Page 59 of Lakesides and Longing

“No.”

“Do you love her?”

He shook his head. “I don’t. I thought I did, and then I met you. I love you more than life itself.”

She nodded. “Okay, then. I believe you.”

“You believe me?” That seemed easier than it should’ve been, but he wasn’t going to turn it down.

“Yes.”

“So can I kiss you now?” He closed the distance between them, wanting to believe that she meant it and that their fight was over.

“Yeah, you can.”

He grinned and brought his lips to hers. She wound her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. After a good long kiss, one in which he debated bringing her back up to his room, he pulled away.

“I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” He didn’t want to cause her pain like that ever again.

She shrugged and her face turned serious. “I’m glad you didn’t sleep with her and that you love me. I’ve missed you.”

“You too. I don’t ever want to be away from you again.”

“Me neither. You’re stuck with me now, because even though I managed to drive all the way over here, I like it better when you drive.”

He grinned. “Okay. Under one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“Marry me.”

She glared at him. “I thought we’d been over this. I’m not answering until there is a ring and big to-do.”

“A big to-do, huh?”

“Yes.”

He grinned. “Just remember that you asked for it.”

He kissed her again, his mind already planning the best proposal ever.

EPILOGUE

Grayson stood on the beach with David and Seth, surrounded by ten dogs.

“You know,” Seth said, “we got handed the short end of the stick.”

“Because we’re the only single guys left?” Grayson asked.

David crouched down and scratched Tria behind her ears. “Nah, we got the best job. All we have to do is let the dogs go.”

“Speak for yourself,” Grayson grumbled. He’d been tasked with holding the balloons, which wasn’t easy because of the wind.

Dani, Grayson’s best friend in the whole world, jogged up to them. “It’s almost time.” She held up the bag in her hand, her eyes glittering.

“We should probably get the rings attached,” David said.

Grayson glanced down at the ring on Dani’s finger. The one that wasn’t from him, and his chest tightened.

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