by Bella Andre
Everyone laughed at that and gave Shelley a round of applause. She made her way through the crowd, accepting hugs and kind words, and when she finally joined Reese, Taryn, and the Rockwells, Reese could tell that she was overwhelmed with emotion. Which was exactly the way Reese felt at the moment. She was standing with the man of her dreams, among lifelong and new friends.
"I can't believe it's open," Shelley said. "Three months ago I was living and working in Maryland, and now..."
"Now you're engaged to the best guy around," Quinn said as he pulled her against him. "And you have a terrific new cafe and a cute cottage overlooking the bay."
"You pretty much live in paradise," Taryn agreed.
"But I'll debate the best guy around part," Reese teased as she snuggled closer to Trent. "I think that title belongs to my man."
"What am I?" Ethan said on a laugh. "Chopped liver?"
"If that's what chopped liver looks like," Taryn said in a very flirtatious tone, "serve it up."
"You have a boyfriend," Shelley reminded her.
"Yes, and he's a really great guy." Taryn waved a hand in the air. "I was just making an observation."
"Things on the island always seem to happen fast." Derek ran a hand through his hair. "Look at Trent and Reese. They didn't talk for ten years, and now suddenly they're an item again. My head is still spinning. I just hope that this time it lasts."
Trent froze next to Reese. And when she looked up at him, his eyes were serious, as if he was ready to give Derek a piece of his mind.
Derek clearly must have seen the same thing in his brother's eyes, because he said, "I'm sorry, guys. I didn't mean anything by that. I'm so glad you two are together. I meant it as a joke. Honestly, I didn't mean to upset either of you."
"You didn't upset me," Reese said. What was she doing, trying to hold herself back from Trent at all? She'd been giving her body wholly to the man she loved but still trying to protect her heart, when it so clearly didn't need protecting. Not from this man. Not from the one person who had proven that he'd move heaven and earth to be with her after all these years. "In fact, I'm glad you said that, because I want Trent--and everyone he loves--to know exactly how I feel about him."
She took Trent's hand in hers, and then she dropped to one knee. All the love she'd held in for ten years came tumbling out. "Trent, there's no denying our love. We are a whirlwind, and I'm not ashamed of it. Our love is more real than anything I've ever known--inescapable and unbreakable." She was only vaguely aware of the awws coming from the crowd that had gathered around them. "When I'm with you, I'm the happiest girl in the world, and for the first time since I returned to the island, I know I'm exactly where I am supposed to be--where I want to be. Right here by your side--forever. Marry me, Trent. I promise to make you the happiest man in the world. I'll love you, cherish you, and most of all, communicate with you until you're sick of hearing my voice. Be mine, Trent. Father my children and love me forever, because I have never stopped loving you."
Trent dropped to his knees with a wide smile on his lips. "Reese, you are my love, my life, and my inspiration to be a better man. And I have never, ever stopped loving you either. I would be honored to be your husband."
"Oh my God!" Sierra squealed as Reese fell into Trent's arms and he sealed his lips over hers.
"I love you, Dandelion," Trent said against her lips. "And I always will. Forever."
He kissed her again, and as they rose to their feet, Sierra barreled in between them and hugged Reese. "You proposed! You're getting married! We're going to be sisters again! Now I'll have two sisters!" She pulled Trent into the hug. "I'm so happy!"
Trent laughed as he lifted his sister off her feet. "I am, too."
"That's the most romantic thing I've ever seen!" Taryn hugged Reese. Then she hugged Shelley. "I just want to hug everyone."
Abby and Griffin moved in for hugs and congratulations next. "I am so pleased for you both," Abby said as she hugged Trent, then folded Reese into her arms as well. "I can't say welcome back to the family, because you've always been right here in our hearts. We love you, sweetie."
Reese barely held tears of joy at bay. "I love you, too."
Griffin embraced Trent and then hugged Reese. "Congratulations. We're so happy for you both."
Reese turned, surprised to see her mother patting her eyes with a tissue. She hadn't seen her parents arrive. They both embraced her in a group hug.
"Oh, honey! I'm so happy," her mother said through fresh tears. "You two belong together."
"Congratulations, Reese," her father said.
She drew back and kissed them both on the cheek in time to see Trent leaning down to hug Chandler and Chandler's arms wrapping around his grandson. Tears streamed from her eyes at the look of love on Chandler's face as he said, "I wish Caro had been here to see this."
"Me too," Trent said as he pressed a hand to Reese's lower back.
Reese wanted to rush in and hug Chandler, too, but she also wanted to respect his personal boundaries. So when he lifted his arms and motioned for her to come forward, she felt her heart crack wide open. He held her close and patted her back. "Welcome back to the Rockwell family, Reese."
"Thank you, Mr. Rockwell," she managed.
After hugging Derek, Ethan, and about half of the Rockwell Island community, Trent took Reese by the hand and guided her over to the brook. Water trickled down the rocks, and the sweet scent of Shelley's coffees filled the air around them. She gazed up at the man she would soon marry as he touched his forehead to hers.
"This time all of our Cape Cod promises are going to last forever."
And as they kissed, she knew that forever was just the beginning...
*
Four weeks later...
SO MANY PEOPLE showed up for the unveiling of Reese's mural that they spilled over from the grass into the parking lot and beyond. They had arranged for a drape to be hung over the mural and rigged it so that when Reese cut the red ribbon running across the front, the drape would fall, revealing the mural.
Reese and Trent stood at the front of the crowd, both elated as they gazed into each other's eyes. Trent had taken Reese's old engagement ring and had it reset, and now, as he lifted her hand to his lips, the diamonds glistened against the October sun. Trent stepped up to the microphone. "Thank you all for coming out today to celebrate the reveal of the Rockwell Resort mural, which was painted by none other than my beautiful fiancee, Reese Nicholson." He glanced at Reese with love and adoration as the crowd began to clap.
That was when Reese cut the ribbon and unveiled the final piece of her mural--at the top of the mural she had painted the beautifully scripted words Cape Cod Promises.
--The End--
*
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More about Bella and Melissa
BELLA ANDRE
Bella Andre is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of "The Sullivans" and "The Morrisons" series.
Having sold more than 4 million books, Bella Andre's novels have been #1 bestsellers around the world and have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists 23 times. She has been the #1 Ranked Author at Amazon (on a top 10 list that included Nora Roberts, J. K. Rowling, James Patterson, and Steven King), and Publishers Weekly named Oak Press (the publishing company she created to publish her own books) the Fastest-Growing Independent Publisher in the US. Known for "sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance" (Publishers Weekly), her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine "Red Hot Reads" twice and have been translated into ten languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post called her "One of the top writers in America" and she has been featured by
NPR, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and TIME Magazine. Bella also writes the New York Times bestselling "Four Weddings and a Fiasco" series as Lucy Kevin.
MELISSA FOSTER
Melissa Foster is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Love in Bloom series which includes the "Snow Sisters," "The Bradens," "The Remingtons," and the "Seaside Summers" series.
Melissa writes sexy and heartwarming, award-winning contemporary romance novels with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today'sbook blog, Hagerstown magazine, The Patriot, and Mensa Bulletin. Melissa is the founder of the World Literary Cafe and Fostering Success. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, and award-winning historical fiction novel Have No Shame, as well as several other award-winning suspense and women's fiction titles. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.
