Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
But I’d also been by Rory’s side as she’d built and opened her own business, Nathan’s Legacy. She’d turned the land the Hale family had given her into a retreat built around dogs. There was a beautiful, shaded, fenced-in dog park where dogs romped and played, and dog-lovers met and bonded. She’d had a doggy daycare built and also offered training and dog walking services. She was already overbooked and while she’d hired five employees initially, she was currently looking to hire two more.
We certainly had our hands full. Only…it didn’t even really feel that way because all of it brought joy and purpose and a satisfaction I’d never even knew existed. And Rory, she brought more passion and love to my life than I’d ever dreamed of. I woke every morning wondering how in the world I’d managed to begin living a life that so thoroughly and perfectly filled my mind, heart and soul.
And I knew that it was all because of her.
Samantha, one of the servers, breezed through the door just as I set the final dessert for table twelve on the counter and began placing them on her tray. “Ready?” she asked as she stuck a candle in the slice of raspberry cheesecake.
I blew out a breath, running my hands down my hips as I came from around the counter. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
She winked as she picked up the tray. “Deep breath. You’ve got this.”
I gave her a smile as she turned and hoisted the tray onto her shoulder. The thing was? I wasn’t nervous. I was excited and my heart beat with anticipation of baring my heart in a room full of people. But the surety I felt inside soothed my nerves and propelled me forward, through the swinging doors and out into the main dining room.
“Gage,” Mrs. Ramsbottom greeted as I moved past their table. “Dinner was absolutely splendid. I haven’t had such incredible coq au vin since we dined in the south of France. Yours might beat it, truth be told. Everything was perfect.”
I shook her hand. “Thank you, Mrs. Ramsbottom.” I greeted Mr. Ramsbottom and then moved on to another table, stopped by one after the other, my gaze wandering briefly toward Rory who sat watching me with a small smile on her lips, her eyes filled with pride.
I moved between tables, over the black and white tiles and past a marble pillar, the chandeliers and crystal wall sconces bouncing light around the room and highlighting the molding that had been revitalized. It had been important to me that we preserve as much of the original building as possible, from the formal main dining room to the more casual rooftop seating where Haven had helped me plant a rooftop garden near the back where I sourced all my herbs and several other items.
The conversation Rory and I had once had about stories whispered back to me and my heart filled the way it always did to know that more stories were being told in this space…celebrations that marked life’s sweetest occasions…
Finally, I headed toward the table near the vault where the Hales were gathered, including Haven’s brother, Easton. Rory laughed at something Haven said, Bree joining in. Those three. They always had their heads together, laughter ringing out, as close as sisters who’d always known each other, sharing secrets, giving advice, and handing babies back and forth. And one day soon—very soon, I hoped—ours would be one of them.
Samantha set the last of the desserts at their table and then lit the candle on Bree’s cake. Rory stood and laced her fingers with mine as she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, the soft brush of her lips even on that small patch of skin, causing a flare of heat to ignite in my belly. Travis Hale started signing Happy Birthday, the rest of the family joining in, Archer beaming at his wife as she turned toward him, her hand running over his cheek as she kissed him and whispered something against his lips that only he could hear before turning and blowing out the candle. Applause erupted, not only from their table, but from the fellow diners as well. I caught Bree’s eye and she gave me a wink as Rory turned to see her uncles come through the door, followed by my parents. She let out a small sound of surprise and they all stopped, obviously barely holding back smiles as their eyes turned toward me.
And then I went down on one knee.
A collective gasp was heard and several sighs as I reached in the pocket of my chef’s coat and removed the ring.
Rory followed their gazes, bringing her hands over her mouth as she too let out a muffled cry that I could hear was mostly joy. My heart slowed, eyes meeting hers, everything and everyone fading so that it was only us.