Free Inked Ever After by Elle Aycart Page B

running out
of patience. “You’ll let me do this for you—for us. And you will let me do it
because you love me and can’t say no to me. You’re happy in Alden, but there’s
no connection to your family there, so I wanted to give you Cape John, where we
can build our own happy memories and you wouldn’t have to keep running away
from old ones.”
    She stared at him for a long moment, awed. “How did I get so
lucky to find you?”
    “Don’t know, princess. You must have done something right in
a previous life,” he joked. It worked, for she broke into laughter. “As far as
I’m concerned, I’m the lucky one. Now quit bitching, kiss me, say ‘Thank you,
James, love your present,’ and let me give you a tour of the place.”
    She curled her hands on either side of his jaw and softly
kissed him on the lips. “Thank you, James. I really, really love your present.”
    * * * *
    James came up behind her on the porch and placed his hands
on the railing, bracketing her with his strong arms. He swept her hair with his
chin and nuzzled her throat.
    “This is beautiful, James.”
    “Yes, it is, baby,” he replied quietly. “This place is
amazing.”
    The skies were darkening fast, and the beach was deserted
except for a couple of fishermen and a group of teenagers who had started a
bonfire.
    After her complete breakdown, James had given her a tour of
the cabin. It wasn’t the same one her family had rented all those years ago,
but except for the bathroom and kitchen, which had been recently renovated, it
looked almost identical, with the three bedrooms upstairs and the cute wooden
porch downstairs facing the beach. It was sparsely furnished, but the little
that was there had that adorable, small-seaside-town feel to it. And funnily
enough, the whole place smelled like she recalled.
    “Being here is bringing up stuff I didn’t know I’d
forgotten. You know, like seeing a long-lost friend and suddenly remembering
things you haven’t thought about for ages. And the best part is that it doesn’t
hurt.” And it was all because of him. He’d made this possible.
    James kissed her shoulder. “I’m happy for you, princess.”
    After checking the cabin, James had taken Tate for a walk on
the beach, and they’d found the cottage her family used to rent. She’d cried,
but it wasn’t in despair. She’d been immersed in a twirl of memories—all of
them good. Her dad taking them fishing. Jonah teaching her and Elle to ride a
bike, complaining but always giving in when the girls tried to tag along. Her
mom on the porch waiting for them, reading a book.
    After that, James had convinced her to go for a swim.
Apparently Elle had been in on it, because when she opened the gym bag he
produced, she not only found her bikini, a change of clothes, and some
overnight stuff, but also a note from her dear old sister. Enjoy. You deserve this. You deserve him.
    Trust her sis to hit the nail on the head. Even when Tate
hadn’t said a word.
    Still, she was going to have a talk with Elle for keeping
something as big as this cabin from her. So not cool.
    “I guess you know I will be paying you back for the cabin.
At least for half of it.”
    “You’re welcome to try. Won’t get you anywhere, but if that
makes you happy, by all means, give it your best.”
    They stayed silent for a while, listening to the music
coming from the radio in the living room. James encircled her in his arms, one
hand opening over her stomach, the other over her chest.
    She was still pretty much in shock. The magnitude of what
he’d done for her. “Amazingly thoughtful megapresent” didn’t even begin to
describe it. It was not only the fact that he’d bought a cabin, which was
already a huge bomb, but that he’d known what to get that blew her mind away.
    “How, honey? How did you know?” she asked, gesturing around.
    “I may be an arrogant, possessive bastard used to getting my
way, but I listen, baby. I pay attention to you. Always have. Always