by Tabitha Tate
“Yes, Lola and I are lucky enough to call The Sea Breeze our home.”
Lola was delighted to see them, and before long Beth was curled up in Chase’s arms with Lola snoring softly at the foot of the bed. The idea of being on a boat had always appealed to Beth and she found the gentle sway of the large vessel very soothing as she dozed off to sleep.
~
Beth woke before sunrise to the sound of fishermen heading out to sea and the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting in from the kitchen. She found Chase sitting on the deck with Lola at his feet.
She wrapped her arms around him from behind and whispered in his ear, “Want some company?”
Chase nodded and pulled her onto his lap before kissing her softly on the mouth.
“I am glad that you managed to solve the case but I can’t help feeling disappointed at the thought of you having to leave…”
Beth cupped his face in her hands and placed her finger on his lips, silencing him before he could finish his sentence.
“I have been doing a bit of thinking lately, Mr. Crawford,” she said teasingly. “Seeing as I am now the proud owner of a flower shop, a seaside cottage and a large collection of antique Chinese porcelain…it appears to me as if I no longer need to return to Boston quite as quickly as I initially thought.
Chase’s eyes lit up and a look of excitement darted across his face. “Are you going to stay?”
“I think so, at least until I can figure out what I am going to do with all of it.”
Chase scooped her up into his arms and carried her, laughing, back inside towards the bedroom.
“You have just made me the happiest man on earth, Beth Andrews!”