Three months later…

“Remember when Archer was born, and you swore you’d never get pregnant?”

A grinning Larkin settled into a gray tweed chair next to Blayne. The North Cove home she shared with Ryker had been renovated, resulting in a floor-to-ceiling window that opened up the back wall to the rear deck and provided a clear view of the lighthouse across the choppy waters. The glow of the lamp was like a beacon through the large picture window.

Steadfast and consistent, the perfect symbol of love and strength and commitment that the center had for the town of Cape Van Buren.

The Archer Conservation Park of Cape Van Buren was thriving and growing by the minute. They were also in the process of tweaking programs and adding more. Which explained why it seemed like the whole town was visiting at the same time.

Larkin’s mother and father were in the kitchen with Jamie’s parents, as well as Maxine and Evette. The judge was still on the outs with his lady love, but they all secretly hoped they’d find their way back to one another soon. A grumpy Maxine was scary.

Claire joined them, a big glass of wine for herself and Larkin, and made the new mother scoot over and share a small corner of the chair.

Blayne scoffed. “Archer was child’s play. Now, this little nugget…” She glided a finger down the baby’s petal-soft cheek and Audrey Maxine Van Buren-aka Baby Max—turned her head toward the touch. “Well, she was a whole different ballgame. I think I’m cured of any threat of the infamous biological clock after hearing you scream.”

Jamie grabbed each side of her chair, leaning toward her for a kiss. “You better get reacquainted because I know it shouldn’t turn me on to see you holding the baby, but I don’t know if you’ve ever looked sexier.”

A rush of heat washed through her at his touch. She hoped the feeling never went away. Refusing to let his head grow any bigger, she simply narrowed her eyes at him, though there was no helping the upturn of her mouth. Damn the man. “Slow your roll there, Mr. Astor, we’re not even married yet.”

Jamie rubbed his big palm gently over the dark fuzz on Baby Max’s head and promised, “Soon, if I have any say in the matter. We’ve waited long enough.”

It was a wonderful feeling that he was so impatient to be her husband. She’d have to remind him of that in a month or two when he realized she was a pain in the ass to live with. “Let me see how soon my da and siblings can get here. After everything that’s happened, I can’t get married without them.”

With a gentle touch, she smoothed the cotton onesie covered in lighthouses along the baby’s tummy.

With a dip of his chin, he sighed, but the look in his eyes was happy and bright. “Of course.”

Jamie perched on the arm of her chair, glancing out the window. “Is the Hide Away & Stay Inn still running?”

Ryker strolled in from the kitchen with Mitch close behind and handed Jamie a beer. “For the time being. I’ve heard some talk about the threat of it closing down, but nothing’s confirmed.”

“No! I love that place. Do you know how many times Blayne and I used to take Archer over there to hang out for the day? We’d grab a picnic from their little cafe and hike through the woods or play in the water along their little beach.”

Larkin’s eyes turned bright with unshed tears, but she smiled, letting her gaze fall on the baby. “I remember like it was yesterday. He’d loved it there almost as much as the Cape. I hope Audrey Maxine does, too.”

She smiled at Ryker and the room went quiet.

Blayne cleared the lump from her throat. “Little Max is our girl, of course she’ll love it.”

“I haven’t been out there in ages,” Claire said.

“Well.” Larkin finished her wine. “You’ve got a bit on your plate now that you’re taking on the programming at the center. The art classes you proposed to Ryker and me will be amazing.”

“Besides, you haven’t been ‘out there’ period. I’ve never seen a person hide behind a to-do list as much as you.” Mitch snorted, tipping his head back for a long swallow of beer.

Claire grabbed the sandal off her foot and threw it at him, knocking him in the chest and making him choke on his drink.

“Hey, what the hell?”

With an innocent look, she shrugged. “Better than being the walking STD of Cape Van Buren.”

“Oh!” Blayne laughed behind her fingers.

Mitch’s face turned as red as Larkin’s chest was known to do. “What did I ever do to you?”

Claire opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a solid knock at the front door.

“Who the hell is that? The whole damn town is already here.” Ryker frowned but his tone was good natured. Larkin’s love softened the man’s rough edges, but he sported a frown like no other.

Jamie nudged Blayne. “About the wedding.”

“Jamie!” She laughed. “You technically haven’t really asked me yet and you’ve had three months.”

A throat cleared behind her, and her heart stopped. She knew that sound, that tone, that timbre.

Turning her head, she shot up from the chair. “Da!” Her head spun trying to reconcile the vision of him before her.

Ryker took baby Max from her arms as if afraid she’d drop the sweet thing.

Blayne rushed forward and threw herself into her da’s arms.

“Whoa now, Lass.” He steadied himself with a cane. “Just got my medical release.”

She glanced down at his hip, then noticed someone over his shoulder. Ruby, Emma, and Dylan stood shyly just past the threshold in the front foyer.

Her throat convulsed with emotion, and she tried to swallow beyond the questions and tears. “What are you doing here?”

“I think yer bloke here might have some answers for ya.”

Jamie shook her father’s hand. “Mr. MacCaffrey.”

Noah dipped his white-whiskered chin.

With an indrawn breath, Jamie glanced from father to daughter. “Sir, I brought you here to apologize in person.”

“Wait, what?” She interrupted, trying to understand what was going on. Her family was here…in Cape Van Buren—her home.

Jamie looked her father in the eye. “I’m sorry. We handled things so badly, so wrong when we were young, then I only made it worse when we got to the States, but I promise you, the only woman I’ve ever loved is your daughter.”

Noah pressed his lips together. She could see the pain of the memories in her da’s deep blue eyes.

“Thank ya, son.”

Jamie cleared his throat. “Blayne had mentioned once that what we did lacked honor, and I’d like to make that right. I would like to ask for your blessing in marrying your daughter.” He shot a look at her. “That is, if she’ll have me.”

Love rushed through her as appreciation for Jamie’s kindness swamped her.

Noah MacCaffrey laughed. Outright laughed.

She watched him. He must have gone daft. She looked to Emma for some help but her little sister only shrugged.

Her father grabbed Jamie’s hand and pumped it vigorously in a shake. “Lad, I appreciate the gesture, but three plane tickets is a very expensive price to pay to ask for my blessin’. Ya could have asked over the line.”

Jamie shook his head. “No, I needed you here. Does that mean you’re okay with it?”

“Have ya met my daughter? If I say no she’d knock me over the head.”

The whole room laughed, but all she could do was stare between her father and Jamie, her heart splayed open, vulnerable…accepting.

This was love.

“Then you see, I needed you here so I could do this right.” Jamie turned to Blayne and took her hand. “I’ve loved you since I was a boy and it would be my greatest accomplishment if you would let me love you long past being an old man.”

Her fingers fluttered to her lips. “Jamie,” she barely got out the whisper.

“Blayne MacCaffrey, will you make an honorable man of me and be my wife? I promise I’ll never leave you and that I’ll get on your nerves more than once.”

She choked on a giggle, swallowing hard as tears formed in her eyes.

“I promise to keep you connected with your family and that you’ll get sick of mine.”

Margaret Astor, leaning into her husband, gave a husky chuckle behind the handkerchief she used to dab her eyes.

“But even more, I promise to make sure you feel at home wherever we lay our heads at night, and that mine will always be next to yours.”

She’d never experienced such joy. There was a certain pain to so much pleasure that left her breathless and hopeful and overwhelmed. She glanced around the room at all the faces that loved her, that always had loved her.

Ryker was right from the very beginning. She and Jamie made each other better.

They renewed hope, forgiveness, and second chances at not only love, but life.

She grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. Tears now streaming down her face, she laughed and cried and nodded with a flurry of dark tendrils falling about her face. “Yes! I’ll marry you.” Then she poured every ounce of herself into that kiss. It was more than an answer. It was her promise to stand by him, side-by-side, wherever their future may lead. She wasn’t afraid anymore, she wasn’t searching for her place. She’d already known where it was long ago.

But there was more. She’d always dreamed of love—even when she didn’t believe it would happen for her—but she’d never known to dream of honor…on the Cape.

* * *

Did you adore Honor on the Cape? Want to read Claire’s story in Cherish on the Cape? Then follow me on to receive an email on release day of Cherish on the Cape later this year!

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