Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Worth threw on some shorts and a T-shirt while I rifled through the dresser for a clean T-shirt too. Once we were dressed, he grabbed something from his messenger bag, then bundled up the champagne and glasses into a little tote before reaching for my hand. “Let’s go.”
We walked hand in hand outside, across the deep wooden porch on the front of our cabin, and down to the dock where the Wilde Man bobbed gently on the water. Worth had given me the Hobie 16 for our first Christmas. It sported double trapezes for heeling and a gorgeous rainbow spinnaker kit. I figured it was his way of admitting he didn’t need to spend much to make me happy.
When I’d pointed out that we already owned several Hobie Cats as camp assets, he’d insisted this was different. He said I needed something just for me, something that was my very own escape pod to take out whenever I wanted. Thankfully, the perfect day had come that March when the sun had shone and the winds whipped up enough to really show Worth what I could do with the little boat, and we’d had hours and hours of fun with it ever since.
Instead of sitting on the end of the dock and hanging our feet over the edge the way we usually did, Worth gestured for me to sit on the built-in bench. Maybe it would be easier to handle the champagne if we weren’t sitting on the floor. Who was I to judge?
But instead of moving to open the champagne and toast to my upcoming birthday, Worth got down on one knee and reached for my hand.
My eyes must have bugged out of my head because he actually laughed. “Take a breath, sweetheart.”
“But…”
“I’m known for making really good deals. The kind of deals that pay back in spades what I originally put into them.” His eyes were crinkly with happiness. “I consider you to be my very best deal. When I decided to go all in with you, I knew it was a good idea, but I had no idea just how good. Cal… for the past two years you’ve brought a joy and lightness to my life I never even knew was missing. Every day with you is an adventure, and because of you, our lives are full of passion and meaning. Will you please marry me and let me commit myself to you forever?”
I was already a blubbering mess, but I managed to nod and say something affirmative at the same time before throwing myself at him bodily. We tumbled down onto the dock and kissed for a minute before he pulled back laughing. “I almost dropped the ring into the water.”
I looked down and saw him clutching a ring box I hadn’t noticed before. Inside were two bands. “Why are they different?” I asked.
“They’re both for you. One is silicone for when you’re racing or doing mechanical work.” He shrugged. “I don’t know, I just wanted you to have a safety option if you needed it. The other is the official platinum one. But we can change them out however you want.”
I grabbed the box and held it to my chest. “Over my dead body!”
The sound of laughter came from the shoreline, and I turned to see my entire family standing there. Nat and Jin and Lucas and Mia stood there with everyone else and began clapping and cheering once they’d been discovered. I turned back to Worth.
“Where the hell were they when we were having sex?” I whispered, slipping the platinum band on and saying a silent prayer of thanks it fit. I slipped the box with the other one into my pocket.
“Don’t think about it. You weren’t supposed to come in the cabin and find me there. I’d only sat down for a minute to catch my breath before changing clothes. I was hoping to meet up with you out front and walk you down here right away.”
I groaned and tucked my face into his chest. “Oh my god. They all know what we were up to.”
His laugh was deep and rumbly. My favorite. “Probably. But they all do it too.”
“Ew. Gross.”
Nat called out, “Can we come down there and hug you now?”
Worth opened his mouth, but I clapped a hand in front of it. “Give us another minute,” I shouted. Then I lowered my voice so only he could hear me. “It’s time for your present. Sit.”
He sat down on the bench, and I took the spot next to him before handing over the little rectangular gift. “You kind of took the wind out of my sails,” I admitted. “But I still want to give you this.”
He opened the gift to reveal a small wooden replica of his dream sailboat. The J-Class Rainbow by Holland.