Six Hours Away Read online

  Freddy took a step inside. “I’ll deal with him.”

  “No, don’t.” She stepped away from the closet but saw a shadow cross her front window. “I’ve got him.” She moved closer to Barney, trying to keep Freddy’s attention on her.

  She reached the dog and scooped him up right when Jay came crashing into the bungalow.

  “What the—” Freddy whirled around but didn’t have a chance.

  Jay tackled him in one fell swoop, pinning him to the floor. The knife went ricocheting across the floor. Freddy wrestled beneath Jay’s weight but couldn’t get loose.

  She heard a siren in the distance, coming closer.

  “Robs, go outside. It’s the sheriff.”

  She crossed to the doorway, keeping her eye on Jay and the still-struggling Freddy. “Sheriff, over here.”

  Sheriff Dave rushed inside. “So, Jay. I see you did my work for me.” The sheriff leaned over and handcuffed Freddy, then motioned for Jay to get up. “I know enough to apologize when I’m wrong about someone. And I was wrong about you.”

  Jay just nodded, then turned and walked over to her, pulling her into his arms. “You okay?” he whispered into her ear.

  “I am now.”

  The sheriff took Freddy away and Jay turned to her. “What were you thinking coming here alone? I thought we agreed you’d stick close to me?”

  “I just wanted to get a few things. It was broad daylight. I didn’t think…”

  He tilted her head up and he looked right into her eyes. “When you called. When I finally figured out you were in trouble and Freddy was here? I just about had a heart attack. Don’t ever do that to me again. Promise me.” He pulled her back into his arms and held her.

  “I’m just glad you figured out what I was saying.”

  He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “That’s one thing about us, Robs. We can communicate with each other without saying the words.” He stepped back for a moment. “But I want to get these words right. Say the right ones. When I thought he might take you away, that you might get hurt… that… I might lose you… Well, that can’t happen. I need you. I love you.”

  She smiled at him. “And I love you, too.”

  He dropped to one knee and her mouth flew open wide.

  “So, will you marry me, Robs? I want to spend every single day with you. The rest of our lives. I don’t ever want to be apart.”

  “I—” Tears sprang to her eyes and she dropped down to the floor facing him. “Yes. I’d love to marry you.”

  “All right!” He jumped up, pulling her with him, and swirled her around the room in a dance. “You’ve made me the happiest man ever.”

  She laughed in joy. He finally put her down and gently wiped away her tears.

  “Just you, me, Barney, and Sunny. A perfect family.” She smiled, unable to contain her joy.

  “So, one other thing.” He cocked his head to the side and gave that infectious grin. The one she could never say no to.

  “Can we get married soon?”

  “Yes, we can have a simple ceremony on the beach.”

  He sighed. “I wish we could just run off and get married.”

  “Why can’t we?”

  His mouth curled into a lazy grin. “Because Charlotte, Sara, and Lillian would kill us.”

  “Then let’s invite them. And just a handful of people. Simple ceremony on the beach. Nothing fancy. I just want to be your wife. I feel like we’ve waited forever for this.”

  “When?” He looked at her doubtfully.

  “Next weekend?” She grinned.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Never been so certain. Now that we’ve finally figured out we’re in love, we should really do something about it.”

  “We should.” He grinned back, then let out a whoop. “I’m marrying Robin Baker. Next week.” He swung her around in a circle. “Or two weeks if we have to wait that long. I’m all generous like that.”

  Chapter 30

  Zoe walked into Charming Inn and over to Lillian, standing at the reception desk. “Hey, Lillian. I got a message you wanted to see me?”

  Lillian looked at her, a confused expression on her face. “What?”

  “Uncle Noah said you had some things for me. Did I leave some of my stuff here when I left?”

  “Zoe, I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Maybe we can clear things up.” Mason and Gary strode up the desk.

  “Gary, you’re back.” Lillian rushed from behind the desk, and Gary encircled her in an embrace. “I didn’t know you were coming back today.”

  “Perks of a private jet.” He grinned. “I’m back. Back to stay.”

  “But what about your job? The CEO position?”

  “Lillian, you are my whole world. And I don’t really want my world split in two places. So, I’ve come up with a plan.” Gary turned to Mason. “But, for now, let’s let these two talk.”

  Zoe stood staring at Mason. Mason. Back here on the island. Not anything she’d expected.

  “Go ahead, son. Go talk to Zoe.”

  “Hey, you.” Mason walked up and took her hand.

  “Hi.” Her voice was barely over a whisper.

  “Can we talk?”

  She nodded and he led her outside to a corner of the deck where they were alone. She turned to face him, and he took both her hands in him.

  “I missed you,” he said.

  She’d missed him too. But seeing him like this, so soon, after she’d almost talked herself into believing she was getting used to him not being here…

  He reached out and ran his fingers along her cheek. “I’ve missed your smile, your laugh, even your messy ways.”

  A tentative, nervous laugh escaped her lips.

  “Mostly, I missed just talking to you. Oh, and one more thing.” He gave her his world-famous impish grin, and his one dimple deepened. “I missed kissing you.”

  He leaned in and kissed her. And again. Her world spun around as she kissed him back, clinging to him, hoping this wasn’t all a dream.

  He finally pulled back. “So, the thing is, I care about you. A lot. And how can we figure us out if I’m a six-hour flight away? I’ll answer that. We can’t. So… I’m going to stay here in Florida. Dad and I made plans. We have good managers in Seattle and good teams in Chicago and Minneapolis. We’re national now on our projects, so we don’t really need to be headquartered in Seattle. It appears we now own the majority stock in the company again, so we made a decision. We’re going to run the company from Belle Island.”

  Her mind was reeling. Mason and Gary were going to be here? On the island?

  “So, you’ll only be a couple hours away and I can see you all the time.” He paused, then said, “Right?”

  “No.” She looked at him and shook her head.

  “No?” He frowned. “I thought… I’m sorry. I thought we were on the same page. That maybe you cared about me too.”

  “I do care about you.”

  “But then, why no?”

  She reached out and touched his arm. “No, on the couple hours away.”

  His brow creased. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, some things have changed since you left.” She grinned. “I’ve moved back to the island.”

  “You have?” He grabbed both her hands. “You mean… you mean we’re both going to be here on Belle Island?”

  “Looks like it.”

  “I can’t think of any better news.” He broke into a grin.

  “Ah, but there is so much to tell you.”

  “I’m all yours.”

  That sure sounded nice. All hers. She kicked off her shoes. “Come on, let’s go for a walk on the beach.”

  He took off his shoes, rolled up the legs of his slacks and they headed to the beach.

  “So, what’s this you want to tell me?”

  “Well first of all, will you be my date to Jay and Robin’s wedding next weekend?”

  He threw his head back and laughed.
“Really? Well good for them.”

  He took her hand in his while they crossed the warm sand and stood beside the water looking out as the waves rolled toward them. “You know, Zoe. This island is kind of a magical place.”

  Contentment, intermingled with absolute happiness, washed through her as she leaned against him. “It really is, isn’t it?”

  Chapter 31

  Robin stood on the edge of the beach at Charming Inn. Okay, she’d taken two weeks, not just one, but the wedding was planned and everything was perfect. They’d kept the wedding small, just like she’d wanted. Just a handful of friends.

  She stood at the end of the aisle with Sara on one side of her and Charlotte on the other. She nodded to them and they walked her down the aisle toward Jay.

  The setting sun threw sunbeams dancing across the waves. Birds winged through the sky above them. A gentle breeze kept the evening at the perfect temperature.

  Charlotte leaned over and kissed her cheek before letting go of her arm. “Go to him. It’s been five years. You two deserve your happiness.”

  And she let go of her friends and walked into the arms of the man she loved.

  “You look beautiful,” he whispered.

  “You look…” She didn’t even know the word to describe it. Handsome. Perfect. Charming. Welcoming. That was it. He looked like home.

  They turned to the minister and said their vows. Then before she knew it, the minister was saying they were married.

  Married.

  She and Jay were married.

  He leaned over and kissed her. Slowly. Thoroughly. She should care that everyone was watching, but she didn’t. She circled her arms around his neck and clung to him.

  “I love you, Jay.”

  “Love you right back, Mrs. Turner. With everything I have, everything I am.”

  And life fell into perfect place. She loved this man. With her whole heart. Her whole being. She’d found him. Her soulmate.

  They finally had a few moments alone at the reception and stood at the edge of the deck with the stars dancing above them. Music drifted across the deck, mixing with the gentle breeze. Lanterns cast gentle light around them. She stood quietly with him, watching the waves.

  “It was a perfect night.” She leaned against him.

  “It was.”

  “I was kind of surprised you didn’t show up in a t-shirt, though,” she teased.

  He grinned. “Oh, but of course I did.” He unbuttoned his shirt and tugged it apart.

  There, underneath the light blue dress shirt, was a gray t-shirt that said: Wishes do come true on Lighthouse Point.

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed this addition to the Charming Inn series. Finally, Robin and Jay figured it all out! Now… what about Charlotte and Ben’s wedding? Check out Charming Christmas - Book Seven - for a short holiday novel that brings the series to an end. (Well, at least for now. Never say never!)

  And look for the Moonbeam Bay series. Coming in January 2021.

  As always, thanks for reading my stories. I appreciate you all so much!

  Kay

  Also by KAY CORRELL

  Thank you for reading my story. I hope you enjoyed it.

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  Comfort Crossing ~ The Series

  Did you miss the start of this series? Click here to get the first book for free now! The Shop on Main - Book One

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  See all my books at my website.

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  COMFORT CROSSING ~ THE SERIES

  The Shop on Main - Book One

  The Memory Box - Book Two

  The Christmas Cottage - A Holiday Novella (Book 2.5)

  The Letter - Book Three

  The Christmas Scarf - A Holiday Novella (Book 3.5)

  The Magnolia Cafe - Book Four

  The Unexpected Wedding - Book Five

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  The Wedding in the Grove (crossover short story between the Comfort Crossing and Lighthouse Point series - Josephine and Paul from The Letter.)

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  LIGHTHOUSE POINT ~ THE SERIES

  Wish Upon a Shell - Book One

  Wedding on the Beach - Book Two

  Love at the Lighthouse - Book Three

  Cottage near the Point - Book Four

  Return to the Island - Book Five

  Bungalow by the Bay - Book Six

  Click here to learn more about the series.

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  CHARMING INN ~ Return to Lighthouse Point

  One Simple Wish - Book One

  Two of a Kind - Book Two

  Three Little Things - Book Three

  Four Short Weeks - Book Four

  Five Years or So - Book Five

  Six Hours Away - Book Six

  Charming Christmas - Book Seven

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  SWEET RIVER ~ THE SERIES

  A Dream to Believe In - Book One

  A Memory to Cherish - Book Two

  A Song to Remember - Book Three

  A Time to Forgive - Book Four

  A Summer of Secrets - Book Five

  A Moment in the Moonlight - Book Six

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  INDIGO BAY ~ Save by getting Kay’s complete collection of stories previously published separately in the multi-author Indigo Bay series. The three stories are all interconnected.

  Sweet Days by the Bay

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  Or buy them separately:

  Sweet Sunrise - Book Three

  Sweet Holiday Memories - A short holiday story

  Sweet Starlight - Book Nine

  About the Author

  Kay writes sweet, heartwarming stories that are a cross between women’s fiction and contemporary romance. She is known for her charming small towns, quirky townsfolk, and enduring strong friendships between the women in her books.

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  Kay lives in the Midwest of the U.S. and can often be found out and about with her camera, taking a myriad of photographs which she likes to incorporate into her book covers. When not lost in her writing or photography, she can be found spending time with her ever-supportive husband, knitting, or playing with her puppies—two cavaliers and one naughty but adorable Australian shepherd. Kay and her husband also love to travel. When it comes to vacation time, she is torn between a nice trip to the beach or the mountains—but the mountains only get considered in the summer—she swears she’s allergic to snow.

  Learn more about Kay and her books at kaycorrell.com

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  WHERE TO FIND ME:

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