Page 105 of Dashing for Love

I shift so we’re facing each other, still on our knees, the bed covers strewn around us. “Say it again.”

His eyes sparkle. “I love you. With all that I am, and all that I ever will be, I love you.”

My heart bursts.

Chapter 39

Epilogue

“ARE YOU SURE?” Agatha looks at the key, then shifts a worried glance between me and Goldie.

Goldie laughs. “Agatha, I’m sure. Besides, isn’t it time for anotherluckyresident to move in and find the love of their life? I hear Darcy’s getting tired of living above the hardware store.”

“Well, Iamtwo for two.” She sniffs.

I bite my lip. She is no such thing, but we’ll never tell her.

“And we’re just as happy as Willa and Reid,” Goldie assures her.

“But you’ve only been dating for…” She trails off, then furrows her brow. “How longhaveyou two been dating?”

I pull Goldie to me and kiss her temple. “Five months.”

“Six, if you count when we first connected on the app,” Goldie corrects.

“Whatever you say.” Winking, I jerk my thumb over my shoulder. “I’m going to grab more boxes.”

“Spoken like a man who’s learned all the right lessons.” Agatha is as satisfied as a cat in the sun.

Goldie giggles and begins moving backward. “We’ll be out of your hair in just a few more minutes. I’ve already cleaned it top to bottom—and I hand-washed the doilies.”

“I’ll leave it empty just in case you change your mind!” Agatha calls. “At least for a month!”

In the kitchen, I pull Goldie to me for one last kiss in the cottage that’s been her home for the past year. “You hand-washed her doilies?” I ask incredulously.

“OfcourseI did. Those things are legendary.”

“They’re something, all right.”

“Come on, cowboy. Let’s get these last boxes loaded.”

We meet Willa and Reid for Mexican later that night to celebrate Goldie moving in with me. I can’t help but remember the last time all of us were here. I’d turned thirty and was the loneliest I’d ever been. But now? I’ve made some major headway, including calling my parents and inviting them for a visit. I don’t know that they’ll ever think I’m exciting, exactly, but given that we haven’t seen each other in a couple years, them coming home for a visit is a good start.

I shift in my seat, patting my pocket to make sure the box is still there. Reid, ever the observer, raises an eyebrow as he takes a sip of beer. I shake my head slightly, not quite ready to do it, but also notnotquite ready.

Basically, I am a nervous mess and can’t handle anything right now.

Also, I donotplan on proposing to the love of my life in Los Amigos, no matter that it’s our favorite restaurant in town.

Carmen comes over with a round of tequila. We pass it around, and Willa starts the toast.

“To family.”

Goldie is next. “To new beginnings.”

“To love,” I offer.

“To my future wife,” Reid finishes.

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