“I wasn’t leaving,” I say, climbing back in bed. “I just needed to get my shoes and stuff off.”
“Could’ve left this off too.” He flicks the cotton material away from my skin. “Although there’s something inherently sexy about a woman wearing your clothes.”
“Is that right?”
“Yup.”
He takes my hands and pulls me down. Rolling me onto my back, he situates himself over me. Those green eyes I fell in love with years ago shine back at me.
“I hope you aren’t tired,” he says, bringing the shirt I just put on up and over my head. “Because it’s going to be a long night, Miss Kimber.”
I move around so his cock is between my legs. Lifting my hips, he slides through my part.
“Look at you,” I say, holding his head in my hands. “You’re so erect.”
“I’ll show you erect.”
I laugh for a split second before he makes me forget about anything other than him, me, and this night.
Being home.
EPILOGUE
NEELY
The glitter is so hard to get off, though.” I stick the key in the door and swing it open. “After you.”
Mia walks in with her bags from today’s shopping excursion after Manicure Day. “I liked the pink glitter, but Madison got that and I didn’t want to look like I was copying her.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t have cared,” I note. “But I still think the navy blue is super pretty on you.” We pile the bags near the foot of the stairs. “They make your eyes pop.”
“Thanks.” She wraps her arms around my waist for the sixth time today. “Thanks for taking me today, Neely.”
“Are you kidding? I needed a manicure, anyway. And besides, if I hadn’t taken you, I’d have been stuck here all day with your dad.”
“Did I hear my name?” Dane comes around the corner. He has a paintbrush in his hand. “Did you guys have fun today doing all the girlie things?”
“Look at this.” Mia wiggles her fingers in front of her dad. “Pretty, huh? Neely helped me pick the color.”
“I love it.” He looks at me and shrugs. “We love it. Right?”
“Yes, we love it.” I laugh. “I got it too.”
“And our toes are red. Mine is more pinkish,” Mia explains, “but Neely got cherry red.”
Dane turns so Mia can’t see him and grins devilishly. I look away before I can’t.
“Why don’t you take your things up to your room?” I ask Mia. “And put them away. I don’t want to find them thrown over a chair.”
“Really?” she moans.
“I can take them back.”
She looks like she’s going to stomp off and then stops and laughs. “Fine. I’ll put them away. Thanks again, Neely.”
“You’re very welcome.”
She gathers the bags that are hers and heads upstairs. Once she’s gone, I look at Dane. “Did you ever even look at her? Or have you stared at me this entire time?”
“She didn’t notice.”
“You’re impossible.” I sigh. “What did you do today? And why do you have a paintbrush?”
His lips part in a smile. He crooks a finger for me to follow him.
We walk through the living room and into the kitchen. The table is covered with a drop cloth. A can of white paint sits open in the middle, and a long board stretches the length of the table. The words MALONE FARM are printed in old-fashioned letters across it.
“What’s this?” I ask. I run my finger down the freshly sandpapered wood. “You doing some work out there?”
“You could say that.”
“Maybe I could go out there with you one day. I added a class on Tuesday afternoons starting next week at Aerial’s, so that will just leave Monday afternoons clear. But I’d love to spend an afternoon out there, if it works out.”
“I think it’ll work out.” I wait for him to say something else, but he doesn’t. He just looks at the sign.
“Man of few words today,” I mutter. I head to the refrigerator and pull out the lemonade. “Mom and Gary want us to come over for dinner this week. I told them we’d find an evening. This week is going to be crazy with the show so close. I’m kind of starting to lose my mind.”
Dane comes up behind me and pulls me into his chest. “Will you relax, babe?”
“I’m trying.”
“I have something to tell you, and I need you to be calm when I say it.”
“Oh no.” I spin in his arms and search his features for some indication as to what’s happening. “What did you do?”
“It’s nothing big.” He grins. “Okay. It’s big. It’s really big.”
I cock my head to the side. “You always say it’s really big.”
“And do I lie?”
“Well, no.” I laugh. “Just tell me what’s going on.”
He takes my hand and pulls me back to the table. “How would you feel if I told you we’re moving? Or that I want to move?”
I blanch. “Moving? Where? Why?” I shake my head. “I love it here, Dane. You don’t mean out of Dogwood Lane, do you?”
“Hey,” Haley says, coming in through the back door. She takes one look at Dane and me and stops in her tracks. “Oh. You haven’t told her yet, I see.”
“You know?” I ask her.
“I’ll just be outside.” She jabs a thumb over her shoulder. “Come get me when this is over.”
“Dane. What in the heck did you do?”
“Settle down, settle down.” He chuckles, finding more amusement in my reaction than I do. “I thought, you know, maybe we should start fresh.”
“But I love this house,” I whine. “And what about Mia? How will she feel about leaving this place? It’s the only home she’s ever known.”
“I can’t wait!” Mia shouts from upstairs.
“She knows too?” I walk in a circle, covering my face with my hands. “Why do I feel like there’s a big joke being played on me?”
“It’s not, Neely. Promise!” Mia shouts.
I look at Dane and we start laughing at the same time.
“Stop eavesdropping, Mia,” Dane yells.
“I’m excited!”
“So am I, but give me a chance to do the whole thing, okay?”
“Well, hurry up.”
“This is all adorable and all,” I tell him, “but I’m starting to lose patience.”
He takes my hands in his, swinging them back and forth between us. I sense his nervousness, and that makes me nervous because this isn’t like Dane.
“What would you do if I told you I bought Malone’s Farm?” He motions toward the board on the table. “Because I did.”
My jaw falls to the floor as I look at the board. Then up to him. “I think I misheard you. I thought you said you bought Malone’s Farm.”
“Yeah. I did.” He gulps. “I got a good deal on it. The house isn’t in that bad of shape, actually, and I thought it could be our house, you know?”
Tears well up in the corners of my eyes as I propel myself into him, almost knocking him off his feet. “Are you serious?” I ask, looking up at his face for any sign of a joke.
He doesn’t flinch. “I’m serious. I bought it. We bought it.”
“No way.” I let out a little screech as I clap my hands. “I can’t believe you bought it. Dane! This is amazing.”
He still looks nervous. “I’m glad you think so.”
“Can we go see it? Today?” I ask, trying not to squeal again. “Oh my gosh. I don’t know what to say. I love this.”
“Say yes.”
“Yes. Of course. I love the idea of moving out there. I’m in shock, I think,” I say with a laugh, walking in a circle. “But it’s a gorgeous piece of property, and oh my God.”
When I turn back around, Dane is down on one knee. A streak of white paint down the side of his face, his hair a mess from being under the new Dodgers hat I bought him last week, he couldn’t be more perfect.
In his hand is a little blac
k box with a ring in it.
“I wanted to do this somewhere more private, but Mia had definite issues about that. And if I’m guessing, Haley is probably spying through the window right now too.” He shrugs. “But it’s all because we love you, Neely. But nobody more than me.”
Tears don’t even warn me this time. They just fire away down my cheeks and drop onto my shirt. I can’t move. I can’t see the ring or kiss his face or even say yes again because my legs promise me they’ll let me fall if I try.
“Did she say yes?” Mia shouts.
“The house is my engagement gift to you. I got you a ring, too, because that’s what people do. Maybe because I’m a carpenter, I think a house means more. It’s a place we can build our future together. Home is where your loved ones are, and I want a place where we can live together and love each other forever.”
“Did she say yes yet?” Mia shouts.
“Will you give me a second?” he fires back.
“If you wouldn’t have made me hide upstairs, I wouldn’t be yelling.”
My laughter comes out in the middle of sniffles and sobs. He places the ring on my finger, and I can’t even see it. But what I can see, what I know, I don’t need eyes for. I can feel it in my heart.
“Yes,” I say, tugging him to his feet. “I would be honored to marry you, Dane Madden.”
He kisses me through my snot and all, laughing as he wipes both of our faces after.
“She said yes, Mia,” he says, but his words are hung up on a lump in his throat.
Mia squeals as she tumbles down the stairs and launches herself at us. We stand in the kitchen, next to the Malone’s sign, and celebrate the first day of the rest of our lives.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’d like to thank a few special people who helped make this book happen.
First and foremost, I’d like to thank God for His blessings and the ability to do what I love.
I’d also like to express my appreciation to my family for their patience, love, and support. Saul, Alexander, Aristotle, Achilles, and Ajax—you are the reason I get up every morning. I’m so lucky to call you mine.
I’ve been blessed to have the world’s best parents, Mandy and Dennis, and in-laws, Rob and Peggy, and Tom and Violet. I love you all so very much.
I wouldn’t be able to create the worlds I love without the help of Kari March, Tiffany Remy, Carleen Riffle, and Kim Cermak.
Thanks to Becca Mysoor for her guidance and to Dana Sulonen for answering all my questions with such enthusiasm and patience.
Sending all the love to Mandi Beck for believing in me and all my wild ideas, and to S.L. Scott for believing in second chances, both in books and in real life.
Jen Costa and Susan Rayner have been with me since book one. Thank you for always being in my corner.
Ebbie Moresco, Kaitie Reister, and Stephanie Gibson manage my various reader groups and deserve all the accolades for keeping everything running smoothly.
Hugs to Keyarah and Madison for inspiring such joy and spirit.
Sincere gratitude to the bloggers who continue to show excitement for my stories.
And to my readers: Thank you for choosing to pick up my books. I appreciate and acknowledge you. XO.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys dreamed up by other authors, she decided to create her own. She is the author of Tumble, the first novel in her Dogwood Lane series; the Exception series; the Gibson Brothers series; and the Landry Family series.
She resides in the Midwest with her husband, her sons, two dogs, two cats, and a bird. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice, and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket. Besides cinnamon gummy bears, boxing, and random quotes, her next favorite thing is chatting with readers. She’d love to hear from you! Look for her at www.adrianalocke.com.
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