Christina stepped closer to him, leaning into him as he put his arm around her. “I know. We seldom take the time to watch the ferries arrive in the dark. It happens every day, but if you’re here at the right time, it’s kind of mysterious, isn’t it? Kind of magical.”

“You’re kind of magical,” Andy said, and bent his face to hers and kissed her.

Christina stood on her tiptoes to reach his mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Andy cupped his hand on the back of her head and gently pressed her to him. They kissed for a long time, leaning into each other, and while Christina was sexually aroused—she’d take off her clothes and let him have her right here on the cold sand if he asked her—she was also aware of a sense of promise in their kiss, a silent pledge for their future.

When they stepped back from one another, Christina felt the magical glow had entered her heart. “There are so many places on the island I’d love to show you.”

“And I want to see them all. With you. But I do have a problem.”

Her heart lurched. That kiss had been so serious. Andy had meant something with that kiss. And now he was going to tear apart the lovely spell they were in? Her voice cracked when she said, “Okay. Tell me.”

“My feet are freezing. Could we please go back to our shoes?”

Christina burst out laughing. “Of course! But first I want to show you one more thing.”

Taking him by the hand, she pulled him around the corner of Brant Point and gestured up toward the fat little Brant Point lighthouse. “The Coast Guard hangs this every year. It takes several men to secure it.”

“That’s the biggest Christmas wreath I’ve ever seen,” Andy said.

“You’ve got your tree at Rockefeller Center, we’ve got our Christmas wreath,” Christina joked.

“It’s beautiful,” Andy said. “And I can no longer feel my toes.”

Christina laughed again. “I’ll race you to the car.”

They reached her car and perched on the edge of the seats to brush the sand off their feet. They put on their shoes, settled in the car, and Christina punched the ignition, turning the heat to high.

They looked at each other and smiled and couldn’t look away.

Andy took her hand. “I have to go to New York for business tomorrow. I’ll be gone two or three days. I’d like to see you when I get back to the island.”

Christina smiled. “Call me when you know your flight number. I’ll pick you up at the airport. Unless you want to come on the ferry at night.”