Reaching her in record time, I pulled her into my arms. All the stress of taking over my family’s ranch and building this house had my nerves shot. I wanted to spend some time with Ryn away from it all. “I need a couple days out of here, Ryn. What do you say we head to the beach?”
Raising her eyebrows, her eyes lit up. “That, sounds like heaven. Would your folks mind?”
“Nah, I bet we could even talk Lark and Azurdee into coming down too.”
Ryn did a little hop. “Yes! Oh that would be amazing, Tristan. I haven’t seen Azurdee since I left Austin.”
Kissing the tip of her nose, I grinned like a crazy fool in love. “I’ll take care of it all. I’ll call Lark tonight.”
Dropping her head back, Ryn let out a moan “Oh man. A few days alone, no parents, no barking dogs.”
Laughing, I pulled her into my arms. “You, my dear, volunteered to help at the puppy doggy care place. I knew you weren’t going to be able to do a couple hours a week.”
Jetting out her lower lip and giving me her best pout, she said, “I can’t help it if I love the dogs. If someone let me get a dog of my own, I wouldn’t have to go there so much.”
“Oh no, you are not guiltin’ me into that bullshit. Forget it. No. Dog.”
Giving me a slight push, I took a few steps back. “Fine, but no sex for you tonight.”
Dropping my mouth open, I watched as she walked away. “What? How is that fair in any way?”
Waving her hand as if dismissing me, she put a little extra humph into her hip swing as she continued to walk away from me.
Letting out a laugh, I followed her out of the house and to my truck. Getting in, she looked my way.
“Would it be okay if we spent at least one day and night alone together at the beach? Then we can invite Lark and Azurdee?”
Letting out a deep growl, I wiggled my eyebrows up and down. “Hell yeah, we can have a day or two alone. Leave it up to me, baby. I’ll take care of all the plans. I promise it will be a trip neither one of us will forget.”
Smiling, she settled into the seat. “I can’t wait to see Azurdee and Lark. I have to admit, I miss home.”
A plan began to formulate in my head. I was going to make this trip one Ryn would never forget.
WALKING OUT ONTO THE BACK deck, I let the ocean breeze hit me in the face. It had seemed like forever ago when Tristan and I were here last. Lark and Azurdee would be here in two days. Tristan said he had a surprise for me and I couldn’t wait to see what it was.
Shivers raced down my body as I felt Tristan’s arms wrap around my body. Dropping my head back against him, I tilted my head, giving him better access. His lips began to lightly graze across my skin.
“I love you, Ryn.”
Feeling the warmth of his love spread through my body, I spoke barely above a whisper, “I love you too, Tristan.”
My eyes were closed as I felt the breeze blow a few brown curls that hung down from my pulled up hair.
“I have a journey I want to go on with you, baby.”
Keeping my eyes closed, a low moan formed at the base of my throat. “I like the sound of that.”
Hot breath hit my neck, causing a throbbing sensation between my legs. Instantly wet, I began having that familiar draw that I couldn’t resist.
“It’s a life long journey of love.”
My eyes snapped opened as I dropped my head forward and I saw the bottle sitting on the railing. My heart slammed against the wall of my chest as my stomach dropped.
The bottle.
Turning around, I looked up into Tristan’s eyes. “The bottle?”
Placing his hand on the side of my face, he gently brushed his thumb across my face. “Azurdee?”
Nodding my head, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. “Tristan . . .” I couldn’t even begin to form the words in my brain to express how I felt. I didn’t need the bottle to confirm Tristan’s commitment to me. Matter of fact, I had forgotten all about it until I opened my eyes and saw it. But knowing the meaning behind it, I’d never in my life felt the way I was feeling this very moment.
“I told my father I wanted to do something different with the tradition. Before, each person wrote their letter and put it in the bottle. I want us to write our letters, but I want to exchange them before we put them into the bottle.”
“You want to read each other’s letter?”
His other hand moved up to my face as he held my face firmly in his hands. “I wish I was more romantic and swept you off your feet more, Ryn. There are so many things I feel in my heart that I want more than anything to express to you. I know by writing it down, I’ll express it better. My hopes and dreams for our future, but my fears from the past as well. I want to share everything with you.”