“Nu-uh,” he said. “Why’s Tony running? Can he come wif us, pretty pwease?”
What? She followed the path of her son’s pointing finger….
Tony sprinted down the dock, his mouth moving but his words swallowed up by the roar of the engines and churning water behind the ferry. Her heart pumped in time with his long-legged strides. She almost didn’t dare hope, but then Tony had always delivered the unexpected.
Lowering Kolby to the deck with one arm, she leaned over the rail, straining to hear what he said. Still, the wind whipped his words as the ferry inched away. Disappointment pinched as she realized she would have to wait for the ferry to travel back again to speak to him. So silly to be impatient, but her heart had broken a lifetime’s worth in one day.
Just as she’d resigned herself to waiting, Tony didn’t stop running. Oh my God, he couldn’t actually be planning to—
Jump.
Her heart lodged in her throat for an expanded second as he was airborne. Then he landed on deck with the surefooted ease of an experienced boater. Tony strode toward her with even, determined steps, the crew parting to make way.
He extended his hand, his fist closed around a clump of sea oats, still dripping from where he’d yanked them up. “You’ll have to use your imagination here because I didn’t have much time.” He passed her one stalk. “Imagine this is a purple hyacinth, the ‘forgive me’ flower. I hope you will accept it, along with my apology.”
“Go ahead. I’m listening.” Although she didn’t take his pretend hyacinth. He had a bit more talking to do after what he’d put her through.
Kolby patted his leg for attention. Winking down at the boy, Tony passed him one of the sea oats, which her son promptly waved like a flag. With Kolby settled, Tony shifted his attention back to Shannon.
“I’ve been an idiot,” he said. Sea spray dampened his hair, increasing the rebellious curls. “I should have known you wouldn’t do anything to put Kolby or my family at risk. And if you’d done so inadvertently, you would have been upfront about it.” He told her all the things she’d hoped to hear earlier.
While she appreciated the romanticism of his gesture, a part of her still ached that he’d needed proof. Trust was such a fragile thing, but crucial in any relationship.
“What brought about this sudden insight to my character? Did you find some new surveillance tape that proves my innocence?”
“I spoke to my father. He challenged me, made me think with my head instead of my scared-as-hell heart. And thank God he did, because once I looked deeper I realized Alys must have made the call. I can’t help but wonder if she’s the one who made the initial leak to the press. We don’t have proof yet, but we’ll find it.”
Alys? Shannon mulled over that possibility, remembering the way the assistant had stared at Tony with such hunger. She’d sensed the woman wanted to be a Medina. Perhaps Alys had also wanted all the public princess perks to go with it rather than a life spent in hiding.
Tony extended his hand with the sea oats again, tickling them across Kolby’s chin lightly before locking eyes with Shannon. “But none of that matters if you don’t trust me.”
Touching the cottony white tops of the sea oats, she weighed her words carefully. This moment could define the rest of her life. “I realize the way you’ve grown up has left marks on you…what happened with your mother…living in seclusion here. But I can’t always worry when that’s going to make you push me away again just because you’re afraid I’ll betray you.”
Her fingers closed around his. “I’ve had so many people turn away from me. I can’t—I won’t—spend my life proving myself to you.”
“And I don’t expect you to.” He clasped both hands around hers, his skin callused and tough, a little rough around the edges like her impetuous lover. “You’re absolutely right. I was wrong. What I feel for you, it’s scary stuff. But the thought of losing you is a helluva lot scarier than any alternative.”
“What exactly are you saying?” She needed him to spell it out, every word, every promise.
“My life is complicated and comes with a lot more cons than pros. There’s nothing to stop Alys from spilling everything she knows, and if so, it’s really going to hit the fan. A life with me won’t be easy. To the world, I am a Medina. And I hope you will consent to be a Medina, too.”
He knelt in front of her with those sea oats—officially now her favorite plant.
“Shannon, will you be my bride? Let me be your husband and a father to Kolby.” He paused to ruffle the boy’s hair, eliciting a giant smile from her son. “As well as any other children we may have together. I can’t promise I won’t be a jackass again. I can almost guarantee that I will. But I vow to stick with it, stick with us, because you mean too much to me for me to ever mess this up again.”
Sinking to her knees, she fell into his arms, her son enclosed in the circle. “Yes, I’ll marry you and build a family and future with you. Tony Castillo, Antonio Medina, and any other name you go by, I love you, too. You’ve stolen my heart for life.”
“Thank God.” He gathered her closer, his arms trembling just a hint.
She lost track of how long they knelt that way until Kolby squirmed between them, and she heard the crew applauding and cheering. Together, she and Tony stood as the ferry captain shouted orders to turn the boat around.
Standing at the deck with Tony, she stared at the approaching island, a place she knew they would visit over the years. She clasped his arm, her cheek against his compass tattoo. Tony rested his chin on her head.
His breath caressed her hair. “The legend about the compass is true. I’ve found my way home.”
Surprised, she glanced up at him. “Back to the island?”
Shaking his head, he tucked a knuckle under her chin and brushed a kiss across her mouth. “Ah, Shanny, you are my home.”