I glance around the backyard filled with our family and friends. “I wish I could say I did, but it was a town effort. They love you, and I can’t blame them.” I place a soft kiss on her lips right before everyone approaches, giving Ren hugs and asking if she was surprised.

With my hand in her back pocket, keeping her as close as possible, I watch as she beams with joy, hugs every single person, thanking them for coming, and jokes around with my brothers, throwing in her jabs whenever she gets a chance.

Fuck, I couldn’t love this woman any more.

After a good ten minutes of people greeting her and Ren taking in the strung lights, the wood benches surrounding a firepit, and the copious amounts of food my parents prepared, she finally makes her way to the gigantic box that’s been sitting in the grass, off to the right, waiting to be opened.

When she examines the wrapping, she quirks an eyebrow at me. “Are those little moose all over that box?”

“Did you not take in the theme?” I motion to the party. “Moose napkins, moose antlers, moose hats.”

She blinks a few times and chuckles. “I was so consumed by thanking people and scoping out the food that I didn’t even notice. Did you throw me a moose-themed birthday party?”

“I thought it was only fitting.” I kiss the side of her head. “Now open your present.”

She eyes the huge box, defeat already in her eyes. “How do you expect me to unwrap this monster?”

I lean down and hold up two giant ribbons attached to the box. “Just pull on these.”

Skeptically, she gives me a once-over. “What are you hiding under here, Griffin Knightly? Another house?”

“Just open it and find out.”

Everyone surrounds us as Ren pulls on the thick ribbons, yanking with all her might to reveal her birthday present.

The sides of the box collapse, and she gasps as she takes in what’s been hiding all this time.

“My car!” She runs up to it and starts taking it all in. “Oh my gosh, my car is finally done.”

“Sorry about the wait.” Brig steps in. “Griff wanted to surprise you, so we spent a little bit longer with it. But we polished her up nice, put in a new airbag and radiator. She’s a well-oiled machine, ready to take on another moose.”

“This is wonderful, thank you.” Ren throws her arms around Brig’s neck and gives him a giant hug. He smiles wickedly at me as he squeezes her tight.

I don’t take too long in breaking them up. “All right, all right. It was my idea after all. If it were up to Brig, your car would still be in the shop.”

“Lies,” he spouts off. “We have impeccable service at the shop. Sorry that I was playing matchmaker trying to get you two together.”

I roll my eyes and link my hand with Ren’s, bringing her closer to the car, where she can get a better look.

“It’s perfect. Thank you so much, Griffin. This must have cost a fortune.”

“Not when my brother is the owner.” I wink. It was a lot, but she’s worth it. “Did you catch the license plate?”

“No.” She smiles and then goes to the hood of the car, where she reads the license plate out loud. “Moose Me.” She chuckles and shakes her head. “Please, I don’t want any moose to ‘moose’ me anytime soon.”

I pull her in close, the scent of her perfume like a beautiful summer day. “Don’t worry, babe. If a moose went suicidal on you again, I would save you, your bloody-head, bra-wearing self.”

She cups my cheek. “I think that’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.” She presses her lips against mine, and I show no shame in slipping my tongue into her mouth in front of everyone.

And neither does she.

Because if we’re going to show up in the headlines again, might as well make it a good one.

PORT SNOW’S IT COUPLE TONGUES EACH OTHER AT PARTY.

Hell, I would read that story.

“Having a good time?” I whisper into Ren’s ear. We’re sitting by the backyard firepit as the party dies down. Ren’s back is to my chest, and I have my arms wrapped around her, holding her close. Once the sun set, a chill fell over the party, reminding us of the fall season.

She nods. “An amazing time. Thank you so much for putting this together. Did your dad really make that chocolate-black-cherry cake from scratch?”

“He did. It’s his go-to for birthdays.”

“It was incredibly good. He should think about selling that at the Landing.”

I shush her quickly before my dad—who’s sitting about ten feet away—can hear her. “Watch it,” I warn her. “He’s been wanting to sell cakes for a while, but it’s just one more thing to add to the list.”

“I bet they would sell.”

“Ren.”

“What?” She giggles and shifts to the left, giving me a beautiful view of her face lit up by the campfire. “You don’t want me telling him I think his cakes could be a hit?”

“Not if you want to sleep in the same bed as me.”

Her mouth drops open. “You wouldn’t.”

I slowly nod. “Yes, I would, and I wouldn’t feel bad about it.”

“You’re a gutsy man, Knightly, to even think about taking away bedroom privileges.”

“Oh, I would make you sleep on that couch so fast.”

“You would not.” She tickles my side.

I capture her hands in mine and quickly lower my mouth to hers. Just like ice cream on a hot day, she melts into my hold, opening her mouth ever so slightly to tease me with her tongue. I groan and pull back, glancing around the diminishing party. “Maybe we call it a night, and I give you your other birthday gift.” I wiggle my eyebrows, which she quickly stops with her hand to my forehead.

“Don’t be lame, Griffin.”

“That’s lame?”

“It’s a lame line; you know you can do better than that.”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to.” I lean down and nuzzle her neck. “What do you say? Call it a night with me?”

She scans the backyard and shakes her head. “There are too many people here still; it would be obvious why we’re calling it a night.”

“Ah, come on. Where’s your adventurous spirit? We did have sex for the first time on the beach for anyone to see.”

“Griffin.” She hushes me. “We’re trying to tamp down that rumor.”

I chuckle in her ear. “Still can’t believe someone saw us.”

“We’re not talking about it.” She leans back against me and rests her head on my shoulder. “Do you know what I want to talk about?”

“What’s that?” I kiss the side of her head.

“Who that girl is over there with the red hair and killer legs.”

I know exactly who she’s talking about; I don’t need to look up to confirm. Only a week ago, she came crashing into Port Snow, flipping one person’s life upside down.

“Harper Sanders.”

“Do you know her?”

I nod. “Yup, she grew up here. I heard she had a bad breakup and decided to move back. Her dad is the lighthouse keeper, so she’s helping him take care of the three we have here in town.”

“Is she nice?”

“She was back in high school.” I watch Harper talk quietly with Rylee out by the trees. “I’m not sure now. She hasn’t spoken to our family at all, but I don’t blame her.”

“Why?” Ren holds my hands as she studies Harper.

“Because she was supposed to marry Rogan.”

Stunned, Ren turns around and faces me. “What do you mean?”

“High school sweethearts like me and Claire, engaged in college, and then after Rogan’s accident, everything went sour. Rogan was unbearable, a ruthless asshole, and he took it out on her. He broke up their engagement and dropped out of college. He moved back to Port Snow and built his life here, without her.”

“That’s . . . so sad. Is that why he left the party early?”

“Yup. He can’t be around her.”

“Is it that bad?”

I nod. “Yeah, and it doesn’t help that he’s still in love with her.”