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She felt the heat of embarrassment creep up into her face “But I danced on the bar like an idiot”

“So what? You looked great up there TheThe captain thinks you’re a saint, so nothing you could do would tarnish that”

“But I was drunk—”

“You’re young We get drunk That’s e do” He took her by the shoulders and dropped his eyes level to hers “And in case you think everyone is a Goodie Two-Shoes around here, don’t Mrs Evans froh her back yard during the full uy that runs the ho time” His mouth twitched a little when he added, “And your ever-so-perfect cousin, Clara, has had a few nights that I’ve driven her drunk ass hoood woman That’s all that matters”

“My faet the rest of the words out

“They hurt you, and you reacted to that hurt” He placed his ar her close, and kissed her forehead “I’ve been there I know that pain” When he leaned away, he dipped his chin and said softly, “But don’t let their shit ruin you You can’t change theot your cousins, me”—the side of his mouth curved—“the entire town of River Rock who has fallen in love with you Pick us Pick here Pick this life, not the life with people who can’t see this a woman in front of the his hair “Ten years ago, there was a spark One that was instant then, and lasted this past decade, always staying with me” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the h in between them “Penelope Carter, will you stay and let me love you?”

“You want to love me?” Her voice cracked

“Yeah, about that…um, I already do love you,” he said, “but I can hold that in, in case that ain with your suitcase”

She laughed through the tears, then rose on her tiptoes “Noaway I love you too” Shehis lips “And just so you know, I happen to be a hundred percent certain you are not an uptight fuddy-duddy Oh, Darryl I can’t believe you came for me”

His eyes filled with emotion “I can’t believe you kept the letter all these years” He closed the distance, pressed his fully, deeply

Tyson barked

Darryl broke off the kiss with a laugh

“Oh, I won’t

forget about you,” Penelope said, dropping down to kiss Tyson’s head too

Darryl took her suitcase in one hand, and twining the fingers of his free hand with hers, he led her back to River Rock