Page 103 of Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice

I could only nod again, as my brain cheered and applauded his speech, while my heart swooned and melted into a puddle of goo.

He took a couple of steps forward, closing the gap between us. “So… if you’ve opened the envelope, and you’re here, does this mean you’ve forgiven me?”

I folded my arms and pretended to consider him. “Not yet. I’ll have to think about it.”

His mouth slowly curved into a smile. “Yeah?”

“Maybe Iwillforgive you. Just as long asyoudon’t lord this… sacrifice over my head for the rest of our lives.”

“I believe the correct term is a ‘grand romantic gesture.’ Like what the guy does at the end of a rom-com movie to win the girl back.” A twinkle lit up his eyes. “So? How did I do?”

“Well, let’s see. Grand romantic gesture, check. Big speech, check.” I gave him an approving nod. “I think as far as grand gestures go, this was pretty epic. Nine out of ten.”

He took my hands in his. “Onlynine? I was expecting a full ten. I don’t get any points for the customized cookies?”

“Maybe, if you’d baked them yourself. But you bought them.”

“Trust me, if I’d baked them myself, you wouldn’t want to eat them.”

“And might I add,from my bakery. I should take points off for that.”

His smile grew bigger. “It’s the thought that counts, Ellie. And the idea was all mine.”

I finally broke into a grin. “Fine, I’ll give you nine and a half. Happy now?”

“Not yet.” He pulled me closer. “Just in case the message wasn’t clear enough from those extremely thoughtful cookies, Ellie Pang, I’m in love with you.”

My heart felt like it was about to break free from behind my rib cage and bust into a happy dance. “Really? I must have missed that message.”

“Probably since the very first day we met.” He brushed a light kiss on my lips. “And as corny as this might sound, I won’t be happy until you tell me that you love me, too.”

“I’ll tell you, if you promise never to leave again.”

“Done. I’m not going anywhere,” he said, the smile in his eyes warming my entire universe. “I love you, Hello Kitty. You’re stuck with me. Forever, whether you like it or not.”

“I think I’ll take the risk,” I said, my grin splitting my face. “I love you too, Sir Grouchiness. You’re not so bad. I think I’ll keep you.”

As his lips found mine, I knew that this life I’d chosen, here in Port Benedict, running my dream business and being with him, had all been the right decision.

And I certainly didn’t need any pros and cons lists to tell me that.

Epilogue

Funny how different life could be in just under a year.

Less than twelve months ago, I’d been trying to get my bakery off the ground, flailing and failing in confidence, life, and love. And now, here I was, a month away from opening the doors of my second bakery and still together with Sir Alec McGrumpyface.

I’d moved back into his house, and we were getting ready to usher in the new year with a small, low-key gathering at home. His family had come over for a visit, so his mother was there, and his sisters and their partners, plus an auntie, an uncle, and two cousins. After too many years of enduring my parents’ over-the-top new year’s celebration, the intimate get-together had been a lovely change. Instead of gowns and stilettos, I was in jeans and flats, and I had spent the night getting to know his family better, instead of making polite small talk with my parents’ business partners.

At ten to midnight, I’d settled on a comfortable Adirondack in the quiet, dimly lit backyard next to him, waiting for the fireworks to begin. One by one, everyone disappeared into the house, and a string of fairy lights suddenly lit up the garden.

Then Alec turned to me with a nervous grin.

“Ellie,” he began, “how long have we known each other?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I feel like this is a trick question, because I know you know that we’ve known each other for almost twenty years.”

“That’s correct.” He flashed me a more relaxed smile. “Do you know, though, which of those twenty years is my favorite so far?”

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