As Emily walked down the beach with Tom later that night, she was amazed to find herself in this situation: holding hands with Tom Kent on a Hawaiian beach. She’d given up any hope of this ten years ago.

She also had other good news she wanted to share with Tom. She’d just been notified she’d gotten the junior partner position and the twenty grand would be deposited into her account once she signed her new contract on her first day back in New York.

Tom stopped walking and pointed to the sky. “Man, it’s beautiful.”

Following his gaze, she stared at the dazzling display. The clouds mingled in with the fading light, and the ocean created a blue line that felt like it would go on forever. “It’s amazing,” she whispered.

It wasn’t just the sunset she was talking about. These past few days with Tom had been spectacular.

Putting his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her closer. She relished his ocean scent but didn’t want to be blatant about it like he was.

He glanced down, using his other hand to angle her chin up so she had to meet his eyes. “What are you thinking, Ems?”

Her heart fluttered. She wanted to tell him she was thinking she couldn’t get enough of him, that she wanted to kiss him and feel his hands in her hair, but she couldn’t stop herself from telling him her niggling worries. “Once again, I’m thinking that you live in Park City, and I live in New York.”

“Of course you are. You’re practical,” he said with a mischievous squint.

She smiled sadly. Even if, despite everything, she and Tom were to get back together, she couldn’t just …

“Come to Park City,” he whispered, still searching her eyes. “Finish the house with me.”

She pulled back. “Are you serious?”

Slowly, he leaned in and started at the edge of her lips, kissing her slowly, purposefully, to the other side. “I told you there are attorneys in Park City.”

Emily thought she might burst with joy. She wanted to tell him yes. But before she could speak, he closed the gap between them and cradled her head with one hand and pulled her closer with the other, deepening the kiss.

She was lost. All the memories of making out with him while growing up rushed over her, and she thought about how Tom knew a lot about kissing her.

The kiss ended, but he didn’t miss a beat; his lips moved up her jawline and then to her ear. “It’s our time, Ems. It’s our destiny. Let go of all your logic and follow your heart, Ems.” Then his lips were back on hers, and impossibly, she felt herself go even gooier.

She wanted to believe it. As she held on to his strong shoulders, though, she knew there’d be no letting him go again. Pulling back, she whispered, “I can’t.”

“What do you mean, you can’t? We’ll figure out the money and find a firm for you in Park City.” A grin washed over his face. “I told you about Luke Freestone, the attorney. His brother, Damon Freestone, is on the fire department with me. It’s not going to be a problem, believe me. We could relocate your mom to a different facility close to us. I wonder if Trina would come out and go to the U.” His eyes lit up. “I could be little Elliot’s uncle.”

“Tom.” Her mind spun. “I can’t.”

His happiness turned to confusion. “Why?” He squeezed her hands. “Destiny won’t knock three times, Ems. I want to be with you.”

She felt chills wash over her, and a warning that something was coming pricked the back of her neck. “I want to be with you, too.”

“Exactly. Ems, we can do this. We can—”

“I got junior partner,” she blurted.

Tom blinked. “Oh.”

“There was an email when we went back to the hotel. When I go back to New York in three days, there’ll be a contract to sign, a room full of people clapping, a cake …”

He stared at her. “You want a cake?”

“No, Tom … I … there’ll be the bonus.”

Tom’s jets cooled, and he shifted back. “Right.”

She nodded, feeling helpless. “Could you come to New York? I want to be with you too.”

Excitement washed over his face. “You do?”

“I’m falling in love with you again, I don’t think I ever stopped loving you.” Tears filled her eyes, and emotion choked her at the back of the throat.

“I know.” Tom laughed.

“What do you mean?”

“I hoped.” Gently, he brushed his lips to hers. “But let me ask you something … if you didn’t need the bonus, would you come to Park City?”

“I …” She frowned, but she knew the truth. “I’d come, Tom.”

“Yeah!” He lifted her, kissing her.

She laughed. “You’re just an alpha male that wants me barefoot and pregnant in that awful kitchen.”

He jerked to a stop. “What?”

Stupid. Had she really just said that? “Nothing.” She knew her face was turning red.

He laughed. “Actually, the kitchen’s done, but I could use your advice on the living room. I want you with me, restoring that house.” He whispered it in her ear, then kissed it, then kissed her neck again. “I want you with me, making those babies.”

She sighed, letting herself be thoroughly kissed by this man. “I want it, too.”

He pulled back and grinned at her.

“What? Are you second-guessing all of this?”

He kissed her slowly, pushing his fingers through her hair. “No,” he said against her lips.

“Good,” she whispered back. “Because I’m not running anymore.”

He picked her up and twirled her. His eyes sparkled with an idea. “This time I’m not letting you go anywhere without me.”