Page 9 of Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls)

“I’m so fucking proud of you,” I said, as I wrapped her up in a hug.

“Thanks, King.” She pulled back and smiled up at me. The deepest blue eyes that resembled my favorite place on the lake where the water was this bright turquoise blue when the sun shined down on it. Those eyes always took me to a peaceful place. “I’m so glad you’re helping me with this.”

“Yeah, me, too. Now let’s get this beast of a counter finished.”

“Okay. I need to go put these flowers in some water, and I’ll be right back to help.” She grabbed her bouquet off the table, along with her single dandelion, and made her way next door to Magnolia Beans.

I got back to work, because making her dreams come true was just as good as making my own dreams come true.

Maybe even better.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. I’d jumped into my truck to head home for a quick shower before I met the guys for a bite at Whiskey Falls. Once I pulled up in my driveway, I made my way to the front door. Spring was in full bloom, and I welcomed the warm weather. When I walked toward the front door, I chuckled when I saw something taped there. It was a dandelion at the end stages of its life, and what Saylor called a fluffball because the golden petals were gone, and it was all white. I peeled it off the door along with the little note that read:Thanks for helping to make my dreams come true. Now it’s your turn to make a wish.Xo S.

I stared down at it for a moment, but I didn’t have a wish, per se.

Life was good. I was happy.

Happy enough, at least.

I’d use my wishes for the people that I loved. I’d always wished for River to be happy, and for the first time in our lives, I felt like my brother was genuinely happy.

That made me happy.

And seeing Saylor get what she always wanted.

That made me happy.

Romeo winning his fight and his girl.

That made me happy.

Beefcake was giving baseball a shot, and our little man was the happiest kid I’d ever met.

That made me fucking happy.

Nash and Hayes were happy enough, so my crew was good, and that was enough for me. My grandmother was in a nice place over at Magnolia Haven, and I couldn’t ask for more.

But I squeezed my eyes closed and made a wish, just like I always did.

Let the people I love the most have everything their hearts desire.

It’s what I always wished for.

I blew hard and watched as the white fluffballs moved around me. I sent Saylor a quick text and a screenshot of the petal-less stem.

Done.

Dandelion

You better not be doing that same ole wish. Wish for something for YOU.

You getting your bookstore is as good a wish as any. Happy for you, Dandelion.

It’s what I’d always called her in private, when no one was around. In the dark, when I’d held her in my arms, when we were just teenagers. None of the guys knew about it, or they would have given me shit. They would have thought something was going on between us, but it wasn’t like that.

Dandelion

I want you to find a wish of your own.

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