EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER

Reva

I can’t believe Ridge let us have Lydia’s birthday party at the trampoline park. But the kids had a blast, and no one broke their arms or legs or noses. I tease him about the overprotectiveness now and then. Sometimes he even laughs about it. Now that the men who targeted Lydia are locked up, he’s a lot more relaxed.

I think it helps that we’re so happy. So much of the conflict between us was just a symptom of trying to resist the chemistry. Our attraction was so consuming that at times it brought out the worst in us both.

After Lydia’s party, while she’s towing a fistful of bright, Mylar unicorn balloons, Ridge insists we take a walk. We stroll a few blocks—the tree-lined, brick sidewalk sort in the pretty neighborhood—and come to a large storefront with a Sold sign in the window.

“If this is where we’re eating dinner, it looks like it’s not open,” I joke.

“I’m still full of cupcakes,” Lydia crows. I laugh.

Ridge takes keys from his pocket and hands them to me, “Would you do the honors?”

“What?”

“These unlock the door. I’m sure you’re familiar with keys.”

“Well, I’m used to having a retinal scan and a twenty-digit code,” I say sarcastically to cover my confusion.

I unlock the old-fashioned wooden door and walk inside. It’s a huge open space with wood floors and high windows. In the back, there is a hallway with some offices and at the end of the hall is a kitchen.

“Why are we here?”

“I thought you’d like to check out the future location of Benny’s Place,” he says, “I bought the building.”

“What?”

I’m dumbfounded. My boyfriend bought a building for my learning center. Sure, I’ve been taking online courses about nonprofit administration and done some research, but I’m nowhere near the point of having the funding or staff to make this work.

“That’s so sweet, but maybe you could rent it out to someone for a while, until I get my business plan done and court some investors.”

Even though I cleared the credit card debt several months ago, it’ll be years before a bank will give me a business loan for something this huge, I think.

“You have investors. Me.”

“Ridge, you can’t do this. It’s so wonderful of you, but a facility like this, like what I had planned, would cost a fortune to set up. I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“I have a couple of people for you to meet,” he says.

Lydia is jumping up and down. I can tell she’s in on the surprise. Ridge sends a text and the back doors open. People stream inside. First is a man Ridge introduces as the contractor who’s going to adapt the structure to accommodate disabled clients. Then come two women, one he’s hired away from a well-known nonprofit that caters to childhood diabetes patients and another who is an expert fundraiser.

“You’ve got your own think tank here, Reva. They can teach you what you need to know and help bring your vision to life. And these people, I think you already know.”

He grins his most devastatingly gorgeous grin and gestures to the three people hanging back in the doorway. I run and hug them.

“Mom, Dad, you knew about this?”

“For weeks,” my dad says proudly, “Benny’s in on it too.”

“I Facetimed with Ridge a lot,” he says, beaming, “I told him it has to be a place with a kitchen so I can teach how to make sandwiches. Plus we can make pizza rolls here.”

I laugh and hug my brother.

“He’s gonna teach me to make pizza rolls!” Lydia chimes in.

“Mrs. Whitman will be thrilled,” Ridge deadpans, and I laugh.

“I can’t believe you’re doing all this for me,” I say, choking back tears.

“Pizza’s here!” a voice at the front door comes, “and don’t think you’re getting your pity toppings this time, Cinderella.” Angela booms. I run and hug her. She puts the pizzas down on a long table.

“You too!” I say.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I mean, I told him to propose on a Jumbotron at a ball game, but he wouldn’t go for it. He’s so convinced his way is better,” she says.

“Wait, what?” I say, stuck on the word ‘propose’.

Ridge catches my hand and pulls me to him.

“I love you, Reva. I want you to be mine forever. Lydia and I talked about it, and we decided you’d rather have Benny’s Place than an engagement ring. Although, I’ll give my daughter credit. She voted for both. The building and the ring.”

Ridge reaches in his pocket, the same pocket the keys were in, and takes out a velvet box.

“He went for the ring. But not for fifteen a week on iTunes,” Lydia puts in, annoyed, making me giggle.

“Reva Sloan,” he says, getting down on one knee in front of my entire family, my best friend, a contractor and two nonprofit executives. I’m crying. I can’t help it. The tears just come. I never thought I could have everything I ever wanted, but here I am.

“Ridge,” I say, wiping tears away, “yes!”

“I haven’t asked you anything yet, woman,” he says in mock irritation, “give a man a chance to speak.”

“Sorry,” I laugh, “go ahead.”

“Will you marry me? I want you to be my wife, be my daughter’s mother, and more than that—I want to make your dreams come true with this therapy center for special needs learners. Because you’ve already made all my dreams come true.”

“Yes!” I say, dropping to my knees with him and kissing him.

He flips open the box to reveal a stunning princess-cut diamond set in platinum. I gasp as he slips it on my finger. Lydia comes over to join us, still hauling her balloons.

“I wanted one shaped like a unicorn but Daddy said no way,” she says with a shrug.

“A unicorn ring would’ve been cool,” I agree, pulling her into my arms and hugging her. My daughter, now and forever.

“I guess this one’s okay,” she says, looking at the ring critically.

“You know, one day Lydia is going to make some man—” I begin.

“Absolutely terrified,” Ridge concludes, “that’s the plan.”

“Can I try it on?” she asks. I slip the ring off and hand it to her.

“Do not lose that,” Ridge warns.

“Can I wear it while I eat?” she asks.

“No,” he tells her, “You’ll drop it and throw it away with the napkin.”

“I won’t use a napkin,” Lydia offers.

I take the ring back and put it on. We all head to the tables and start handing out paper plates for pizza. Everyone’s laughing and talking. The happiness, the joy in this room is contagious. I’ve never been so happy in my life. I stay close to Ridge’s side, tucked under his arm. When the contractor tries to fill a second plate, Ridge snaps at him and I roll my eyes. Same old Ridge. He’s never going to be sweet and patient, or less demanding. But now he’s going to be mine. Now and always.

The End