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He pulled back and gently caressed her cheek. “I’ve been the biggest idiot in the world, can you forgive me?”
Lucy kissed him and knew that this was where she belonged; in the arms of this man and girl.
Where she would always belong. That was just a fact.
Chapter 29
The biggest surprise about moving back to South Port was Raine’s helpfulness. At first, Matt hadn’t liked the blond, in-shape, never-wear-a-shirt dude with some sketchy past that he was overcoming, especially since the whole town had fallen in love with him like he was the shiniest new toy. But he’d been won over by the dude. It’d been hard on his ego to see how much Lucy cared for him, but Matt found it hard to hold a grudge when Raine was the one who’d told him to get back in there and fight for her.
But, Raine had hired him to finish re-habbing his beach house and … it’d been a good way to get to know him.
Matt stared out at the ocean, standing next to the Stone Family Inn. It’d been a whirlwind month of moving back to South Port, subletting the rest of his lease in Raleigh, fighting with Charlene, finding the perfect ring for Lucy, and restarting his company back in South Port. In this moment, a sense of peace washed over him.
Raine nudged him. “Your other beach crew people are headed this way, looking determined for some reason, but I just wanted to tell you that I wish you and Lucy the best of everything. She’s so great, and y’all are going to be so happy. I just know it.”
His words touched Matt. Matt put a hand on Raine’s shoulder. “Thanks. And when I’m back from the honeymoon, let’s finish that house of yours, all right?”
Raine’s face lit up. “Hey, it’ll probably be almost finished by the time you get back. Now that I have this pack of crazy Navy SEALs, Night Stalkers, and just very determined types all wanting to help, I think we’ll be close.”
Matt let out a light laugh as he turned and saw the entire group heading toward them. “Yes, they are determined, but all I’m saying is we’ll get it finished when I’m back.”
Raine accepted his olive branch. “I’d like that.”
“Boy, you ready to get dunked?” Marshall asked, as he dramatically leaned in and moved his hands like he was going to lift Matt and toss him over his shoulder.
“Do it!” Hunter agreed, coming to Marshall’s other side.
“Totally!” Trent smacked Matt’s back and hooted.
Trey and Brooks laughed, each flanking Raine. “Good day, dude?” Brooks asked Raine. Each of the beach friends was trying to reach out to Raine. The dude was cool and not possessive, and Matt truly admired him for everything he’d gone through.
Trey gave Raine one of those Navy SEAL Bravo up-and-down looks. “You’re staying in South Port, right?”
“Where else would I go?” Raine asked, grunting out a laugh. “I’ve been converted to the Lord here, and I’m not ready to give up Pastor Henry yet.”
“I’m not ready to give him up, either.” Tim joined them and put an arm around Raine. “He’s sort of like a son to the pastor; that means he’s a brother to me.”
Raine regarded Tim with a look of total amazement. “You have no idea what that means to me.” He reached out, and they did the little handshake that they’d figured out after he’d gotten baptized. Then they both laughed. Matt was happy for Tim, the pastor, and Lily, especially since Tim was sort of inheriting a brother.
Matt convinced Hunter and Trent to not throw him into the ocean by saying, “You guys know if you mess up Lucy’s pretty groom, she will never forgive you.”
“Fine,” Hunter said, putting him down.
Trent laughed. “That’s true. And Iamafraid of Lucy.”
The other men echoed the same sentiment.
Suddenly, all the women rushed toward the men, with Tatum leading the pack and hurrying to Matt. “Dad, Lucy needs a minute, and we wanted to come make sure you guys are ready.”
Matt held his daughter in his arms and closed his eyes for a moment, then kissed her head. “Ready as we’ll ever be.”
And he was. It was so wonderful to have his heart and mind aligned. When he’d left South Port three months ago, he’d been trying to do the right thing, but he hadn’t consulted with God on what that right thing was. He’d been trying to figure it out all alone, and only now did he have that “quiet inner peace” Raine was always talking about.
Part of Raine’s charm was that he was so honest about himself and his past. It was inspiring. Matt liked that about him. He liked how Raine talked about getting to know the Lord. Maybe Matt could crack open the Bible a bit more.
Raine laughed at something Tim said, and then the rest of the women were encircling them, each drawn to her own man. Kensi leaned into Tim and pulled Tatum in for a hug. Ava pecked Trey’s cheek, and Trey grabbed her and reeled her in for a long kiss. Brooks held Serenity tightly and gazed into her eyes. Marshall dramatically bear-hugged Kat, holding her in the air until she cursed at him, and he laughed and then smothered her with a kiss.
Cheryse clung to Hunter’s arm, grinning at all of them, then winking at Matt. “You ready to join the ranks of the married?”
