He shook his head. “I’m trying to be a good guy, Lacey.” They both laughed, but then he pointed to the fried morsel sitting all alone in the small basket. “Last one… are you sure you don’t want a bite?”
Lacey exhaled. “Fine, I’ll try it. But if I don’t like it, the ice cream will be your treat.”
A triumphant smile splayed across his lips. “Fine.” He held it between his thumb and forefinger. Lacey leaned closer, realizing it wasn’t as big as she’d thought. She met his eyes, wrapped her moutharound the bite, and pulled the entire thing into her mouth, dragging her tongue on the underside of his fingers.
Sweet breading teased her taste buds. The conch tasted a lot like shrimp, which was all he would have had to say before. Lacey swallowed and dabbed her lips with a napkin. “Fine, I’ll buy the ice cream.”
Drew laughed once more. “I told you it was good.” He shook his head. “You need to trust me.”
“I do.” She realized how serious her tone was when his smile faltered. “I mean that.” Lacey tossed her now-crumpled napkin on the table and placed her hand on Drew’s. “Trust doesn’t come easy for me.” That was God’s honest truth. But when it came to the gorgeous, selfless man sitting next to her, it did. Needing to deflect off her issues, she released his hand and stood. “Ready to shop?”
They walked hand in hand from store to store. She had bought obligatory T-shirts for her friends and one for herself. When they happened upon Boutique Marigold, Drew and Lacey went in and began to look around.
Hanna wasn’t kidding when she said this store wasn’t to be missed. The walls were painted bright Caribbean blues and coral pinks, bringing the beauty of the sea inside. Handmade dream catchers hung from the ceiling, allowing the small crystals to capture the sunlight streaming in through the open windows.
Lacey beelined to a hat display in the back corner. She lifted a white floppy brimmed striped hat off one of the mannequin heads and modeled it for Drew. “What do you think?”
Drew smiled. “I love it.”
She nodded, turning to look at her reflection in the small mirror and caught Drew in the background staring at her, his baseball cap still positioned with the bill in the back. “I love it too.”
Lacey couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun. Not to mention with a man. Getting to know Drew felt sonormal. Everything about him was carefree—something she missed in her life.
He made her laugh at the simplest things and appreciate everything around her. Life was short—she knew that better thananyone—and since meeting Drew, she didn’t want a second to go by without taking in all that the world had to offer.
She looked at his reflection in the mirror and couldn’t help the smile that grew across her face. “You’re very handsome.”
Drew’s eyebrows arched, clearly startled at her out-of-nowhere compliment. He snaked his arms around her waist, pressing his front to her back. On instinct she covered his hands with hers. He nestled his face under the brim of Lacey’s hat, tucking his chin into the curve of her neck. His warm breath caressed her skin.
Lacey glanced at their reflection. Drew’s eyes were closed, but she needed a moment to study the way he protectively held her. The muscles in his arms flexed as he pulled her tighter against him. She could stay like that for an eternity and not have a care in the world.
Their bodies swayed to the soft music piped in through the boutique’s speakers. Although there were other customers shopping, to Lacey they had all disappeared, and it was just her and the man she was starting to fall for.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Why are you single?” Drew froze, making Lacey wish she’d kept her curiosity to herself. “If you’d rather not talk about it, that’s fine.”
“No, it’s okay. I just haven’t found someone that I’ve wanted to spend time with. It’s not as though I don’t date, but to quote my family, I’m ‘very picky’ when it comes to women.” Drew smirked. “I can’t say they’re wrong about that.”
“Picky in what way?”
“You’re full of questions today.” He chuckled. “It’s hard to pinpoint. But I do know when I find the right one, I’ll work like hell to make her happy.”
“I have a feeling she will be.” After all, in a matter of days, Drew had already made Lacey the happiest she had been in a very long time.
A woman’s voice tugged Lacey from her thoughts. “Honeymoon?”
Both Drew and Lacey stopped moving, righted themselves, andlooked at the woman. Lacey smiled and shook her head. “No, we’re not on our honeymoon.”
The older woman’s brows drew together. Her dark skin had a few deep wrinkles, most likely from too much sun. Her lips formed a tight line. “Hmm… I’m usually never wrong about these things.”
Drew smiled. “Maybe one day we’ll come back for that. But for now, we’re just enjoying each other’s company.”
Lacey didn’t know if he just wanted to appease the woman or if he genuinely believed it, but she just nodded at Drew’s comment, making the woman beam as though she did in fact know all. “Getting to know each other is the best part of a relationship, and take it from someone who’s been married to the love of her life for thirty-three years. A chance at love doesn’t come along often. Don’t let unexpected chances pass you by… it might mean missing out on the best thing of your life. My husband asked me out while I was dating his best friend.” She shrugged at Lacey’s startled expression. “I didn’t say yes right away, of course, but I had this nagging feeling that Marty, that’s my husband, was the one I was supposed to give my heart to.” Her eyes filled with warmth. “I won’t bore you with the details, but we honeymooned on this very island. It’s magical here.”
Magical. That was certainly one way to put it.