No. This wasn’t happening. I didn’t want this. I had told him I didn’t want this. I started shaking my head as tears stung my eyes. I didn’t want all this sweetness to become part of a bad memory.
“I need you to look at that receipt, baby. Please,” Mase said as he stared up at me.
My stomach was in knots. My throat burned, and my eyes were blurry. Had he not listened to me? I didn’t want to force him to do anything. I blinked and tried to focus on the receipt. Once again, the date was circled in red. Just like the one he’d given me a copy of. It was the same receipt. However, the item wasn’t blacked out on this one, only the price.
Pear-cut pink morganite ring with rose-gold band.
I reread the words and even said them under my breath as I let the information sink in. It was a ring he had bought three weeks ago.
“It was perfect for you. It just wasn’t your size,” he whispered.
I lifted my gaze to meet his and saw that he was now holding a ring in his right hand.
“I had to get it sized to fit your finger,” he said softly.
“Oh,” was all I could manage to choke out past the lump in my throat.
“Reese Ellis, you came into my life and lit it up. Everything that was dull became shiny. You changed me. You made my life complete. So please, give me all I want in this life and say you’ll be my wife.”
My cheeks were wet by the time he finished talking. All I knew was that this was right. This was it. This was the way it was supposed to be. And I’d never love another man the way I loved this one. “Yes,” I managed to say past the sobs that broke free.
Mase slid the ring onto my finger and stood up to claim my mouth with his.
This was the best fairy tale of them all.
Epilogue
Mase
Reese hadn’t been insistent that we get married before the baby was born, but I wanted her last name to be Colt Manning before we brought a child into this world. We would be a family. The kind she and I hadn’t started out in life with.
Today Harlow had come to Dallas to shop for a wedding gown with my mother and Reese. Tomorrow Reese, Harlow, and I were going to L.A. to tell Kiro about the wedding and the baby. He wasn’t drinking himself to death, but Emily was getting worse, and Harlow was worried about him. I didn’t want her to visit him without me, and I needed to tell him about Reese and me. It just wasn’t something I planned on doing over the phone.
I wasn’t sure he’d even care about the baby or the wedding, but he was my father. He should at least be told. I did the best I could with him for Harlow’s sake.
Dad pulled up in front of the stables and held out my mail, like he did most days when he drove out to check our mail-boxes. “Got a few things today,” he called out.
I headed up the hill to his truck to get them from him. “Thanks,” I said, taking the small stack of envelopes.
“You’re welcome. It’s been quiet around here with Major in Rosemary Beach and Aida gone. I’ve got more time on my hands without having to listen to your momma telling me about the drama they’ve stirred up.”
Chuckling, I went through the mail in my hands. “Yeah, Major kept things interesting. How’s Uncle Chap doing with him working in the restaurant business?”
Dad shook his head. “Not proud of him, but I told him at least he’s got a job. Don’t think Chap’s ever gonna get over the fact that his son slept with his wife. Don’t know what he expected, marrying a woman four years older than his son.”
I had to agree with him. “It’s got to be hard being Chap’s son, though.” I never envied Major his father. Chapman Colt was a hard-ass to deal with. He was never my favorite uncle.
Dad grunted. “Probably so. Well, I got shit to do. I’ll see you later. I reckon we’re on our own for dinner, with the women out shopping.”
Smiling, I nodded. “We’ll make do.”
He pulled away, and I went back to going through my mail. One envelope caught my eye, and I placed the other ones in my jacket pocket so I could open it. The simple white envelope had no return address. It was postmarked from Chicago and addressed to me.
I opened it and pulled out a thick set of folded papers. Something else fluttered to the ground. I opened the papers first, and my eyes immediately saw the words Trust Fund at the top. Just under it was Reese’s full name.
I scanned the papers to see that Reese had a trust fund worth ten million dollars, which she was entitled to the year she turned twenty-one. Confused, I continued reading, and Benedetto DeCarlo’s name appeared. He’d done this. He had known where her mother was at one time, because he’d set up this trust fund. I wasn’t sure how to tell Reese about this. Was this Benedetto’s way of asking me for help in telling her?
I bent down to pick up the paper that had fallen out of the envelope. The small, square note looked familiar. I’d seen it before.
Turning it over, I saw that it simply said For My Little Girl.
Acknowledgments
First of all, I want to thank the Atria team. The brilliant Jhanteigh Kupihea. I couldn’t ask for a better editor. She is always positive and working to make my books the best they can be. Thank you, Jhanteigh, for being awesome. Ariele Fredman for being not only brilliant with your ideas but listening to mine. Judith Curr for giving me and my books a chance. And everyone else at Atria that had a hand in getting this book to production. I love you all.
My agent, Jane Dystel. She is always there to help in any situation. I’m thankful that I have her on my side in this new and ever-changing world of publishing. Lauren Abramo, who handles my foreign rights. I couldn’t begin to think of conquering that world without her.
The friends who listen to me and understand me the way no one else in my life can: Colleen Hoover and Jamie McGuire. You two have been with me from the beginning. Knowing I can call you both at any time when I need advice or just an ear is priceless.
My beta readers, Natasha Tomic and Autumn Hull. You both are brilliant and know exactly where to point out what is missing. Thank you so much for keeping up with my hectic schedule. Beta reading for someone who is always writing a book isn’t an easy job.
Last but certainly not least: My family. Without their support I wouldn’t be here. My husband, Keith, makes sure I have my coffee and the kids are all taken care of when I need to lock myself away and meet a deadline. My three kids are so understanding, although once I walk out of that writing cave they expect my full attention, and they get it. My parents, who have supported me all along. Even when I decided to write steamier stuff. My friends, who don’t hate me because I can’t spend time with them for weeks at a time because my writing is taking over. They are my ultimate support group, and I love them dearly.
My readers. I never expected to have so many of you. Thank you for reading my books. For loving them and telling others about them. Without you I wouldn’t be here. It’s that simple.
About the Author
Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, Existence, and Rosemary Beach series. A devoted book lover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.