She broke away from him. His eyes were ablaze with desire. She’d never kissed him like that before.
“I want you, Emily,” Daniel said, breathless. “For now and forever.”
Emily reached out then, pulling Daniel toward her again by the belt hooks of his jeans. She wanted him next to her, close to her. She wanted to feel every inch of him. On this abandoned island, with the sun setting around them, Emily could think of nothing she wanted more than Daniel. All of Daniel.
*
The stars twinkled above. Ocean waves gently broke against the shore. Emily lay in Daniel’s arms, her head resting on his warm, bare chest. She could hear his heartbeat, its rhythm still pounding from their lovemaking. His skin was still searing to the touch beneath her fingertips.
She propped herself back up on her elbow. “We’ve been gone for ages,” she said. “We should probably head back.”
Daniel took a deep breath, as though reluctant to leave this place. Emily knew how he felt. She too wished to stay in this magical moment forever. But she remembered there were more magical moments to share at home, back at the inn. Now that they were part of a family there would be a million moments of fun and happiness to enjoy.
Emily lay back against the sand and watched Daniel dress himself again, feeling overwhelmed with happiness. The stars had truly aligned for her at last.
She dressed too and straightened her hair, hoping that she’d be able to put her disheveled appearance down to the boat ride to the island rather than what she and Daniel had done once there.
Daniel climbed into the boat and helped Emily get in beside him.
“Once Chantelle’s at school, we should go to the antique store down the road,” he said. “I’ve never been and I’ve heard they have excellent jewelry, some really exquisite rings.”
Emily’s heart began to beat faster. Could Daniel be hinting at a proposal? On the island he’d said he wanted to be with her forever; now he was talking about rings. Emily hadn’t even thought about marriage with Daniel yet. There’d been so much upheaval in their relationship already that she’d put such thoughts out of her mind.
But now, as she sat in the boat crossing the ocean and heading toward the town she so adored, she realized just how thrilled she was at the prospect of settling down with Daniel.
For the first time, the idea of Daniel proposing to her lodged in her mind like a seed taking root.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Are you ready for your first day of school?” Emily asked Chantelle as she leaned across the breakfast table and collected the empty, crumb-strewn plates.
Chantelle looked up at her and nodded. Her expression was one of serious contemplation. Emily had never seen such a grown-up expression on such a young face. Of course, a new school would be unsettling for Chantelle, Emily knew that. But for the girl to look so solemn about the whole thing really hurt her heart. She hoped she could help Chantelle become more comfortable and relaxed, help her learn how to enjoy herself in the way a six-year-old ought to.
Just then, Daniel came into the kitchen. He was wearing his plaid shirt tucked into his jeans today, and he’d brushed his hair back and trimmed his beard. Emily swelled with pride at the sight of him, knowing how much effort he’d gone to just to make a good first impression at the school gates.
Daniel walked over to Emily and kissed her.
“Someone’s looking dapper,” Emily told him with a smirk.
Daniel looked over at Chantelle. “Ready for your big day?” he asked.
Chantelle seemed a little more relaxed in Daniel’s presence today, Emily noted. Maybe she was learning to trust him at last. After being uprooted from Tennessee she was starting to settle in and could view him as someone to rely on, someone who wasn’t going to let her down.
“Are you coming with me, Daddy?” she asked.
Emily noticed the look of relief on Daniel’s face.
“Of course” he said.
“Neither of us would miss this for the world,” Emily added.
Chantelle smiled coyly, looking proud and shy in equal parts.
They all left the house and got in Daniel’s pickup truck. As they drove through the tree-lined streets, Chantelle gazed out the window, looking tense and nervous. When they pulled up outside the cute red brick building that would be her new school, she became pale and withdrawn.
“You’re going to be okay,” Emily said, patting her hand. “I know it’s scary at first, but once you get in there and meet all the children and the teachers you’ll be fine.”
Chantelle looked at her with her big blue eyes, clearly overwhelmed.
Emily went around to the back door of the pickup truck and took Chantelle’s hand, squeezing it to reassure her, and helped her hop down onto the ground. There were other children and parents milling around. A group of kids were playing in a pile of fallen leaves, a pair of boys chased each other across the grass. Emily herself felt rather overwhelmed by the whole thing. She’d never spent much time around children, particularly not huge groups of them. The noise was unbelievable, worse even than when Gus and his party of rowdy seventy-year-olds had stayed at the inn.
Emily looked over at Daniel. He, too, seemed at a loss. She couldn’t help but laugh to herself at the sight of the three of them, all wide-eyed and bemused.
Just then a young woman with a welcoming smile walked toward them. She was wearing boot-cut beige pants with a lilac cardigan and flat-heeled shoes, an outfit that Emily thought revealed her to be a teacher immediately. She nudged Daniel and couldn’t help but giggle aloud at his daunted expression, which matched Chantelle’s so perfectly. Coming face to face with teachers was clearly a terrifying experience for Moreys, Emily thought.
“Hi, I’m Miss Glass,” the young woman said, extending her hand.
Emily took the lead and shook her hand. Miss Glass had incredibly soft hands and perfectly manicured nails.
“Is this Chantelle?” Miss Glass asked, turning her attention and super-sweet smile to the little girl.
Chantelle withdrew, clinging to Emily’s pant leg. Emily stroked her head to comfort her.
“You don’t need to be scared, honey,” Miss Glass said. “Everyone is so excited to meet you.” She looked at Emily and Daniel. “They’re really a super-sweet bunch.”
Emily smiled, feeling more comfortable about the idea of letting Chantelle out of her sight, about handing her into the care of someone else. But Daniel seemed to be struggling more with the thought of letting her go.
He crouched down beside Chantelle and took her shoulders in each of his hands. “Have an awesome day,” he said, and Emily heard a hitch of emotion in his voice. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. Emily noticed the way he pressed his lips together, holding back the tears that were trying to escape. Seeing him that way made her emotional as well, and it made her love him even more.
Daniel moved out of the embrace and now it was Emily’s turn to give words of encouragement to the child. She hugged her tightly.
“Be brave,” she said, “and show all the other kids what a kind, caring, generous soul you have.”
Chantelle nodded. She turned to face the school building and took a deep breath. Daniel reached out and grabbed Emily’s hand.
“She’s going to have a really fun day,” Miss Glass assured them as she scooped Chantelle’s semi-reluctant hand into hers. “I promise,” she added, swinging her arm.
Together, Emily and Daniel held their breath as they watched Chantelle walk along the path toward her new school. At the top step, they stopped, and Chantelle turned back. With Miss Glass’s encouragement, she waved goodbye, then disappeared inside.