Page 74 of The Deal Maker

“Duke?”

“Yeah, Maggie?”

“You’re a level ten in my book.”

I grin and say, “I thought that was only for the special ice cream choosers.”

“It’s all subjective. The fact that you tried so many kinds and you put up with my weird quirks, makes you completely deserving of a ten.”

This woman is incredible. She isn’t scared that I don’t have a set plan to my life. In fact, she accepts me for it. I’ve never been as confident in the future as I am right now.

“Where should we take our first trip?” Maggie says with a smile. “Maybe drive up the coast a bit?”

“With you, Maggie Dean, every day will be a break from the mundane.” I lift our clasped hands and kiss the back of hers. I didn’t think the pieces of my life would ever line up like this, but I can’t help but grin. The two of us have made a few deals in the past several weeks, but this one is the best of all.

EPILOGUE

MAGGIE

We’re driving back from the airport. Jason just got in from being deployed and we were there to welcome him back. It’s good that they’re together again, because Hope’s countdown to seeing him again was getting a bit extreme.

While she was bummed that I had to leave the reception early, she totally understood the circumstances and was even more excited when I told her that Duke and I were dating. And of course, she takes credit for it. Her surgery went well and she’s been able to recover over the last several weeks. I hope her body can work with her instead of against her in the coming years.

Duke started Champ’s Paw Spa, a doggy self-wash station next door to The Candy Jar, and it’s one of the best things that’s happened to him. He’s running his own business, with the help of his accountant girlfriend (me!), and he looks like he’s finally found his purpose in life.

We’ve taken a bunch of day and weekend trips to places close to us, and Duke isn’t as restless as he was when we first started working next door to each other. The next big trip is something we’ve been saving for, but Duke isn’t itching to get away like he once was. Willow Cove is special like that, and I’m grateful every day for the past that happened to get me here.

My mother is still trying to get me to come back to Virginia, but I can’t imagine my life anywhere else.

The people in Willow Cove are some of the best I’ve ever met. I just needed to give them a chance. Just like I needed to give Duke an opportunity to prove me wrong.

And I needed a chance to show myself that my past doesn’t define me.

“Where are you going?” I ask, as Duke turns off the main road and onto a sandy path toward the ocean.

“It’s such a nice night. We should watch the sunset.”

I study his face, trying to figure out what’s going on. He looks nervous about something, but I’m not sure what.

“I thought we were going to follow Hope and Jason to celebrate at Francesca’s.”

He nods. “We will. Let’s just enjoy the moment.” He turns off the engine and then unbuckles his seatbelt and opens the door. I do the same, but slower and still confused. Is he looking over the beach for Champ? No, we’d left him at Duke’s in the kennel for a bit.

“I was thinking we should play a game when we get back to the house.”

I turn to look at him, confused. “Are we talking a video game? A card game?”

“I don’t really know the rules for this one, but I think I might know someone who does.”

He pulls out a deck of cards and turns them over to reveal my Queen of Hearts cards.

“How did you get these?” I ask, taking them from him. It’s been so long since I’ve seen these, but there’s that feeling of nostalgia that creeps up because of it.

“I might’ve convinced your mom to send them to me. I might not be her favorite yet, but I’m working on it.”

I’m trying to put together whatever pieces he’s trying to give me right now. Maybe because he’s been helping Troy with the card shop when he has time is why he’s so interested in the game?

It isn’t until I shuffle through the cards and find a newer card at the bottom that I freeze.

---