. “I did. You called Lucy.”
“Of course I did.” He glanced at Digby, straining to get her attention. “We had to make sure to get you out here.”
She reassured the little fluffball first, crouching down to give him love. “You’ll need another bath, little man.”
“You’re the only one he doesn’t fight,” Seb murmured. “But I’d like that fact to be the last reason you come home with me.”
“Home?” She stood up, tucking her hands in her pockets to keep them off him.
“Just a house without you,” he said. “I know it’s fast, but it’s the truest feeling in my life. I fell in love with you. Granted, he fell first.” Seb tipped his head to Digby.
Holly laughed, her vision blurring with fresh tears as she took a step closer. “I doubted you.”
“So what? That’s your job. I promise from this day forward, I’ll always talk to you first.”
She closed the distance between them, her hands finding the familiar, solid warmth of his chest. “I’m so sorry I doubted you. I was looking at you through the lens of my father’s mistakes, and it skewed my view of the man you are.”
While Digby danced in happy circles, Seb wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close until their heartbeats found the same rhythm. “Too often I focus on being the strategist, Holly. I thought silence was safety. Even in the short term. But transparency is the only way to let in the light.”
He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. “I don’t have a date for the concert tomorrow. I don’t have much of a plan either. Just a house that’s too big for one person and a dog that needs a better influence.”
She cupped his jaw. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“I’m asking you for everything you’re willing to share with me. Your heart. A home. Our future when you’re ready. It took me about five minutes to fall in love with you, Holly, but the heart knows. I’d like to spend the rest of my life growing closer to you, loving you more every day.”
“I love you.” She had to stop as the truth of it settled into her bones. “I didn’t think I could ever trust anyone enough to say that. Look at you, showing me the way.”
He laughed. “For once. I still have a lot to learn about life in the Lowcountry.”
“Don’t worry.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll be here.”
“Music to my ears.” His lips found hers while Digby barked happily, pressing his tiny body between them.
He was all her dreams coming true and she felt like the luckiest woman in town.
The world. This kiss was better than the first, because it was the first official kiss of the rest of her life with Seb.
Right here was the beginning of the best story of her life and she couldn’t wait to start living their happily ever after.
Thank you for reading HOLLY’S SECRET CHAPTER!