“I’ve always been open to this conversation. Since the day you told me you were moving back here permanently.” She paused, needing to ask him something but unsure of how she should put it. “Adam?”

He rejoined her on the bench. “Yes?”

“We’re going to actually get married, right?”

“Of course we are,” he said, laughing. “Why would you ask me that?”

“I don’t have the best track record when it comes to making the close.”

He waggled his brows. “You have a very good track record for making the close with me.”

“I’m not talking about sex.”

“I know you’re not, honey, and I’m well aware of what you’ve been through in the past. And you know what’s happened to me. I think it’s safe to say we both want to see this through to the finish line. I know I do.”

“So do I. I can’t wait to be married to you.”

He propped his sexy glasses on the top of his head and leaned in to kiss her again.

“Don’t you guys have your own house?” a female voice behind them asked.

Abby looked up to see Owen and Laura walking toward them, holding hands. Abby held up her left hand. “Big news, and you’re the first to know!”

Laura let out a shriek and came over for a closer look at Abby’s ring. “It’s gorgeous! Congratulations, you guys.” She hugged Abby and then her cousin. “Nice job on the ring, Adam.”

“Why, thank you.”

Owen shook Adam’s hand. “Congrats, man. Happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

“We’ll leave you to celebrate in private,” Laura said, taking Owen’s hand and giving a gentle tug. But before she walked away, she gave Abby one more squeeze. “So happy for you. I know you really wanted this.”

“Thanks, Laura.”

“We’re going to be cousins!”

Abby laughed at Laura’s delight and waved as they headed off toward the Surf.

“What do you say we go home and celebrate this momentous occasion?”

“I would like to celebrate, but not the way you have in mind. Until later, anyway,” she said with a giggle at his distressed expression.

“What do you have in mind?”

She took his hand and turned it so the palm was faceup, drawing a line across the inside of his wrist. “I would like for both of us to get today’s date tattooed right here, so we’ll never forget it. And then when we get married, we’ll put our wedding date on the other wrist.”

His smile stretched across his face as he shook his head.

“No?” she asked shyly, uncertain of what he was thinking.

“I love the idea, and I love that my sweet, gentle girl has an inner wild child. I want to see plenty of her after we’re married, okay?”