Singled Out

Epilogue

I’d been fighting all evening to keep my hands to myself—and my nervousness about later under wraps—as Harper shined her gorgeous heart out.

She looked like a million bucks and then some in a short teal dress with spaghetti straps and a lace-up open back that had my fingers itching to untie it. She wore her gorgeous dark hair down with alluring waves cascading over her sexy shoulders. Around her neck was a piece she’d made with a stone that matched her dress. She wore multiple bracelets and rings as well. Even as I stood off to the side, I couldn’t help but track her every move with my eyes, counting down the minutes till we were alone.

I and dozens of other people were celebrating the grand opening of Earthly Charm with the three women who undoubtedly would make it a raging success and a fixture on the square for years to come.

I wholeheartedly believed that. I never would’ve invested half the startup costs if I didn’t. Yes, I was crazy in love with one of them and the brother of another, but I’d gone into this financing deal with a mind to business.

The other half of their costs had shockingly come from Ian Finley, Naomi’s billionaire brother, as it turned out. The guy apparently wasn’t the aggressive bastard he’d presented himself as that fateful first night Harper and I had gone out.

The town had shown up for the evening open house in droves. For the past two-plus hours, the shop had been full of people filtering in and out, checking out the merchandise, congratulating the girls, and spending their money liberally.

Harper’s dad was perched near the checkout counter like a proud peacock. My mom and brother had left a few minutes ago, taking Danny with them for a sleepover.

Harper, Dakota, and Cambria’s friends had shown up in force, as had my dad buddies, some of them with their kids. I couldn’t count the number of my students and players, past and present, who’d greeted me, then gone on to check out the goods.

All of it made me so fucking proud of the woman I loved that I could barely contain it.

“You still haven’t wiped that obnoxious grin off your face,” Ben said.

The two of us stood close to the door to the back room, Ben holding his six-year-old daughter, Ruby, who’d tired of the crystals her older sister, Evelyn, was obsessed with. Emerson Estes, single mom of Skyler and Xavier, had assured Ben she’d keep an eye on Evelyn since her kids were enthralled by the rock display as well.

“It’s a good night, with the potential to get even better.” I shared a look with him, as he was one of about five people who knew my secret plans.

“Have you seen any sign of Piper?” he asked.

“She’s still working away.” I glanced around to see if she’d snuck in.

“And Cash?”

“Verified.”

Emerson herded her two kids and Evelyn toward us, her phone pressed to her ear. She was involved in an animated discussion with whoever had called but broke off to say, “I need five minutes,” to Ben.

“I got ’em.” He took her daughter Skyler’s hand.

From what I could gather, Evelyn and Xavier, her son, were involved in a discussion about rose quartz and obsidian. Then my attention was drawn to Emerson, who didn’t move away as she continued her phone conversation.

“Kizzy, that’s crazy talk. No way can you turn it down.” Emerson paused to listen, laughed. “It’s absolutely not a problem. We’ll make it happen. For that kind of money? You can’t say no. Nope, no more arguing.” Another pause. “I don’t know, but we’ll figure something out. Yes, the chickens too. Call him back and tell him yes. The timing isn’t a problem. Nothing’s a problem, my dear.”

I raised a brow at Ben to see if he knew what she was talking about since she wasn’t hiding her end of the conversation. He shrugged.

“You’re welcome. Congratulations, Kizzy,” Emerson said, her face lit up. “Now hang up and call him back. We’ll talk tomorrow. Love you.”

She ended the call and looked at Ben, then me.

“Good news?” Ben asked. They were good friends, I knew. Ben had been close to Emerson’s late husband, Blake, growing up. Some Saturday nights, Emerson watched Ben’s kids during our single-dad get-togethers.

“My mother-in-law got a preemptive offer on the house for significantly over the price she planned to ask.”

“Your house?” Ben asked.

“Our house,” Emerson confirmed. “She owns it. You know that.”

Emerson and her two kids had moved in with Kizzy after Blake’s death. Skyler had been an infant, if I remembered right. Just a few weeks ago, Kizzy had shocked the town with her elopement with an old friend who lived in Vegas.

“But you still live there,” Ben said. “What are you going to do?”

“Find a place to live. ASAP,” she said with a laugh that sounded nervous around the edges. “Somehow. But first, the chickens.”

“I can house the chickens,” Ben said before she could ask.

Emerson let out a breath. “Thanks. You’re the best. One challenge down.”

“How long do you have to find a new place?” I asked.

“Oh, you know, about three weeks.” Her smile disappeared as she scrunched her face and squeezed her eyes shut.

“You’ve got your work cut out for you,” I said.

“There’s no way you’ll find a place that fast,” Ben said. “Not in this town. The market’s tight.”

I nodded, remembering what Harper had said before she’d lucked into her apartment.

“Something will turn up.” Emerson’s voice wasn’t as sure as her words.

“Why don’t you plan to stay with me for a couple of months. That’ll give you a place to land and some time to look,” Ben said.

“I can’t impose like that. Not with these two.” Emerson nodded toward her kids.

Ben grinned. “I hardly think two small humans plus you will make a dent with me, two kids, two llamas, a coop full of chickens, a rooster, three horses, two dogs, and a handful of cats.”

“You, too, can move into the zoo,” I joked.

“These two sometimes smell like a zoo,” Emerson said. “Ben, I can’t do that to you.”

He shrugged. “I’ve got room. You know that. But if you need to be stubborn first and waste a couple of weeks looking for a place while packing an entire house, that’s your right. My offer will be there.”

I watched the back-and-forth, doing my best not to weigh in. It wasn’t my business, but Ben made sense.

Emerson looked at me. “Happen to know of a long-term rental that’ll take a dog and six chickens?”

I laughed. “I don’t. It’s November though. The real estate market is probably deader than its usual dead. Is it the llamas holding you back?”

Instead of laughing at my joke, she frowned, as if the llamas were indeed an issue.

“Do you have a girlfriend you could move in with?” I asked, flipping to help mode. “One without llamas?”

“The llamas stay outside,” Ben said as if we were idiots.

Emerson seemed to be thinking through options while Xavier pulled at her arm to ask if she’d buy him a crystal.

“The holidays are around the corner, your busiest time at the salon,” Ben said. “You have two young children and a four-bedroom house to pack in three weeks. You’re more than competent, Emerson, but you don’t have superpowers.” That seemed to get through to her as she closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and took in a tight breath. “You can stay with us until the end of the year, then find a place without all the pressure.”

Emerson’s eyes were still closed, but she was nodding. “Yes. You’re right.” Her eyes popped open, and she pegged him with an intense look. “Are you sure?”

“Of course,” Ben said, his tone light. “It’s what I do. Usually four-legged creatures, but we can do humans too.”

“Bless you. Thank you. I accept. And now I need to get these two home.” She put her hand on Ben’s arm and squeezed in gratitude, then picked up Skyler, grabbed Xavier’s hand, and rushed off with a “Bye, Max,” over her shoulder.

I was on the verge of cracking a joke about Ben’s tendency to rescue when a look flashed over his face that stopped me. It was gone before I could blink.

“Is there something going on between you two?” I asked quietly.

“What? No. Not at all. I’m just looking after her like Blake would want.”

Before I could comment on that, Harper waltzed up to us, all grins. “You two look like the hired muscle over here.”

I slid my hand around her, to her back, because damn if I could keep myself from touching her bare skin. Harper sidled up against me and kissed me soundly, her happy, joyful energy surging into me. “It’s almost toast time. Then we’re hitting Humble’s afterward,” she announced.

No, we weren’t. But she didn’t know that. “Who’s we?”

“Dakota, Cambria, me, you, whoever else wants to. Ben, you’re welcome.”

He gestured to Ruby, who rested her head on his shoulder, as if to say, no can do, while I scanned for my sister across the crowded room. Dakota was behind the checkout counter, helping a customer, but she caught my gaze and gave me a subtle nod and a wink. She was my coconspirator, so she knew Harper wouldn’t be there.

In the next five minutes, plastic champagne flutes were distributed and filled with bubbly or sparkling juice. Harper headed back to the counter and her business partners, then climbed on a chair so she towered above everyone. Someone in the crowd whistled to get people’s attention.

“Thank you!” the breathtaking love of my life said as the crowd shut up. “Thanks to every one of you for coming out to support us. We appreciate you! This store was Cambria’s baby originally, but she volun-told me to do the talking tonight,” she said to a scattering of laughter.

She might pretend she wasn’t good at speaking, but once again she was winging it, and once again I knew she’d have the crowd in her hands.

“First, I want to make sure everyone knows about that corner over there.” She nodded toward the front corner opposite the door. “That’s our Naomi Finley collection. Everything there was made by my dear friend Naomi before she died. Art was her life, and as you can see, she was gifted beyond compare.” Harper stopped and swallowed hard, took a breath. Dakota squeezed her hand.

“Not only did Naomi’s brother, Ian, help fund our venture,” Harper continued, keeping my name out of it as I’d requested, “but he also donated Naomi’s artwork. Anytime you buy something from Naomi’s corner, all the money will go toward her pet cause, bringing art supplies and instruction to schools. Naomi’s love and giving spirit will live on in that little corner for as long as we have her work to sell.”

The crowd applauded, with most of them craning their necks toward that section of the store as if giving it a closer look.

“It would make my heart happy if you’d drink a toast to dear, talented Naomi. I wouldn’t be up here today if I’d never met her. Cheers, my friend.” Harper raised her glass and her gaze toward heaven, her eyes sparkling with moisture.

The crowd hollered out a collection of “hear, hear” and “cheers.”

“Second, I want to give all of you the biggest, most heartfelt thanks for showing up and supporting our shop. This…” She looked around from above, seeming to really take in the space and the people, then shook her head with a wide smile of disbelief, happiness, and gratitude. “This is beyond my wildest dreams, to be honest. I feel so lucky to be on this adventure with Cambria and Dakota, my partners and friends.” She raised her glass and made eye contact with each of them below her. “So cheers to these two incredible women I get to work with every day, and cheers to every single one of you here tonight.” She lifted her glass again. “I am blessed.”

Again there was a collective “cheers” and “here’s to you, ladies.” Harper climbed down, and the three of them group hugged.

“I’m happy for them,” Ben said after finishing his half glass of bubbly. “I need to get these two princesses home to bed. Best of luck to you.” He gave me a knowing look.

“Thanks. Good night,” I said, my nerves going taut because showtime was nearing. A line had formed at the register, with people ready to cash out and go home. I made my way over to the side of the counter, plotting my next move.

Harper’s dad gave her a tight hug and told her how proud of her he was, said good night to me with an approving wink, and took his leave.

As Dakota rung up the last person in line a few minutes later and Cambria straightened the store, Harper hugged me again.

“Thank you. For everything from convincing me to get more info weeks ago to investing in us.”

I kissed her. “You’re welcome. You’re going to do amazing things. The temperature’s dropped outside, so why don’t we go upstairs and get you something to put over your sexy dress.”

Dakota caught my eye as I said it, telling me she understood the plan.

“I’ll be right back, Dakota,” Harper said, then took my hand and led me away.

I shook my head at my sister as if to say, no, she won’t, grinning on my way out.

Piper had finally showed up at the shop, I noticed as we went to the back room. That was a good sign everything was ready.

As we went up the stairs, my heart raced. I’d been planning for so long, yet I had no idea how Harper would react. It was absolutely possible I was crazy in this.

Fuck, I hoped like hell I wasn’t crazy in this.

At the door, we paused, and Harper unlocked it with one hand, her other still holding mine. She glanced up at me with a pretty, unsuspecting smile.

I held my breath as she pushed the door open. Before I could see inside, she gasped.

“Oh, my God.” She stopped in the doorway, preventing me from seeing Piper’s work. “Max. What the?—”

She looked back at me and noted my grin.

“What did you do, Max?”

“I didn’t do anything. I’ve been downstairs all evening.”

Laughing, she burst into her apartment and spun around, taking in all the details.

There were candles, dozens of LED candles, all of them flickering, casting enough light to see the flower petals, which were everywhere, in every color. No monotone roses for my girl. I’d insisted Piper make sure every color in the rainbow was generously represented in the mix of thousands of petals she and her helpers had scattered throughout the room, leaving a distinct, bare path to the deck door.

“Are we supposed to go out there?” she asked.

“Looks that way,” I said, laughing, loving every ounce of her reaction so far—and we hadn’t even gotten to the good stuff.

Harper led me to the rooftop deck, where there were dozens more candles and petals, the bistro table set for two with multicolored tapers, handmade by Cambria, waiting to be lit, and two covered plates emanating a heavenly, savory aroma. Nearby was an outdoor heater, pumping away.

“Who…” Harper went over to the table and lifted one of the covers. “What…? Max, this is incredible. Did you do all this?”

“Let’s just say I arranged it. Piper was in charge of decorating. Surf and turf dinner is compliments of Cash Henry.”

She covered her mouth with both hands and took in the scene with a look of wonder. When I sidled up next to her, she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. “This is to celebrate?”

“Of course,” I said. “If you can handle more champagne.” I pointed to the bottle chilling in an elegant bucket.

She was about to sit down when I went down to one knee beside her and said, “But first…”

Harper turned to look at me, first glancing up where my head would normally be, then realizing where I was. A heartbeat later, she gasped again, covered her mouth with both hands, and stared down at me, her eyes shining.

I reached deep into my pocket and took out the little velvet box. My hands were shaking. I popped it open to reveal the round-cut diamond with rubies on each side. I took one of her hands in mine and plunged ahead, thankful I’d rehearsed what I wanted to say until I was blue in the face.

“Harper,” I said, peering into those beautiful brown eyes, “you’re my first thought in the morning, my last thought before sleeping, and the reason I’m excited to wake up every day. You and Danny are the family I didn’t dare to hope for. I thought he and I were doing pretty well, getting through the days. Then you came along, and boom! Our black-and-white lives suddenly turned into a vivid rainbow. You bring joy and lightness to me and remind me to take myself less seriously. I love you, Harper Ellison, and I don’t want to live without you.” I swallowed, my heart thundering. “Will you marry me?”

She blinked, and two streams of tears ran down her cheeks. I stopped breathing. She was crying? Were they happy tears? Or was she about to crush me?

Then she nodded and laughed through the tears. “Yes!” She bounced up and down, one hand still over her mouth, her eyes sparkling.

That was all I needed to hear. I stood and wrapped my arms around her, ring box still in my hand, and lifted her off the ground. I’d never felt so overcome with emotions. I funneled all of them—joy, relief, love, devotion, hope—into a kiss, setting her down so I could cradle her head and get serious about it.

I poured all of it into her, and she gave me everything in return. When she broke contact, she lovingly ran her palms over my cheeks as she gazed into my eyes.

“You’re the forever I didn’t know I was ready for. You and Danny are everything to me, Max. I love you to the end of time and then some.” She laughed, sheer elation bubbling out of her. “And that ring! Stop teasing, Max.”

Hell, I’d forgotten to slide the ring on because I was so swept away by this woman that I couldn’t wait to get my lips on hers. I brought the box between us, plucked the ring out of its cushion, took her left hand, and with my hands still shaking, slid it onto her ring finger.

“It’s stunning, Max,” she said in a breathy voice.

“I hope you like it. You needed something with color. If you’d prefer something besides rubies, we can change them.”

“It’s perfect. I love it. I love you. I can’t wait to marry you.”

“We should celebrate,” I said with a glance at the table, “before the food gets cold. We can join your friends afterward if you want.”

She shook her head. “Surf and turf, champagne, then you naked. That’s how I want to celebrate. All night long.”

“I’m yours, Harper. All night long, every night, forever.”

Thanks for reading Singled Out! I hope you loved Max and Harper!