“He’s going to deliver the baby,” Jocelyn assured them as much as herself. “He seems like a really good doctor.”
Zoe snorted.
They all just looked at her, but Will said, “Actually, he’s an oncologist. His wife just let me know in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t here to work.”
Zoe closed her eyes, turned, and walked down the hall away from the group while Tessa continued gentle words of assurance for Ashley.
“C’mere.” Will took Jocelyn’s hand and tugged her out of the vestibule.
She glanced over her shoulder at the closed massage-room door. “I want to wait here,” she said. “It could be any minute.”
“We’ll be right around the corner. I need something.”
At the serious tone in his voice, she followed him into the facial room, completely dark and cool and smelling vaguely of mint and lavender. In the center of the room, a simple bed with clean sheets awaited the first facial… or…
She smiled at him. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I’m dead serious.”
Laughing, she put a hand on his chest. “Let’s take it to the villa later.”
Will’s eyes flashed dark blue as he came closer, wrapping his arms around her. “Don’t worry, we will. To celebrate.”
“The new baby?”
“Life’s curveballs.”
“So says the catcher.”
“I’m serious.” And he was. There was no smile on his face, no humor in his expression. “Shit happens, fast and unexpectedly.”
“Yes, it does.”
“So, Joss, let me ask you a question. What are you prepared to die for?”
She blinked at him. “Excuse me?”
“That’s the question you asked me once, when you were life coaching. You said it told you what was important to someone.”
“That was really just a rhetorical question I used to ask clients to get a conversation going.”
“I know what I’m prepared to live for.” He got closer, stealing her air and space and any last shred of sanity as he walked her toward the middle of the room. “You.”
She kind of melted, letting him dip her back on the facial bed. “Likewise.”
“So why are we waiting for the right time?”
“I know you hate to wait now,” she teased, but it was hard to joke in the face of all this certainty. Determination. Focus.
“I don’t want to wait another day or night or minute.”
She closed her eyes and dropped backwards, the words and the man sweeping her right off her feet. “I’ve created a monster who refuses to wait for anything.”
He laughed a little, kissing her throat. “So, when?”
“Right now, right here?” A shiver of anticipation and desire shot through her, control slipping away as he trailed his tongue along her jaw and settled her deeper onto the bed.
“Maybe next week.”
She gave him a little nudge away, to see his face. “Next week?”
“We can’t get everything together before then.”
“You don’t mean for sex.”
“No, I mean for marriage.” He cupped his hands over her face. “I love you so much, Jocelyn. I want to know we’re in this together, forever, as one.”
“Oh, Will, I love you, too. You know we’re together.”
“I don’t know anything except I love you.” He kissed her, still holding her face, tenderly like she was his prize. “I love your heart.”
She put her hand on his chest. “You’re the one with the big heart, Will. You’re all heart.”
He rocked against her. “Not all.”
“Okay, and some soul.”
He nestled against her, kissing his way to her ear. “Let’s make this official then. Jocelyn Mary Bloom, love of my life, girl of my dreams, mother of my future—”
The door popped open and they froze as Zoe stood in stunned silence, taking in the scene. “Seriously, guys? Now?”
Will held Jocelyn firmly on the bed, ignoring the intrusion with an unwavering gaze. “I was just proposing,” he said.
“Oh,” Zoe whispered. “Well, what’d she say?”
“I don’t know yet.” Will gathered her a little tighter as more footsteps came toward the room and Tessa’s happy laughter floated in.
“We have an audience,” Jocelyn whispered.
“I don’t care. Where was I?”
“Something about love, girl, dreams, motherhood…” She closed her eyes as happiness clutched her heart. “It was all good.”
“Say yes, Bloomerang.”
“Dying here,” Zoe sang from the doorway. “Just say yes.”
“Yeah, just say yes, Aunt Jocelyn,” Ashley added.
Jocelyn looked into Will’s eyes and called, “Tess, what’s your vote?”
“Go for it, girl. Break that damn shell around your heart.”
She took a deep breath, savoring the word she was about to say, the commitment she was about to make, and the life she was about to live.
At just that moment, Elijah Clayton Walker let out his very first cry and they all yelled out at the same time. “Yes!”
The women in the doorway instantly disappeared, leaving them alone for a better drama.
“You said yes,” Will whispered.
“I screamed yes.”
“Even better.” He gave her that slow, sweet, sexy smile that turned her entire body to mush. “So guess what I finally have?”
“A fiancée?”
He kissed her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks, and put his lips against hers to whisper the answer. “I have… everything.”
Discover Your Next Great Read
Get sneak peeks, book recommendations, and news about your favorite authors.
Tap here to learn more.
In Barefoot Bay, you’re guaranteed to find family, friendship, and romance—fall in love with more books in Roxanne St. Claire’s New York Times bestselling series!
About the Author
Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty novels of suspense and romance, including many popular series such as the Dogfather, Barefoot Bay, the Guardian Angelinos, and the Bullet Catchers. In addition, she has penned numerous standalone books and two young adult novels.
In addition to being a ten-time nominee and one-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Award, Roxanne has won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense four times, as well as the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Maggie, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, the Award of Excellence, and many others. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages, and one has been optioned for film.
Roxanne lives in Florida with her husband and adorable dog, and still tries to run the lives of her twenty-something kids.
Also by Roxanne St. Claire
Guardian Angelinos Series
Edge of Sight
Shiver of Fear
Face of Danger
Barefoot Bay Series
Barefoot in the Sand
Barefoot in the Rain
Barefoot in the Sun
Barefoot by the Sea
Praise for the
Barefoot Bay series!
“Lovely, lush, and layered—this story took my breath away. Rich, believable characters, multilayered plot, gorgeous setting, and a smokin’ hot romance. One of the best books I’ve read all year.”
—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
“Pack this one in your beach bag and get ready for nonstop fun.”
—Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author
“An all-around knockout and soul-satisfying read. I loved everything about this book… Roxanne St. Claire writes with warmth and heart, and the community she’s built in Barefoot Bay is one I want to revisit again and again and again.”
—Mariah Stewart, New York Times bestselling author
“St. Claire writes books that keep the r
eader engrossed in the story from cover to cover.”
—Booklist
“Readers will be delighted.”
—Library Journal
“4½ Stars! St. Claire, as always, brings a scorching tear-up-the-sheets romance combined with a great story: dealing with real issues starring memorable characters in vivid scenes.”
—RT Book Reviews
Meet Me in Barefoot Bay Page 65