Marrying Daisy Bellamy by Susan Wiggs

lot.”
    â€œThen they must be totally in love with you. I’ve seen you eat, Julian. It’s…epic.”
    He set the bag in a skiff that was moored to the dock. Then he took her hand and helped her in.
    â€œI assume you have permission to use the boat.”
    â€œMa’am, I’m an officer in the United States Air Force. Stealing is no longer an option.”
    â€œYou planned this.”
    â€œYeah. Didn’t want to leave anything to chance today.”
    There was a feeling she always had around him, something she’d never found with any other person. It was a sense of complete and utter joy, mingled with freedom. There were many people she loved in her life, but no one she loved like this. A part of her wanted to explain it to him, to share that, but not now. One day, maybe.
    The trouble with her and Julian was that “one day” for them was hard to pin down. Impossible, really. That was the conversation they needed to have. She didn’t want to say it and spoil this perfect day.
    She shook off the thought and settled in the bow of the boat, facing backward. She didn’t know where they were headed. Didn’t really care. Bracing her arms behind her, she tipped back her head and shut her eyes to enjoy the soft warmth of the sun on her face.
    â€œI feel like Cleopatra.”
    â€œYeah? That worries me. Romance didn’t really work out for her,” Julian pointed out.
    â€œDid you say romance? Is that what you’re doing—romancing me?” Daisy sat up straight and watched him row. She was mesmerized by the powerful build of his shoulders, the easy extension of his muscles, reaching back and forth as he propelled the boat through the water.
    â€œI’d like to think we’ve evolved since the days of Cleopatra. And I’d definitely like to think I don’t have her quirks.”
    â€œQuirks?”
    â€œOkay, her personality flaws.”
    â€œYou don’t have any flaws, Daisy.”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œExcept maybe bad timing.”
    She fell silent. Here was an opening, then. “Um, about that. My timing. Our timing. Julian, I meant what I said earlier. I love you. I always have, but I’m scared.”
    â€œOf what?”
    â€œScared we’ll never get a chance to be together.”
    His rhythmic strokes didn’t falter. “Never is a long time.”
    â€œJust trying to be realistic.”
    â€œWere you being realistic when you said you loved me?”
    â€œI was being completely honest. I can’t help myself. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re going far away—”
    â€œThat’s temporary.”
    â€œHow temporary?”
    â€œI can’t say.”
    â€œI can. When you’re done in Colombia, they’ll send you someplace else.”
    â€œActive duty doesn’t have to mean continual deployment. Air force families move from posting to posting. The system works. It just takes some planning.”
    â€œThat’s easy to say, but I have to think about Charlie.” She hugged her knees to her chest. “My little boy is my whole world.”
    â€œI understand that. I know how hard it’s been for you, raising him alone.”
    â€œDo you?”
    â€œMy friend Sayers once told me air force training is a tea party compared to being a single mom. She was raised by a single mom.”
    â€œIt’s hard, but…in a different way.” She wondered if the direction of the conversation had ruined this magical day. Julian was clearly in a romantic mood, and bringing up the topic of her son by another man might put a damper on things. But they should be able to talk about Charlie and not feel like the entire day was ruined.
    â€œCharlie’s great,” said Julian. “I’m in love with the kid. Always have been.”
    The statement caught her off guard. “You love him?”
    â€œSure. What, you don’t believe