"It's beautiful. I love it," she said, looking at the ring. Then to Jack, "I love you. I would be honored to be your wife."
Then she launched herself into his arms, and they fell onto the sand together, laughing like love-drunk fools.
Luke Wright sat at the bar at Lyn's Eatery, seriously considering having a fourth beer. He didn't need another one, of course. He hadn't eaten much, so after the three he'd already drunk, he was rather tipsy. Not drunk. Luke didn't like to get drunk. Being out of control was one of the things he hated most in life.
He'd considered skipping out on the grand opening of the latest Hazel Island restaurant. But he had a stake in its success, so he didn't have much of an excuse to stay home. Besides, he didn't really like staying at his parents' place. He could stay in any of the rental properties he owned, but it was easier to stay at home right now.
Luke heard Jocelyn Gray's voice, even over the sounds of the diners. She was shouting something about a burnt rib-eye. When he heard another voice tell her that she was wrong, he raised an eyebrow.
Few people told Jocelyn Gray she was wrong. He'd done it once, and he had the scars to show for it. The woman was a terror.
Jocelyn, her blond hair coming undone from its usual ponytail, came huffing out of the kitchen. She instantly went to mix herself a drink from the bar. The bartender just blinked at her and gave her a wide berth.
"Having a good night?" said Luke lazily.
"I'm surprised you're still here," she said as she began pouring various liquids into a cocktail mixer. After mashing up fruit and tossing some mint leaves into the mixer, she shook it.
"What are you making?" Luke asked.
"A mojito. It's a guilty pleasure." Jocelyn poured the cocktail into a tall glass and took a long drink. "I love these things."
"I didn't take you for a fruity, cocktail kind of girl."
"What did you take me for?"
Luke shrugged. "Maybe a tumbler of whiskey. Or scotch. Maybe with a cigar to go along with the drink."
Jocelyn snorted. "So you imagine me sitting around in a smoking jacket like Hugh Hefner? How flattering."
The thought of Jocelyn wearing a smoking jacket made Luke imagine her wearing only a smoking jacket. He was glad he was sitting down because his body reacted instantly to the image.
He didn't know why this lingering attraction to Jocelyn wouldn't go away. He had a feeling the only way for it to disappear would be to fuck her. Then he'd get bored, and he'd move on.
That was how it usually went with women, at least.
But then he remembered his conversation with his father just yesterday, and his gut clenched. Those three beers he'd drunk didn't seem nearly enough.
"Can you get me another Pale Ale?" said Luke to Jocelyn.
"I'm not the bartender."
The poor bartender was drying some glasses and trying to act like he didn't mind Jocelyn in his space.
"No, but you're closer to where the bottles are." Luke gave her a winning smile. "Come on, baby, get me a drink."
"I'm not your baby." But she still reached down and, after taking off the cap, handed the beer to him. "That's twenty dollars."
"For one beer?"
"No, that's just for my tip." Now she was smiling.
Luke snorted. Taking out his wallet, he handed her a one-hundred-dollar bill. "Keep the change."
"Luke, I can't take this—"
"Too late. You already took it. Use it to buy yourself something nice."
"I don't need anything nice."
Luke nearly growled under his breath. This woman—she drove him insane. She never let anyone just do something nice for her.
"How about you get yourself something to wear?" In a joking tone, he added, "Maybe get rid of those ugly shoes you always wear. Not a good look when a woman looks as mannish as you dress."
"You're an asshole, you know that?"
Then she tossed the crumpled one-hundred-dollar bill in his face and walked off, nearly colliding with the bartender as she left.
Luke sat in silence, moping, as he nursed his beer. The bartender eventually said to him with wide, amazed eyes, "I can't believe you poked the beast and survived."
"We'll see how long until she actually kills me." Luke then downed the rest of his beer in one gulp.
The End
Thank you for reading Forever Mine! I hope you enjoyed Jack and Gwen’s romance.
And don’t miss Luke Wright and Jocelyn Gray’s whirlwind romance in My Heart to Keep, the next installment in my small-town series Hazel Island.
Will these two stubborn enemies turn into passionate lovers after they're forced to say 'I do'?
One click My Heart to Keep now!
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Find out what happens when Jack tries to buy Gwen an engagement without the town gossips finding out…
Also by Iris Morland
Love Everlasting
including
Hazel Island
One Perfect Summer
Forever Mine
My Heart to Keep
The Youngers
Then Came You
Taking a Chance on Love
All I Want Is You
My One and Only
The Thorntons
The Nearness of You
The Very Thought of You
If I Can’t Have You
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Someone to Watch Over Me
Till There Was You
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
The Heir Affair Duet
The Prince I Love to Hate
The Princess I Hate to Love
Heron’s Landing
Say You’re Mine
All I Ask of You
Make Me Yours
Hold Me Close
The Flower Shop Sisters
War of the Roses
Petal Plucker
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
Oopsie Daisy
About the Author
A coffee addict and cat lover, USA Today bestselling author Iris Morland writes sparkling, swoon-worthy romances, including the Flower Shop Sisters and the Love Everlasting series.
If she's not reading or writing, she enjoys binging on Netflix shows and cooking something delicious.
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