Page 17 of Dare to Love

“Dinner tonight? My place? I’ll cook. I can tell you all about my plans too.” Lilian uttered.

“It’s a date,” I replied, smiling at how right those words felt. “But I’m intrigued by these plans, sweetheart.” My pulse quickened as she looked at me, her gaze lingering just long enough to make my breath hitch. I saw her eyes drop—just for a second—to the open collar of my shirt beneath the tailored jacket. She was holding something back; I could feel it. I knew if she told me now, I’d be all in, right beside her as she chased down her next big idea—after all Lilian was ambitious. An unstoppable force with whatever plan she had next up her sleeve. I leaned in close, my lips brushing the edge of her ear as I murmured tickling the hairs on end, “But I know how to tease it out of you tonight.” Her shiver told me I’d hit my mark.

As I left the shop, nodding politely to Miri and Evander, I couldn’t help but feel that something fundamental had shifted in my world. The morning light seemed brighter, the breeze off the bay sweeter, even the familiar sounds of Starlight Bay waking up felt somehow new.

For the first time in years—maybe ever—I was looking forward to the future with genuine excitement. Not the calculated anticipation of closing a case or winning an argument, but the wild, wonderful uncertainty of building something withsomeone who made me want to be better, braver, more open. I had no idea where this road would lead but as I walked with a skip in my step toward my office, I knew with absolute certainty that I wanted to travel it with Lilian by my side.

They’d be no more dares, no more games, just the beautiful, terrifying reality of two people living their lives to the fullest.

Epilogue

LILIAN

Six Months Later

Six months later,the sun was setting over the town and Reid and I were standing outside the shop with our fingers intertwined. The winds were beginning to cool, but there was a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the weather.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Reid’s voice pulled me from my reverie. “The grand results have just been announced from all the entrants who participated in National Dare Day—” he raised his brow as a shudder went through my body.

“That doesn’t matter anymore.” I whispered to him as I leaned into his side, resting my head against his shoulder. The first few weeks after Reid and I had slipped that we had been dating through a dare and told Paisley how we felt things had been strained. It was only once people understood that we’d actually not meant to hurt anyone in the process and deep down we’d fallen madly in love in the process that apologies startedcoming our way. The only people who had really stuck by our side at the time were Miri and Evander. Paisley just needed to get her head around what had happened and the fact everything had gone a step too far. Once Aiden had spoken to her and explained I think she finally understood what had upset not only us but others too. “I’d just been thinking about how much our lives have changed in six months.”

“Paisley and of course you—won, babe. We gave everyone an amazing performance.” He chuckled back. “The marketing package with Sleek Strategies and Heidi Lowerstoft is yours to share. I wonder how you’ll use it. I mean you’ve already come so far in a short time.”

“I think I’m going to tell Paisley to go with her heart and finally start her dream.” I admitted to him, holding his hand tightly. “I’ve been so lucky with all the backing and support I’ve had. It’s time that Paisley has the same opportunities to leave the school and open a shop for her eccentric shoe line she’d been making from her home.”

“I think that sounds perfect.” Reid gently placed a kiss against my lips. “A chance to give a little back to her.”

I mean I’d somehow managed to make the chocolate festival I’d dreamed of a reality, too with the thanks of Reid’s help navigating the permits and Paisley’s marketing genius, we’d transformed the pier into a chocolate lover’s paradise. Local vendors, wine pairings and my special demonstrations had drawn tourists from all along the coast.

“Remember when you couldn’t stand me?” Reid teased, squeezing my hand as I laughed, the sound carrying on the evening breeze.

“I never couldn’t stand you. I just thought you were…” I paused knowing I was never going to finish that sentence.

“Stuffy? Uptight? A corporate shill destroying the charm of Starlight Bay?” he supplied, his eyes twinkling with humor as I shook my head.

“Not getting an answer from me Mr. Belgrave,” I stated. “But I will admit I was wrong.” The thing that was behind that perfectly pressed suit was a man with depth and warmth I never could have imagined. A man who took care and listened to me. A man who carved me a wooden box to hold something so precious to me and someone who’d stood by me through everything these past months—even when my mother had a health scare that sent me spiraling into old fears.

“Lilian Raeflower,” he continued, “we may have started as a dare. A silly game that somehow turned into the most real thing I’ve ever known. These past six months have shown me what it means to truly share my life with someone, to be vulnerable, to love without holding back.” I watched as he sank down to one knee, still holding my hand, and my heart felt like it might burst from my chest. “I know I have done this before but this time I’m doing it for just us. The two of us. Will you marry me? Not for show, not for Starlight Bay, but for us?”

A tear slipped down my cheek as I nodded, unable to find my voice for a moment. “Yes,” I finally managed as I watched him pull out of the box a ring, I never thought I’d see again. “Reid!”

“Shall we say your mother gave it to me? She kept your grandmother’s all these years for the right person. She knew Jason wasn’t it.” Reid uttered as I took in a deep breath. “It had a few stones missing around the edge,” he said pointing to them. “I took the other ring and had it adjusted so it’s within this too. A memory shall we say and the remaining part of the stone was cut into a necklace—for you to keep.” His face broke into a smile that rivaled the sunset as he placed it onto my finger as the tears dropped onto my cheeks. I gave him a second to stand before I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him witheverything I had—all the love, all the dreams, all the future I could see stretching out before us. “You deserve it all and more, Lilian.”

“I love you, Reid.” I whispered to him as I glanced at the man in my arms.

“I love you too, Lilian.” He replied back, sealing his words with a gentle kiss to the lips. “So,” Reid said, drawing me back to the present, “a spring wedding by the lighthouse?”

“How did you know that’s what I’d want?” I replied, smiling up at him.

“Because I know you,” he replied simply. “Your love of this town, your connection to the sea and because that best friend of yours might have dropped a few hints.”

“Of course she did.” I laughed out loud. “It wouldn’t be Pais without saying something.”

We locked up the shop and stepped back outside. Night had fallen fully now, the stars bright over Starlight Bay. The town that had always been my home felt even more precious now, knowing I would build a future here with Reid by my side. My chocolate shop would continue to grow. Reid would continue to practice law, though he’d begun to focus more on community development and preservation, finding a balance between progress and tradition than divorce proceedings. The salty breeze off the water carried whispers of possibility as we walked hand in hand down Main Street, my grandmother’s ring catching the moonlight with each step. And as the stars continued to twinkle above us, I knew that this was just the beginning of our story. The guy who was meant to be.

Bonus Scene:

Reid

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