Three weeks later…

Ash stood on the deck outside grande casa and took it all in. In three short weeks, everything had changed so much, and yet, looking at it, everything was exactly the same. After sorting things out with Heather, their love had grown so quickly and with such strength, it took him aback at times. But in a good way. Ash hadn’t known it was possible to love someone so much and with such depth. He had to shake his head when he thought about all those years he’d convinced himself that he’d never love again. He should have told himself he’d never love the way he loved Carlie again.

This love with Heather was different. And he was thankful every day that he woke up next to her that he’d come to his senses and realized what he had before letting it all disappear for good.

That night, lying in the shed that he’d transformed into their own private love den—as they’d started jokingly referring to it—Ash laid out his idea for Heather in all its rawness. He’d only come to the thought earlier that day, but the more he sat on it, and percolated it, the more it made sense. And with Heather in his arms that night, he felt as though he could do anything. He wanted to buy Casa del Sol from Sherri. But only if Heather was on board. It had to be something they’d do together. Or not at all.

Ash hadn’t even been able to finish his thought before Heather was literally jumping up and down yelling her approval and sharing all her own ideas for the place. He had no idea that she had so many ambitious plans for Casa del Sol as well, but it shouldn’t have been a surprise. She’d loved the place just as much as he had from the moment she set foot on the dock. That was easy to see.

He was only slightly worried that Sherri wouldn’t want to sell it to him. But he needn’t have been concerned because the next morning, after staying up until the sun came up, excitedly talking over their ideas and making love, both Ash and Heather had gone up to see Sherri.

Part of him thought she might resist the move, but the moment Ash explained that they wanted to run the place together, with Sherri as long as she wanted to stay, his old friend burst into tears.

“Nothing would make me happier than to see you two here, together.”

“And you can focus on getting better.” Heather squeezed her arm. It was a priority for both of them—for Sherri to get better—and her health status dominated many of their conversations. But things seemed to be moving in the right direction, according to Dr. Friesen. Once he’d arrived, he’d wasted no time setting things up and making sure Sherri’s treatment was dialed in. He remained optimistic that they’d be able to knock her cancer into remission in no time and had even convinced Sherri to accompany him to Panama City when the time was right so she could receive the proper scans to make sure the cancer was being treated properly.

Ash had never been more grateful for making that phone call to Dr. Friesen. With Sherri happy and more than willing to sell him the property, things moved quickly. Ash called a lawyer friend he knew in Panama City and he arranged for a more than fair sum of money to be transferred to Sherri. He also made sure both his and Heather’s names were put on the deed. Casa del Sol was both of theirs. Equally.

And just like that, Casa del Sol was theirs and besides falling asleep and waking up with Heather in his arms, nothing had ever felt so right.

“Hey, babe.” As if he’d conjured her, Heather came up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist. He turned so he could pull her into a proper kiss. “That was nice.” She winked at him. “What are you looking at?”

Ash turned back toward the water, keeping his arm around her. “Just all of this. Are you ready for this?”

“For you? Or for this?”

He squeezed her close. “All of it. The crew arrives tomorrow.” With Heather’s plans to expand their love den into a hostel style of accommodation, they also decided to build a few more bungalows. Including two up in the trees for those who wanted a more secluded stay. They were both excited to get their hands dirty with the work, but neither of them were experts in construction, let alone construction in the jungle, so they’d hired a crew to help them out with the work.

“It’s going to be exciting,” she agreed. “But tonight, it’s just us. Finally.”

Ash laughed because Val had extended her stay twice, but was finally headed back on the boat and set to fly out. As much as Heather protested her mother’s extended stay, secretly Ash was certain she loved it. And he had, too. Not only had mother and daughter been able to finally repair their relationship, it had taken on a completely new life. Panama agreed with Val and once she met Sherri, she spent more and more time up in the treehouse, looking after not only their patient, but also the crew of doctors and caregivers who had started to arrive. She’d declared herself a bit of a house mom, saying it gave her purpose to look after someone again.

“I think I’m going to miss your mom.”

“Oh, don’t you worry about that.” Val joined them on the dock. “I’m not going anywhere for very long.”

Heather spun around. “What do you mean? I thought you were leaving today.”

“Simmer down, sweetheart. I’m heading to Shelter Bay today, as planned. I’m looking forward to meeting these friends of yours and of course seeing the movie crew. Phoebe told me she’d be able to introduce me to Dean Harrison. Can you believe that? Maybe I’ll have him sign my tote bag. That would be something, wouldn’t it?”

“It certainly would, Val.”

“But then you’re going to go to the San Blas Islands, right, Mom? To visit Sherri’s friend, Josie? You’ll be gone at least a month, right?”

Val laughed. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you’re trying to get rid of me.”

“Not at all.” Ash smiled at her. “But it will be a bit of a construction zone around here for a few weeks. It’ll be a good time for you to go on vacation. And we haven’t talked about when you might be ready to go back to the States.”

“About that. I was thinking—”

“No.”

“Don’t say no when you haven’t heard my idea, dear. It’s rude.”

“You’re going to say that you’re not going home.” It would have been Ash’s guess, too. “You want to stay in Panama.”

It wasn’t a good time to have the type of conversation Ash knew was coming. Especially because he had another, more important conversation he wanted to have. One that had involved a quick trip to Panama City a few days earlier.

He stepped between the women. “Why don’t we have this discussion when Val gets back from her trip to San Blas?”

“I think we should shut this down—”

“Babe,” he interrupted her. “Let’s table this one, okay? There was something I wanted to ask you before Val has to leave.”

She tipped her head in question.

Ash took a deep breath, reached into his pocket and got down on one knee. Behind him, he heard Val shriek but he ignored her and focused on the one woman in the world who held his heart. “Heather, ever since I met you on the steps of the Bitter End, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you. You have captured my heart in a way no one else ever has. Every day I wake up and think I must still be dreaming because you’re in my arms. And baby, I don’t ever want to wake up from this dream. I love you. Will you make my life complete and be my wife?”

His hands shook, but he held the ring out to her. A single diamond nestled into a setting surrounded by the blue sapphires that reminded Ash of the phytoplankton on their first swim together. The moment he saw the ring, he knew it was perfect.

She didn’t answer. She couldn’t because tears flowed down her face. Finally, she nodded, put her hand to her mouth and nodded again. “Yes. Of course. I can’t imagine any other future.”

The moment Ash slipped the ring on her hand and sealed her agreement with a kiss, Val let out a whoop. Together, they turned and invited Heather’s mom into the hug as well.

“Well, it doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere for a while after all,” Val said. “After all…we have a wedding to plan!”

If you enjoyed Escape to the Sun, you’ll probably like the next in the series, , coming Summer 2017. And for more free books and exciting news make sure to