Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“So sorry about that,” I told everyone. “He has a little too much fun sometimes.”
“No worries,” Doug’s girlfriend, Jane, said. “We need to get going anyway.”
After everyone finally left, Tristan collapsed on one of the lounge chairs and patted his chest, prompting me to sit on top of him. With my back against him, he cradled me in his arms.
“Your Rusty idea was freaking brilliant. It’s only eight PM, and we’ve cleared them all out.”
“Thank you. But Rusty did all the work.”
He rested his chin on my head. “The lights are cool, huh?”
“I’m glad you pushed forward with that task. They turned out really pretty, and I especially like them now that it’s just the two of us.”
“Well, that was my hope. I didn’t do it for everyone else. I did this for us. That’s why I was so adamant about it. For this moment.”
“Hmmm…” I hummed, feeling so relaxed.
He began to massage my head. I bent my neck back and closed my eyes, relishing this feeling of being loved.
“I need you to stand up for a minute,” he said. “I need you to see me.”
We both stood, and I turned to find Tristan reaching into his pocket. My heart raced as he took out a box.
Is he doing what I think he is?
He opened it and inside was…
I tilted my head.
Inside was my scrunchie. The one he’d stolen from me back on the tour.
“I can’t believe you still have that.”
“Are you kidding? It’s my most prized possession. What did you think, I lost it?”
“I hadn’t thought about it, but yeah, I would’ve assumed it was long gone.”
Planning to place it in my hair, I took it out of the box, but stopped when I felt the weight of something dangling from it.
That’s when I noticed it, a massive, rectangular-shaped diamond.
Tristan took it from me before getting down on one knee.
“Emily, when I first met you, I liked you because you didn’t know who I was. But I love you for the opposite reason. You’re the one person who knows exactly who I am, knows every part of me, every vulnerability, every fear. The day I met you was the most important day of my life.” He paused. “And today is the second most important day…if you say yes.” He held the ring out. “Will you marry me?”
Too stunned for words, I simply cried, wrapping myself around him, feeling the way his heart beat against mine. “Yes,” I whispered against his neck. I held my hand out as he placed the heavy rock on my ring finger. I looked down at it. “This is too much.”
Tristan winked. “I had to get that million dollars back to you somehow.”
My mouth dropped. “Oh my God. I would ask if you’re serious, but sadly, I know you are.” I wrapped my arms around him. “I can’t even be mad, because I’m too damn happy right now.”
“Me, too, baby. The only thing that could make this moment better would be knowing we have Jacob’s blessing.”
“You have to believe we do,” I whispered.
Tristan went inside for a bottle of champagne. As he brought it back out, I thought I heard someone at the door.
“Is that the doorbell?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe it’s Atticus?”
We checked the security camera to find a man standing next to a police officer. A cop car was parked behind them.
Tristan immediately headed to the door and opened it. “Can I help you?”
“Hi, sir. You don’t know me—obviously, and I swear, I’m not a crazy fan or anything. My name is Bob Shields. My brother Ed here is a cop in town and let me know where you reside.” The police officer nodded as the man continued. “You always give the police department a heads up when you’re coming to Shady Hills so they can be on alert, and I asked him to let me know the next time you were here. When he told me you were back, I had him come with me, so your security didn’t kick me out.”
“Wise decision.” Tristan nodded. “I don’t actually have security here, although I probably should. But I checked the camera, and you’re right. I wouldn’t have opened if you weren’t with a cop. Anyway, how can I help you?”
“I’ve been holding something I think might belong to you, unless there are two Tristan Daltreys in town, which I doubt.”
He reached into his bag. To my utter shock, he took out Tristan’s weathered, gray bear, Duffy.
Tristan’s jaw dropped as he took the bear. “Where did you get this?”
“My son—he’s ten—found it on the side of the road. I noticed it in his room. Asked him what the hell it was and read the tag that said to return to you if found. I told him we’d better do what it said, that someone out there might be missing this thing, as ugly as it is. No offense.”