Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“I can be pretty charming when I want to be.”
He winked at her, and she groaned. “You’re a bulldozer,” she said with a light laugh. “But that charm of yours was hiding as much pain as I had inside.”
“You’re the only person who’s figured that out about me.” Another reason they were a perfect fit. But she hadn’t accepted his declaration.
And he wasn’t having it. “So? Where do we stand? Are you going to make me buy a condo and live alone, wishing I hadn’t made all those mistakes? Or are you going to—”
“I love you too, Dare Barron.” She kissed him then, hard, fast, and all too briefly. “When I walked out of my brother’s room, I promised myself if he could find the strength to go forward, then so could I. But I couldn’t let myself believe in us. I thought you helped Brian because that’s what you do. Help people.”
He shook his head. “The only person I want to think or worry about right now is you. I love you, baby, and I will never hurt you that way again.”
She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m going to hold you to that, you know.”
“I should hope so.”
“Know what I want to do now?” she asked.
“Tell me.” He’d give her anything she wanted and more.
Her smile lit up everything inside him.
“I want to drive home, crawl into bed, and sleep for a good long while.”
He chuckled at the simple request. “Sounds good to me. As long as I’m in that bed with you.”
“Come home with me,” she murmured. “Move into my house and forget about looking for a place to live.” She stared at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Only because you asked so nicely…”
She laughed and kissed him, clinging to him for so long, he wondered if they’d ever make it to their cars for the trip back to Serendipity.
Not that he cared. As long as he was with Liza, Dare would be happy anywhere.
Epilogue
Labor Day weekend
The house on the hill provided the setting for the biggest fundraiser Serendipity had ever seen. Faith’s wishes prevailed, and once the town got wind of the fact that the youth center would be the recipient of the money raised, everyone from every class turned out for the event. It helped that the fundraising committee insisted on lowering the price for attending since they had saved money up front by not having to rent space for the event.
God, Ethan adored his wife and her brilliant ideas. And the rest of his family wasn’t too bad either, he thought with not the smallest amount of pride.
The house that just one year ago left him empty and cold was now filled with people. And though he didn’t want to host this event, Faith was beaming—and that made it all worthwhile.
As if he sensed her, Ethan turned to see his wife gliding down the circular stairs. She wore a royal blue Grecian-styled gown held over one shoulder with a silver clip. The cut of the gown draped over her softly rounded belly, not hiding yet not showing off her pregnancy. Just a little over three months, they’d told family a few days ago, and no one else.
Tonight they’d decided to make it public.
He was going to be a father. Who the hell would have thought it? Certainly not the Ethan who’d hightailed it out of town on his motorcycle a little over ten years ago. And definitely not the Ethan from last year when he’d returned.
Damn, he was grateful.
Faith strode up to him and slipped her hand inside his. “Have I said thank you?”
He looked into her beautiful blue eyes. “For this?” He swept his hand around, indicating the party.
Her lips quirked into a smile. “Well, okay, yes, this. But for everything else, too. You make my life complete.”
He grinned. “I feel exactly the same way about you, princess.” Before he could kiss her the way he wanted to, a teenage voice interrupted them.
“Don’t even think about it,” Tess muttered. “You’re in public.”
Ethan glanced at his sister, taking in her purple dress. He wondered if she’d change her favorite color anytime soon. This particular purple was jewel-toned, she’d informed him haughtily. Apparently, Tess had begun reading fashion magazines. Who’d have thought the punk kid dumped on his doorstep had it in her?
“You look gorgeous,” he told her.
She beamed at him. “Thanks.” She glanced at Faith and crooked her finger.
Faith bent closer, and Tess whispered something in her ear.
“Not yet.” Faith’s eyes sparkled as they talked in conspiratorial whispers.
“I’m going to keep a lookout,” Tess declared.
“He won’t know what hit him.” Faith nodded in certainty.
“You can say that again.” Tess ducked away but not before adding a parting shot. “You two behave. PDA is not appropriate.”
Faith tipped her head back and her delicious laugh rippled through him. But he hadn’t forgotten Tess’s earlier side of their conversation.