Page 123 of Raging Inferno

“Your beautiful property . . .”

“It’s just a house. Without you, it will never be a home.”

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Presley had been prepared to quit the job she loved for the man and child she adored. Hearing that he planned on resigning wasn’t something she’d contemplated. She knew Gia didn’t like Serenity Shores, but she thought Dominic was too ensconced in the community to leave.

Despite all that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, hope soared. “What if you came to Bloomington, and I showed you around?”

His smile was slow and sure, and she fell in love with him all over again. She had a feeling that would happen every time his beautiful mouth curved at her.

“I thought you would never ask.”

He kissed her, and she whimpered when he ended it.

“I want to do this right.”

He dropped to a knee, and her heart stopped all together.

“I know it’s too soon, and we can wait as long as you want, but I love you, Presley Parrish. You would make me the happiest man on the planet if you would do me the honor of being my wife.”

Her jaw dropped when he opened a black velvet box. “Dominic . . .”

“It was my mother’s ring. Don’t worry, I never offered it to Lainey.”

His ex-wife hadn’t crossed her mind. It was the size of the diamond. It had to be worth a fortune.

Tears filled her eyes. “Yes.”

Dominic exhaled in a rush and slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. That had to be significant, didn’t it?

Then he was kissing her again.

“Uh-hum.”

Presley smiled at Kayne’s interruption and Dominic’s response to it. He acted as if he didn’t hear; he kept gliding his lips over hers.

“Look, that can’t be good for a person who recently suffered a pneumothorax. Air is important.”

Dominic chuckled and pulled back. His thumb rubbed over her lips.

“I assume you’re feeling better, Presley,” Kayne drawled. “Judging by that satisfied—what the hell is that on your finger? The iceberg that crashed the Titanic?”

She wiggled it as much as possible with needles in her arm.

“I’m just a lowly Cajun boy. What does that mean? Are you moving to Minnesota?”

“Actually, Gia and I are going to visit Indiana to see if it’s a fit.”

“Oh, it will be. I do not doubt that. Congratulations, both of you!Laissez les bons temps rouler.”

Let the good times roll, indeed.

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Epilogue

Presley bent down to place fresh pink roses on Gwen’s grave and sat in the grass before her headstone. “We finally know what happened that night, Gwen. I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve to die like that, with your friends setting the fire and leaving you to burn.”

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