That was my undoing. We’d run into Jace earlier that morning, and he’d asked about blue clit, informing us that a very drunken Lexi had called him a blue clit master. I doubled over and clutched my stomach, unable to contain my laughter. My sides hurt, and tears were streaming down my cheeks, but I couldn’t stop. Apparently, that was enough for Jace and Lexi, because he took her hand and pulled her away, leading her to his car.

What Jace said next squelched my laughter.“Trust me, Banks. After tonight, she’ll never call me that again.”

Jeremy grinned, giving him a thumbs-up. As they got into his car and took off, Jeremy slid his arm around my waist, hooking a thumb in my belt loop. His phone beeped from his back pocket, and his grin widened when he checked whatever text message he’d just received.

“Is Ava good?” I asked, wondering if his mom was checking in.

His parents had agreed to keep her since it was our last night in town. I was more than looking forward to a night alone with Jeremy, making love in our condo with the sounds of the waves providing the perfect background noise.

“Of course Ava’s good, baby,” he told me as he slipped his phone back in his pocket. He peered down at me, but there was something I couldn’t quite read in his expression. “Wanna get out of here?”

My lips twitched as I pretended to mull it over. He waited patiently, however, so I rose up onto my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

In the car, Jeremey drove in the opposite direction of our condo. I was not surprised in the least when he pulled up to our special beach.

I was, however, surprised when he took my hand and led me down to the gazebo, where a beautiful sight was awaiting us.

Jeremy—with some help, I guessed—had recreated the night we’d first exchanged I-love-yous. White lights were strung up and a boom box was playing old-school R&B, and when I craned my neck, I smiled at the sight of a picnic basket and a blanket spread out on the beach.

“What’s all this?” I asked Jeremy, my heart fluttering the same way it had all those years ago. Hell, it hadn’t ever stopped.

He took my hand and twirled me around before pulling me into his chest and entwining our fingers. His other arm slid to the small of my back, and we swayed to the sounds of K-Ci and Jo Jo’s “All My Life.” That song had been playing the night he’d told me that he loved me. The perfect song for us, because all my life, I’d loved him. All my life, I would.

“This is twenty years of loving you, baby,” he whispered.

I reared my head back and stared up at him. “What?”

The grin on his face was absolutely breathtaking. “Twenty years ago today, the prettiest little girl came running through this gazebo, and my life has never been the same.”

“Wow,” I breathed.

“Wow,” he echoed. “Now, dance with me.”

I laid my head against his chest and did as he’d asked. His heart was pounding, and mine was, too. Twenty years. Twenty years and I was more in love with him than I’d ever been.

As he held me close, I squeezed my eyes shut and wished that everyone would find a love like mine. Hoping and praying that tonight, just like so many years ago, Lexi was on her way to falling in love again.

Because what I had with Jeremy?

It was every girl’s dream come true.

Twenty fucking years. I could hardly believe it. Hell, I’d almost forgotten until Jenna had mentioned it. She’d been upset to miss the reunion, but she was nine months pregnant and living in Seattle with Chris. Unable to fly, she’d called to send her best wishes.

“Can you believe it?” she’d asked right as we were about to get off the phone. “You’re going to be in Navarre for your twenty-year anniversary.”

“Fuck,” I’d breathed out. 2012. Twenty fucking years.

Jenna had laughed over the line. “Time flies, baby bro.”

I scowled. She had two minutes on me and lived for reminding me. “Well, I was definitely having fun,” I said, innuendo in my voice.

“Yeah, so, hanging up now. Make sure to get her something pretty,” she advised before hanging up.

I’d already had something in mind for Sierra. In fact, it was hiding away in my desk at the office. I was waiting for the right time to give it to her. Suddenly, I’d known that back in Navarre was the perfect place.

And now that we were, yet again, back where it had all begun, I wondered where the time had gone out loud.

As soon as the song ended, Sierra’s fingers raked down my back. Her cheeks were flushed pink with the evidence of her arousal. My gaze fell to her beautifully swollen lips, and my cock twitched at the sight.

We’d had plenty of foreplay at the reunion. With the surprise at the gazebo, she was primed and ready for me. Fuck. I was always primed and ready for her.

“Remember the last time we were here?” she asked, her eyes gleaming.

Did I remember it?

Fuck yeah I did. It’d been three hours after we’d said, “I do,” right in this very spot. After the ceremony, we’d gone back to the hotel for a dinner-reception for the family. It was very informal and pretty damn perfect.

Once dinner was done, the cake was eaten—neither of us ending up with it smashed in our faces—we snuck away.

The first time I made love to Sierra was on this beach.

The first time I made love to Mrs. Sierra Banks was also on this beach.

When I looked at Sierra, I knew she remembered that night just as fondly as I was. The way she’d scratched my back and breathily whispered, “Husband,” over and over again is something I’ve replayed many, many times.

“What do you say we relive that night?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

“Wait. I…I got you something,” I said, stopping her. I was on edge when I pulled the box out of my back pocket. It’d been burning a hole there, and I was anxious for Sierra’s reaction.

She could be thrilled; she could be devastated. I had no idea.

She tsked. “Jeremy, it’s not even a real anniversary. You shouldn’t have,” she said.

I smiled. “Fuck, baby. Twenty years. I’d say it’s a real anniversary.”

“You know what I mean,” she said, scowling at me.

I grinned. “I know. Even so, we’re celebrating this momentous occasion, starting with a gift for you.”

She nibbled on her lower lip as her eyes wandered to my groin. “I know exactly how I’d like to celebrate. And exactly what gift I’d like, for that matter.”

My crotch tightened. I wanted to please her in the way she wanted, but there would be time for that.

I ran a hand through my hair before handing the sleek, black box to her. “I wish that, in the last twenty years, I’d gotten more eloquent or romantic or whatever the hell, but the truth is I’m still the same goofy kid who fell in love with the girl next door. I could wax poetic for hours, talking about how the color of your hair reminds me of the brightest sun or how your eyes are so freaking blue, it’s like I see the ocean in them every single day. I don’t write poems or love letters or sing beautiful songs.”

She laughed, and I was pretty sure we were both remembering the Valentine’s Day where karaoke had gone wrong.

“I love you, Sierra. Plain and simple. I love you, I love our family, and I love the life we have together. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve loved. And we’ve done all of it the most important way—together. Just as we’ll do everything else.”

She struggled to blink away tears. Using my thumb to wipe one away, I smiled down at her then handed her the gift I’d brought.

“I love you, baby. Open it,” I prompted.

She did as I’d asked, and I held my breath. Her eyes widened when she saw the contents inside. We stood there in silence, nothing but the waves crashing behind me to fill the air as she studied it. Lying against a satin sheet was a white-gold necklace with a custom-made pendant of a moon with a star. The moon held Ava’s birthstone, while the star contained the one for the baby we’d lost.