Page 98 of Another Summer
“I’ll take one of those.” She giggled.
“It’s a good thing I convinced Lily get you a manicure.” Miles smiled.
“What?” Avery palmed her forehead. “Lily knew? Oh my stars. She was so stealthy. I didn’t have any clue. And I never get manicures.”
He fished inside the zippered side pocket of his pants and pulled something out. He kept his fingers over the top as he slid it onto her finger.
“I can honestly say that this is the best day of my life,” he said. “And I’m looking forward to saying that a lot in the future.”
Avery’s breath hitched. The ring was perfect. Not so big as to get in her way but large enough to look significant. Minimalist in style, to let the emerald cut stone take center stage.
“Oh Miles, it’s gorgeous. I love it.” She tilted her hand back and forth and admired the stone in the light. “But not as much as I love you.”
Tabasco knew something was up. She stood and wiggled her way between their knees, wanting to be part of whatever was happening. Avery climbed over the dog, over to Miles’s lap and cupped his face in her hands. Tabasco worked her way bedside Miles, perched her front paws on his armrest and rose to join them. She gave them both kisses.
“Somebody needs to train that dog.” Avery smiled into the space between them and kissed Miles.
His laugh broke the kiss. “Lighten up, dog kisses are basically hand sanitizer.”
Avery snuggled across his lap, her legs hanging over one armrest and her back leaning against the other armrest. Miles placed a hand on her thigh, his thumb playing hide-and-seek with the hem of her sundress. Neither one of them could stop smiling. Tabasco settled at Miles’s feet. Somewhere out on the lake, a loon called.
“I think we’re missing the sunset.”
“There’ll be another sunset,” she said. “But not like this one. This is the best sunset ever.”
For the next half hour, they talked about their wedding. It was easy. They’d get married on the lake, ask Sam to officiate, and get Hayes to do a reading. Miles admitted that Hazel helped him pick the ring and had already agreed to drop whatever she was doing and come sing at their wedding. But Anna Catherine also wanted to sing, and they giggled about a potential competing divas situation, especially once Victoria joined the mix. They’d rent out all of Montressa and have the reception on the granite ledge. The only question was which dock to get married on. After some deliberation, they decided to tie the knot on the Red House’s dock. The A-frame would make a lovely backdrop, and it was their dock now.
Avery patted his chest and let out a happy sigh. She looked at her ring and smiled. What a great day. What a great summer. Their best summer yet.
“Hey Miles.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I’m so happy. Thank you for making our proposal so perfect.”
“I’m not done yet. Tonight we’ll celebrate by ourselves. There’s champagne in the fridge and a fire ready to be lit.” He shifted under her and sat up straighter. “Tomorrow, I invited everyone to the Lakeside Diner before your parents fly out. It’ll be our parents, our friends, and a whole mess of blueberries and maple syrup.”
“And will you be having the usual?” She winked.
“Of course.” He winked back. “That chocolate milk costs a fortune.”
Avery rested her head on his shoulder as they watched the last sliver of sun sink in the western sky and waited for the stars to come out. Except one star was already out. And he was the only star in her sky.
