Chapter Twenty

Leanne drummed her fingers on the table, tempted to jump up and search for wherever Isaac had disappeared to. She’d heard a couple of bangs, and a crash, but when she’d slid back her chair, he’d called out, “I’m fine, stay right there!”

She had begrudgingly stayed, but was worried that all of this had something to do with his sock drawer. If Isaac came out with handmade sock puppets, she was calling the doctor. Leanne imagined hastily drawn eyes and a mouth, drawn with black permanent marker, and Isaac talking through them, instead of for himself. Maybe she shouldn’t have told him everything that had happened with Frederick. The doctor had warned that trying to fill in too many missing details and asking things like ‘Do you remember’ would only cause frustration for Isaac.

Maybe she’d broken him.

But then Isaac returned. He rolled in, seemingly in better control of the wheelchair, and there were no sock puppets. No socks at all, actually, or drawers. That was a good sign, but left her wondering what had been so important that he’d needed to take off like that, and why he’d insisted that she not come along.

Rather than returning to the spot where Leanne had parked his chair before, he wheeled himself around the table and stopped next to her.

Isaac seemed happy—full of light. It radiated from him in a way that she hadn’t seen in a long time. Definitely before she’d left for L.A. This Isaac was the one she’d fallen in love with. She smiled, grateful that he had returned to her. She wondered what had caused the shift. Her fear of him pulling out the sock puppets returned.

“Leanne Warner,” he started. “We’ve been through a lot. Both since you returned, and before. But I want you to know that, I love you. And I want to move forward with our lives. Together.”

Okay, no sock puppets.

Leanne grinned so wide, her cheeks felt like they wouldn’t be able to contain it. A deep love for the man who sat in front of her, enveloped every one of her senses, and she had no idea how she was going to convey what she felt. So, she instead stood up. Isaac’s gaze questioned what she was doing, and she slowly lowered herself onto his lap, careful to not bump his casts.

“I love you too. You took care of me when I fell on the playground all those years ago, and now it’s my turn to take care of you.” And then she kissed him like the world was ending. His arms pulled her into him as their lips frantically danced together. Maybe the world would still be standing when they finally finished, but their world wouldn’t be the same. Leanne could feel it—this was the start of something new.

Isaac’s hand slid up the back of Leanne’s shirt, but then he stopped. He pulled away, breathless. “Wait, that wasn’t all that I wanted to say. There’s more.”

She grinned against his lips. “All right.” Normally he wasn’t so chatty when they were making out.

To her surprise, he gently shifted her so there was more room between them. He held her gaze. “I know that you’ve given up a lot. To stay here, with me. Your dream of becoming a famous screenwriter—you could have had that.”

Leanne placed her hands on both sides of his face, willing him to believe her when she said, “Yes, I did want that. But I want you, and this life, more. I hated living in L.A. and the type of people I had to deal with, and I have no interest in being a screenwriter. Not anymore.”

“That’s too bad,” a man’s voice said, interrupting their moment.

Leanne practically shot off Isaac’s lap. Standing in the doorway to the dining room was…”Eli Hunt?” Her gaze jumped from Eli to Isaac and back again. “I’m sorry, we weren’t expecting any new arrivals today.” She smoothed her shirt, still crinkled from her and Isaac’s kissing session.

Eli Hunt gave an easy laugh and waved a hand through the air. “Freddy said he’d tried calling to give you some forewarning, but it seems your phone is out of order.”

Oops.

“Well, Eli Hunt, what can I do for you?”

“Please, it’s just Eli.”

In her mind she gave an excited fan girl squeal. She was on a first name basis with Eli Hunt. Or, just Eli, as it were. Leanne tried to appear as collected as possible. “What brings you to Starlight Ridge?”

Eli’s gaze scanned the bed and breakfast, and it settled on the window. There was an unhampered view of the ocean from there. “You had told me that the only thing I was missing at home was the ocean. You spoke so fondly of your small town, I wanted to see it for myself.”

“Really?”

Frederick had freaked out because she’d supposedly been rude to the actor, burned bridges and all that. Guess that was another thing she could tell Frederick he’d been wrong about.

“I came straight here from the airport, but from what I’ve seen so far, you were absolutely right,” Eli said and Leanne’s attention returned to him. “Which is why we’re going to film your movie, right here in Starlight Ridge.”

She glanced back at Isaac, wondering if this was actually happening. But he seemed to be stunned into silence, a look of bewilderment etched into his features.

“When you say, film my movie…” Leanne trailed off, not knowing how to finish that sentence.

“Your script, the one Frederick gave me to look over,” Eli said. “It only makes sense that your story that takes place in a small coastal town, should be filmed right where the inspiration came from.”

“So, you’re the producer that Frederick said was interested in the script?”

Eli grinned and raised his arms. “Guilty as charged. I know we were doing the whole cloak and dagger thing with revealing my identity, but with my ex-wife getting the house, half my earnings, and going after more, we thought it better if she didn’t learn of any of my current business dealings.”

Leanne’s mind reeled, trying to catch up. “I just saw you a few weeks ago, and you were… married.” As soon as she said it, she realized she shouldn’t have.

Eli’s lips dipped into a frown. “Not exactly the happily-ever-after scenario, is it.” He brightened back up. “But, the good news is that, now that I’m homeless, I have more freedom in where I go. And I’m looking forward to staying here in Starlight Ridge.” He held up a finger and walked back over to the doorway where he picked up a small briefcase. “My lawyers have drawn up the contract. All you have to do is sign.” He pulled out a large stack of papers and handed it to Leanne.

“It’s…heavy.”

“As a man who has been screwed over by many a contract, I suggest you read through it thoroughly. I’m in no rush, as I need to visit with Heaven knows how many people to get the permits I need, not to mention scout around for the best filming locations.” He paused. “Actually, would you mind introducing me around? It might be a little less awkward—“

“Excuse me,” Isaac said loudly, seemingly having finally found his voice. He rolled the wheelchair forward until he stopped between Leanne and Eli. “This is all exciting, and Leanne deserves every bit of this, but can it wait a few minutes? I was in the middle of proposing to my girlfriend.”

Leanne’s lips parted in surprise. “You were…proposing?”

Isaac snort laughed. “I was trying to.” He leaned back in the wheelchair and shoved a hand into his pocket. It took some finagling, but he managed to pull something out. A rolled-up sock.

“Dude, you have to work on your romance skills,” Eli interjected. “Have you read Leanne’s screenplay? You should have totally done what her character, Benjamin, did. See, he was with his girlfriend at this play—“

Isaac narrowed his eyes and glared at Eli. “I know you’re famous and all, but you’re kind of ruining the moment here. Besides, Benjamin was completely lame.” He glanced at Leanne. “No offense.” His attention returned to Eli. “But he proposed on the stage, in the middle of a production. Do you realize how long those actors had been rehearsing, and then to ruin it for the audience just so he could have his own moment—“ He paused when he saw the look of dismay that must have been written all over Leanne’s face.

Because, Isaac had never read a single thing she’d ever written. At least, she had thought he hadn’t. “You know Benjamin and Katrina’s story?” she asked, her voice soft.

Isaac raised a shoulder, looking embarrassed now. “I read things. Sometimes. And you really should change the password on your computer, considering every screenplay you’ve ever written is on there. You’ve used the same password since you were fifteen.”

“HollywoodOrBust,” they both said together. It was followed by a small laugh and Leanne knelt in front of the wheelchair, facing Isaac. She only had eyes for him in that moment. The man who knew her better than anyone else, and also loved her better than anyone else.

“Aren’t I the one who should be kneeling?” he asked.

She cocked an eyebrow. “Go ahead.”

Isaac’s gaze dropped to the casts he wore on both legs. “Never mind. You can be the one who kneels.” He stuffed his arm down the opening of the long sock and produced a ring.

Leanne’s breath caught. This was happening. After all these years, after all they’d been through, she still got to marry her best friend.

“Leanne Warner,” Isaac said, his gaze seeming to soak her in. “Will you marry—“

Before he could finish the question Leanne had already leaped onto his lap and kissed him. “Yes,” she said. “Of course, yes.”

Isaac laughed, but it also held an underlying tone of pain.

“Oh gosh, that’s not a good way to start things,” she said, leaping back off. “I remembered to steer clear of the casts, but forgot about the ribs.”

“Get back up here,” he said. “Discomfort, I can handle. Not kissing my fiancée, well, that’s just too cruel.”

Leanne smiled and, gently, settled herself back on his lap. As their lips met, she vaguely heard Eli say something like, “I’ll…go get checked into a room. Maybe see the sights. Or…yeah…Congratulations, by the way.”

And then it was just her, Isaac, and his arms holding her tight.

Ones, that she hoped never let go.