“Let’s not get too hasty. Do you not have a retirement account? Surely, you are not that irresponsible?”

Laughing, he kissed me on the nose. “Yes, we’d be comfortable. But I might get bored not working. But perhaps I can get rid of just the boats.”

“And what would you do with all those amazing people who work for you? I miss them. Besides, I have fallen in love with the Mediterranean. I could learn to tolerate the boats. And what about Sylvie, are you not completing the new boat purchase from her?”

He laughed. “I’ve already paid for it and approved all the designs. I had no reason to come here really, except to come for you. Visiting Sylvie was just a courtesy.” He stood and helped me to my feet. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s eat, and then I want you to show me your city and all the history, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And for dinner, you must take me for … qu’est-ce que c’est que la … ah, shrimp and gits?”

“Grits. Soft polenta.”

His mouth twisted. “Soft polenta …”

“You’ll love it, I prom—actually, you might not.”

He shuddered. “Can you invite your mother?” he asked. “I have spoken to her on the phone, but I would like to meet her in person.”

“You have?”

“Of course! I had to ask for her blessing. I have asked Meredith and Tabitha too. We should invite them to dinner too.”

I pressed my hands together and stared at him in wonder. “Wow, you really were serious.”

“I have asked you to marry me, how is this not serious? Wait, you know this is serious, oui?”

“Oui,” I whispered. “It was just an expression.”

Dauphine flung open her door. “Mémé wants to wish you congratulations. Can my bridesmaid dress be like a mermaid? Please, please, please?”

I locked eyes with Xavier and we both laughed, and he squeezed my hand. “Thank you,” he said, sincerely. “For making our family whole. For making me whole.”

____

Thank you so much for reading…

Evan and Andrea … That’s a story. It’s available here here: STOLEN ENGLISH

Read on for an excerpt!

And read on for a word from me, and my other books. Also there were some characters in this book that feature in my Charleston Series. If you like steamy romantic comedy and banter, you will love ACCIDENTAL TRYST and IRRESISTIBLE BEAU! And if you loved the angsty romantic hero of Xavier, you will adore Jack in my movie star romance series EVERSEA .

You can read Eversea free by requesting it here: Go here to claim your free copy of EVERSEA for your ereader.

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Andrea and Evan’s Story is available now! See below for more.