Seaside Heartbeats: A Sweet Romance (The Seaside Hunters Book 2) (20 page)

"Yes?" The lights came back on.

Heart pounding, Brayden said, "I want to see your engagement rings."

"Gladly. You're one of the Hunter boys aren't you?"

"Brayden Hunter."

"Ah, yes. The cardiologist. I'm honored to have your patronage." He held out his hand. "I'm Stephen Roberts."

Brayden shook his hand, and then Stephen led him to a large display of rings. "These are the ones we have on hand." He chuckled. "Sorry. I love that play on words. Anyway, if none of these are what you're looking for, I can order others. They'll arrive in just a day or two."

Brayden studied the sparkling collection. They would all look beautiful on Lana's hand, but he couldn't decide which was the best.

"Can't decide?" Stephen asked.

"They're all nice, but I'm not sure they're what I had in mind."

"Are you looking for something a little more extravagant, doctor?"

Brayden nodded.

Stephen pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked something from behind the counter. He pulled out a tray and set it on the counter. Resting on black velvet sat half a dozen rings with large, especially-bright diamonds.

"That's more like it," he whispered.

"You can pick them up."

One with heart-shaped diamond pavé around the center stone caught his eye. Brayden picked it up and held it in his palm. It was gorgeous—almost as beautiful as Lana herself. "How much is this one?"

Stephen wrote down a number on a piece of paper.

"Dollars?" Brayden asked, feeling the sticker shock. That would take a huge chunk from his savings.

"Certainly not yen." Stephen smiled.

Brayden took a deep breath. Move mountains. "Do you have payment plans? And what about insurance?"

"Of course, Dr. Hunter. I'll add that into the payment. We can break it up…." Stephen explained the various options, and before long, Brayden found himself signing papers. He'd opted for the two-year plan because all his money was tied up in the urgent care clinic. As it was, he would need to take extra shifts, but it was all worth it.

As Stephen got a gorgeous box ready, he asked, "Will this need to be sized?"

Brayden hadn't even thought of sizing. "I…I'm not sure."

"No worries. Find out the size, and bring it back here to be fixed."

Pulse racing, Brayden nodded.

Twenty Four

Lana peeked out the window for the twentieth time that minute.

"It's five minutes before you said he'd be here," Cora said. "He's always right on time. Relax."

"I can't help it." Lana walked over to the kitchen where her sister stood at the stove making macaroni and cheese for the boys. "I miss him. He's had to work overtime lately. I guess the ER has been understaffed or something. He works in his clinic all day and then goes into the ER straight away."

"You have to admire him for being a hard worker," Cora said as she dumped the water and noodles into a strainer.

"I do. I'm just going crazy. Being away from him is nothing short of torture."

"You're so cute."

Lana looked at the time. Three more minutes.

"Where are you guys going this afternoon?"

"To a quiet beach. I think he's tired of being around people so much. He was really excited about going to that one beach I told you about."

"That one known only by the locals?" Cora asked, pouring milk into the pot.

"Yeah." Lana went back over to the window.

"Still no Brayden?"

"Not yet."

"You should be the one to make him wait. Go upstairs and fix your hair."

Lana felt her hair. "What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing, but—"

"He's here!"

Nolan and Ryder ran over to her, calling out Brayden's name.

"I think you have competition," Cora joked.

"And he adores them." Lana ruffled Ryder's hair as he nearly climbed Lana's leg to reach the top lock.

"Run upstairs," Cora commanded. "Make sure he knows he has to wait for you. You're worth it."

Lana rolled her eyes.

"I'm serious."

"Cora, I can't wait. I have to see him, and waiting for him to ring the bell is driving me crazy."

"You're impossible." Cora shook her head. "Boys, lunch is ready."

"I wanna play with Brayden." Nolan pouted.

"Me, too." Ryder continued to climb up Lana's leg.

"Boys," Cora warned.

The doorbell rang, and Lana couldn't answer it fast enough. She'd already disengaged the alarm fifteen minutes before.

Nolan threw himself against Brayden as soon as the door opened. Ryder let go of Lana and climbed up Brayden, instead.

He laughed. "What a greeting." He pulled a dozen red roses from behind his back. "For you." He handed them to Lana.

She gasped. "They're gorgeous." Lana looked at them, and not one had a single flaw. Without needing to bring them to her face, she could smell their perfection. "Thank you. Come inside." Lana stepped back so Brayden could walk in with the two appendages clinging to him.

"Let me see," Cora said. "Oh, those are beautiful. I think I saw a vase in here somewhere." She took the pot off the burner and turned it off before rummaging through cabinets. "Here we are. This is perfect—I think it's real crystal." She rinsed it out and filled it with water.

Lana arranged the flowers in it, while watching Brayden with the boys from the corner of her eyes. He was already on the floor, wrestling with them. His white button-down shirt would be wrinkled, but Lana didn't care. The fact that he didn't either made him even more appealing.

"Boys, your food is getting cold," Cora said. "Besides, Auntie Lana and Brayden have plans that don't include us."

"Oh," whined Ryder.

"No fair," complained Nolan.

Brayden stood, helping the boys up. "You guys listen to your mama. It'll make you into better men when you grow up."

"That's right," Cora said. "Listen to him. He's wise beyond his years."

Nolan and Ryder headed for the table. Ryder turned around. "Bye, Uncle Brayden!"

"Yeah," said Nolan, "bye-bye, Uncle Brayden."

Lana's heart jumped into her throat.
Uncle
Brayden. She loved the way it rolled off their tongues. She and Cora exchanged a look before Lana turned back to Brayden. She fixed his shirt which stuck out in a funny direction from wrestling.

He took her hand, neither mentioning the boys' comments.

"I'll put the roses somewhere safe," Cora called out. "Have fun, you two."

They all exchanged goodbyes and then Lana and Brayden left.

When they settled into his car, Lana said, "I've really missed you. I got used to you stopping by after work."

"I'm sure I won't have to work the extra shifts at the ER forever." He seemed a little distracted, but Lana hardly noticed. She was too excited about actually seeing him. Brayden had somehow become even more handsome since their last date.

She stared at him the entire drive to the secluded beach. She might not see him again for half a week again after the date. She needed to get as much of him as she could while he was there.

When they arrived, Brayden opened her door and took her hand, slipping his fingers through hers. They walked to the shore in silence as a slight breeze pushed her hair into her face and blew her skirt around her legs.

"It's a beautiful day," Lana said.

Brayden stopped and turned toward her. "Nowhere near as breathtaking as you."

She stared at him, unable to speak. He cupped her face and kissed her lightly, lingering for only a moment. Lana wanted more. She was sure she could never get enough of him.

Lana kissed him eagerly. He ran his fingers down her bare arms, and then took her hands again. He pulled away. "Let's walk by the shore."

Her heart skipped a beat at the intensity of his voice. She nodded, letting go of one hand and turning so they could walk to the water. The breeze picked up slightly and birds flew over the waves, some dipping down to catch fish near the surface. It was perfect. Lana couldn't have asked for a better date.

When they reached the shore, Brayden stopped walking about a foot from the water. Lana's hair continued to whip in her face.

Brayden reached over and pulled it behind her ears. He looked into her eyes.

Was it her imagination, or was he paler than normal?

"Lana, you're gorgeous," he said, his voice serious. "Your beauty is what first drew me to you. But your generosity and joyfulness has kept me wanting to know more." He swallowed, seeming nervous. "Every time we're together, I find something new and exciting about you. You have a sense of adventure and a love for life that inspires me."

Her heart nearly leaped into her throat. She couldn't speak, though she wanted to tell him much she adored him, too.

Brayden took a deep breath. "Now that you're in my life, I never want to let you go. Lana, I love you."

She opened her mouth to speak, but Brayden put a finger to her lips.

"Let me finish. I love you, and I know this is probably going to sound crazy, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't live without you." He dropped down to one knee and dug into his pants pocket.

Lana covered her mouth with both hands. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be.

He pulled out the biggest, most beautiful ring she had ever seen. "Will you marry me? I promise to love you forever."

Tears blurring her vision, Lana dropped to the ground. She nodded. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you, Brayden. I love you with my whole heart."

A tear ran down her face as he slid the ring on her finger.

The ring was too big for her ring finger, so he slid it on her middle finger instead. "Sorry," he said, and laughed, wiping a tear away. "I didn't have time to find out your size."

Lana shook her head, blinking tears onto her face. "It's perfect."

"I'll have it resized."

"Not before we show it off to everyone. I want the world to know I'm going to be Mrs. Brayden Hunter."

He pulled her close, kissing her with even more passion than ever before. When he pulled away, he smiled wider than she'd ever seen. Her heart swelled at the sight. He pulled her up as he stood and swung her around in a circle. "You've just made me the happiest man alive."

"And you've made me the luckiest woman alive." She beamed, soaking in the moment.

Brayden set her down. "So, do you want to spend the afternoon here alone with me, or do you want to tell everyone our good news?"

"How about a little of both?" Lana bent down and drew a heart in the sand. "Are you going to draw yours?"

He shook his head. "We have one heart now."

Twenty Five

Brayden leaned back against the couch watching as Lana, Tiffany, and his mom gushed over the ring. The relief that she'd said yes still ran through him.

"Way to go, man," Cruz said. He held up his fist.

Brayden pumped his fist against Cruz's.

"You did good, dude."

"Look how thrilled Mom is," Jake said. "She's so much happier these days."

"Yeah," Brayden agreed. "She's hardly kept her desire for me to marry a secret."

The doorbell rang. "I'll get that," called his dad from the kitchen.

"Are we expecting a package?" asked his mom.

Brayden heard the front door open, and then his dad exclaimed, "Zachary!"

Everyone dropped what they were doing and crowded into the entryway to see him. Gone was his trademark smile that had won over countless girls when he was younger. In its place was a frown, partially covered by at least three days of stubble, and dark bands of exhaustion under his eyes.

His parents hugged him, followed by Cruz, Jake, and Tiffany. Finally, Brayden gave him a big hug, patting his back. "Good to see you again, little brother."

"Little?" Zachary asked. "I'm going to be thirty soon."

"At least he doesn't call you baby," Jake said, glaring at Brayden, but his expression quickly turned into a smile.

Brayden took Lana's hand and pulled her close. "Zachary, I want you to meet my fiancée, Lana. Lana, Zachary."

"You're engaged?" Zachary asked. "When did this happen?"

"A few hours ago." Brayden broke into a wide grin.

Zachary finally smiled, and his whole face lit up. He gave Lana a big hug. "Welcome to the family, Lana."

She hugged him back, thanking him. "It's great to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you."

"All good, I hope."

"Nothing except the best. I hear you're a talented author."

"Tell that to the publishers," Zachary mumbled, his face clouding over again.

"They don't know what they're missing," Jake said.

"I'd rather talk about something else. Not to be rude, but do you guys mind if I get a shower? I've been on the road for days."