That’s what happened when you fell in love with a guy who always put you first and never tried to control you. Who understood that you wanted a man to hold your hand, not hold you up—or try to push you the direction he believed you should go.
A man like that was worth following to the ends of the earth.
Fortunately, she’d had to go no farther than Hope Harbor—the very place that had felt like home since the first day she’d set foot in town.
Now it was home for always.
And unless she’d been misreading every cue during the unhurried courtship Zach had insisted on, in the not-too-distant future she’d be exchanging her current residence for a house overlooking Blackberry Beach.
One she’d have no trouble at all calling her own.
This was the day.
But as Zach waited while Katherine locked the door to the shop, doubts began to assail him.
Maybe this wasn’t the best timing.
Maybe he should defer his plan until after the opening.
Maybe he ought to—
“I hope that hamper is well stocked. I’m starving. What’s the main course?”
At Katherine’s comment, he gave her his full attention. With her infectious enthusiasm, caring heart, keen intellect, and killer sense of humor, she was everything a man could hope to find in a wife—and more.
And he wanted to start waking up next to her every single morning ASAP.
He quashed his qualms about timing. A month ago, he’d vowed to take the leap on the first day that was conducive to a beach picnic, and this was it.
“Zach.” She elbowed him. “Are you paying attention?”
“Yes. To you. Everything else recedes into the background when we’re together.”
A dimple appeared in her cheek. “And they say men don’t know how to be romantic.”
“Who are they?”
“Popular wisdom. But you defy stereotypes.”
“Thank you.” He gave a mock bow and took her hand. “Come on. Our beach awaits.”
“I’m all yours.”
He hoped that was true.
The signs had all been encouraging these past months, but until a lady said yes, it was impossible to be absolutely certain.
Fifteen minutes later, he swung into his driveway, retrieved the picnic hamper and two blankets from the trunk, and led her toward the path that dropped to the beach from the bluff.
Within ten minutes, they were at their favorite sun-bleached log, spreading out the blankets and settling in as two seagulls wheeled overhead. Other than the birds and a silver-white harbor seal who was watching the proceedings from a rock offshore, they had the place to themselves.
“You never did answer my question about what we’re having for lunch.” Katherine sat cross-legged and tapped the lid of the picnic hamper.
“Goodies from a gourmet shop in Coos Bay and fresh-baked French bread from Sweet Dreams. I recreated the menu from September.”
“How did you manage to assemble this feast? Weren’t you at the shop all day?”
“Yes. I got most of the food yesterday, once the various weather sites agreed on the forecast. I picked up the bread after I closed the shop.”
Her dimple returned. “You must have been awfully certain I’d agree to come.”
“I have great confidence in my powers of persuasion.” About picnics, anyway.
She reached for the lid. “Tell me what we’re having.”
He gave her fingers a gentle rap. “Not until you tell me your news. Is it about the movie?” Unlikely, since she seemed glad to be free of Hollywood—but there was positive buzz about the film in the media, and a few influentials who’d reviewed the rough cut were singing its praises.
“Nope. I’m not even thinking much about that—and I won’t until a few days before the premiere. I’d ditch that if I could, but my contract says I have to show up.” She grimaced.
“Think of it as an opportunity to tout your new career. Orders from a few show-business types could raise your profile.”
“Spoken like the businessman you are. Your previous firm lost a star when you left that world.”
“I’ve never looked back.”
“I don’t expect I will either.”
“Are you certain?” It wasn’t a subject they talked about often, but knowing how much Katherine enjoyed diving into a juicy part, it remained a subtle worry.
“Yes.”
Her instant reply was reassuring.
“You won’t miss acting?”
Her eyes began to sparkle. “That’s the perfect segue to my news. Guess who I heard from today?”
“I haven’t a clue—but it must have been someone important. You’re glowing.”
“Important to me, in any case. The director of a professional theater in Coos Bay called. He saw the story about me opening Chocolate Harbor. He’s familiar with my screen work and heard excellent reports about the movie from a contact in Hollywood. He wanted to know if I’d be willing to chat about occasionally appearing in a production or directing a show.”
“Wow. I’d say you ended up with the best of both worlds.”
“I agree. Stage work was always my first love, and directing appeals to me.” She leaned against the log. “You know, back in August, Reverend Baker asked if I could combine chocolate making and acting. The idea intrigued me, but I didn’t see how I could make it work—until now. The theater gig would let me dip my toe back into acting if I get the urge, but it wouldn’t interfere too much with my candy business.”
“I take it you’re going to talk to him.”
“Next month, after I get past the grand opening. What do you think?”
“I say go for it—but you’re going to be one busy lady.”
“I’m used to that.”
He’d intended to wait until after they ate to bring up the main item on his agenda for this picnic, but all at once the time felt right.
Pulse picking up, he reached into the picnic hamper and pulled out a small box wrapped in white paper, a shiny bow on top. Set it on the lid. “I’m hoping you can fit one more job into your schedule.”
She stared at the box.
“Go ahead. Open it.”
“Is it . . . is that what I think it is?”
“Open it and find out.”
She picked up the box, tore off the paper, flipped up the lid—and gasped.
The large, marquise-cut diamond in the platinum setting sparkled in the mid-afternoon sun, as impressive here as it had been in the showroom, where the clerk had complimented his excellent taste and assured him any woman would be thrilled to wear such a ring.
“It’s stunning.” Katherine’s verdict was hushed.
“It’s also exchangeable, if you prefer a different style. Or returnable, if necessary. I hope it won’t be.” He tried for a teasing tone, but nerves kicked in and his voice cracked.
Katherine lifted her chin. “Is there a speech to go with this?”
“If I can remember it. I’m not used to learning lines, like you are.”
“From-the-heart comments are always more powerful than scripted lines.”
He angled toward her and took the box from her fingers. Removed the ring. Clasped her hand in a gentle grip. “I’m not going to deliver a long monologue. I think relationships should be about dialogue. But I want you to know that after I moved here from Chicago, I thought my life was perfect. That I had everything I needed to be happy. As I came to realize, though, there was one glaring gap—and your arrival verified that. From the day you walked into The Perfect Blend, I sensed you could fill the empty place in my life . . . and that you might be destined to play a starring role in my future.”