By the time Emily and Chantelle got back to the B&B, Chantelle was exhausted. She managed to stay awake through the meal that Daniel had prepared while they were out, but she yawned throughout.
"Maybe she should have an early night?" Emily said. "She was up super early. And school starts tomorrow so it won't hurt her to be rested."
Daniel agreed and they went upstairs to Chantelle's room, put her to bed, then read her a story until she was asleep.
As they left her room, shutting the door quietly behind them, Emily thought about the last two days of parenthood. It had been more fun than she'd expected. But Vanessa's words still swirled in her mind, making her doubt herself.
Daniel and Emily went downstairs very quietly, not wanting the creaking floorboards to wake Chantelle.
"I'd love to take the boat out to see the sunset," Daniel said. "What do you say? Date night?"
Emily frowned. "We can't just leave Chantelle."
Daniel began to laugh. "Good thing Serena's on her way over."
Emily's frown grew deeper. "Huh?"
Daniel just smirked. "Well, while you were out, I took the liberty of arranging a babysitter. She'll be here at seven."
Emily's frown transformed into a grin. "Really?" She couldn't contain her excitement. It had been so long since she'd been on a proper date with Daniel, she didn't realize how much she'd been craving it. She threw her arms around him and planted a sumptuous kiss on his lips.
"I'd better get ready," she said, beaming, and she rushed upstairs to dress.
Serena arrived promptly at seven p.m., bringing her sweet-smelling perfume and arty flare with her.
"Someone's looking smoking," she said as she caught sight of Emily's outfit.
Emily blushed. She'd never been one to take compliments. "Thanks for doing this," Emily said. "We really appreciate having a night out."
"No problem," Serena said. "I'm looking forward to kicking back and reading some trashy romance novels."
Emily and Daniel headed for the door, but before they got a chance to step out, they bumped into someone on the doorstep. It was Cynthia's friend Owen, the young, timid piano player who had been to the inn before to tune her dad's antique grand piano, and whom Emily had offered to come play whenever he so desired.
"Oh, um, sorry, if you're going out I can come back another time," Owen said, stumbling over his words and fiddling with the sheet music in his hands.
"Absolutely not," Emily said. "You come in and play. Serena's here anyway so you're welcome to play as long as you want."
Owen smiled shyly and thanked Emily, then went into the living room.
As Emily and Daniel trotted down the porch steps Owen's beautiful, haunting piano music floated after them.
*
The water sloshed against the harbor walls as Daniel helped Emily into the boat. The sky was still blue, though dusk was fast approaching.
"Where are we heading then?" Emily asked once she was settled.
"I wanted to explore another island," Daniel said.
Emily was reminded of the last time they'd done so, when she'd discovered the lighthouse and the paintings that her father had collected. She'd been certain that there might be some clue to her father's disappearance contained within them, but like most leads she'd followed, that one seemed to have led to a dead end: just the name of an artist who was now deceased.
Daniel started up the motor and the boat lurched away from the dock. The water was calm this evening, and the ride was smooth. The boat cut through the water easily. Emily held on tight, exhilarated by the feel of the wind in her hair, and thankful that she'd set her makeup!
The sky was turning pink as they hit the banks of the island Daniel wanted to explore. He hopped out of the boat and helped Emily clamber down, then the two of them headed hand in hand along the beach. In the distance, Sunset Harbor twinkled.
"It's so beautiful," Emily said dreamily. She had fallen in love with the place, with her B&B, and with the little girl sleeping soundly within it.
"Do you think Serena is okay?" Daniel asked.
"As long as Chantelle sleeps straight through there'll be nothing to worry about," Emily replied.
Daniel fell silent. "I wanted to say thank you," he said a little timidly.
"For what?" Emily asked.
"For being so amazing with Chantelle. And about everything. I've put you through the wringer, I know that. I wasn't sure you'd be so forgiving."
Emily swallowed hard. Remembering those painful weeks without Daniel still hurt her greatly. For him to acknowledge what he'd put her through was restorative.
"I don't think I really had a choice," Emily said. She could hear her voice wavering. "As soon as I saw you with her…it was everything I've ever wanted, Daniel. I'm so in love with you it hurts."
They stopped walking then and Daniel turned to face her. He wiped the tear on her cheek away with his thumb, then gently cupped her face.
"I love you too, Emily," he said.
Then he pressed his lips to hers. Emily melted into them, feeling once again that raw passion that only Daniel could ignite within her. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling his taut muscles beneath his shirt as her hands roved all over his body. Hearing Daniel finally utter those three words she'd been longing to hear had made Emily's body spring alive in a way it had not in years. The passion had gone from her relationship with Ben years before, and despite the blissful nights she had spent with Daniel, this was the first time she had felt such desire, such yearning.
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.
