“Then back here.” He took her hand again and they walked towards the old dock. “I’ll fix this one up. Maybe add a lift for a smaller boat on this dock area.” He motioned to the smaller space. “TheWind Chasercan go here,” he added, moving over to the last slip, “instead of being docked at the camp all the time. Security has caught a couple of people in the last year trying to sneak on her and take her out. I’ve had to add locks on the chains.”
“It’s amazing what drunk people think they have the right to do,” Jules said. “Nice view.” She motioned to the water. “That’s Reed and Kimberly’s place, right?”
“Yes,” he answered. Reed Cooper was retired military of some sort. He was very secretive, but the man had helped find Hannah back when Owen’s cousin had kidnapped her. Reed was dating Zoey and Scarlett’s mother, Kimberly. The woman had moved into one of the cabins when the friends had opened the camp. About two years after that, she’d moved in with Reed.
The pair spent almost as much time traveling as they did at home. Although, after Zoey gave birth to Paige, they were home more often.
“Wow, that place looks bigger from this close,” she exclaimed.
“Of course, what I build won’t be half that size, but it’s going to be all mine.” He turned and looked back at the land, his back to the water now.
She turned too and looked along with him.
“It’s a nice spot. Those huge oak trees are beautiful.” She motioned to two huge trees that sat off to the side.
“I plan on keeping them. I’ll maybe even hang a swing from one of them. You know, so my kids can swing under them.”
“Kids, huh?” She turned to him. “I can picture you with a handful of them running around.”
He laughed. “Two. At the least. Three if I’m lucky.”
“Lucky?” she asked.
“To be with someone who wants three kids,” he answered easily.
CHAPTERTEN
Jules thought about her own dreams for children. She’d always thought that three was a perfect number. Two boys and a girl. At least in her mind, she’d always imagined so.
Then her mind turned to images of what her and Damion’s children would look like. They’d be beautiful, she surmised quickly. They’d have his smile and his dark rich eyes, which laughed and sparkled when he talked.
“Come on, let’s get the food and champagne. This is a good spot to watch the sunset.” He took her hand, and they walked back to his truck and gathered the things, including an old beach blanket that he kept in the truck.
While they ate, they talked about each other’s plans for their dream futures. After he filled her in on his dreams for the home that he was going to have Aiden build, she told him about the online classes she was taking and how she had hoped that they would allow her to take a bigger role in the business side of the camp.
“Not that I don’t love working at the front desk, because, hello, best job in the world.” She paused as he agreed. “But I want to make more of a difference around here. I want to do what I can to make the place successful. Maybe expand it a little more…” She dropped off and took the last bite of her food. She pushed the empty container aside when she realized she had finished the entire meal while they had talked.
She normally didn’t eat more than a salad with some turkey or chicken in it for dinner. She’d shoved the entire roast beef sandwich down her throat as they dreamed together.
“I’m sure with both Hannah and Elle heading into maternity leave, they’ll be begging you for help,” he said.
“I’ve already talked to Elle about it,” she said with a strained smile. “If all goes well while they’re out, they think I can take a bigger role permanently.”
“You sound as if that’s a problem.”
Sighing, she leaned back on her elbows as her feet dangled off the docks. The sunset was in full force, and the sky was flooded with bright hues of some of her favorite colors.
“What if I screw something up?” she asked suddenly, turning towards him.
“You won’t,” he said easily, leaning next to her.
“But what if I do?” she stressed. “This place is… well, everything. I can’t imagine going back to work in an office or waiting tables somewhere else. Having a dead-end job.” She sighed.
“The camp does spoil you for any other jobs,” he joked.
“I just don’t know if I have the strength to lose it,” she admitted.
“Then don’t screw up.” He took her hand in his and pulled her against his chest. “You’ll do great.” He kissed her forehead.