The restaurant at the Fairview Inn was closed for a private function. A private celebration, actually—the first book launch party in the history of the Fairview Inn.

I sipped a glass of champagne as I walked past the guests. It seemed like half the town was here including the mayor and the city council. My parents and Trish here, too, along with some of my old high school friends—the ones that hadn’t left town.

There was quite a crowd around Gus and some of the other subjects of the book. We’d given them all engraved pens, and they were happily signing people’s copies of the book.

Everyone seemed so happy—and not just because of the alcohol. They were happy for us. Everyone admired Xander from his football days and his photography, but they seemed proud of me, too. And they were proud to have Fairview on the map. Our town had been the subject of several major media stories lately due to the release of the book.

Not everything in the book was one hundred percent flattering, but it was honest. And people seemed to respond to that.

“May I have your attention please?”

Xander’s deep baritone traveled across the restaurant as everyone quieted down. He looked amazing in his tight-fitting suit. Tonight, when we got home, I was going to jump his bones. He looked hot as hell, and I wasn’t the only woman in attendance who noticed.

He’d insisted that I get a new dress for the occasion. My evening gown was coral colored and I loved it. If I wasn’t so eager to get naked with Xander, I doubt I’d ever want to take it off.

“Thank you for coming tonight. It sounds trite, but it’s absolutely true—this book wouldn’t exist without so many people sharing their stories with us. Opening their lives to us. I thank you all.”

A round of applause met his words.

“But, of course, this book wouldn’t exist at all without the work of a very talented writer. A writer who’s already had several articles published in national magazines. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the woman we’ve all come here to see… the beautiful Rachel James.”

In general, I didn’t blush much anymore. Not after all the naughty things Xander and I had done to each other over the past year. But I knew my face was flushed tonight, and not just from the champagne.

I’d done it. I’d made my dream come true. I was a published author, and I was starting a career I could be proud of. Tears formed at my lash line even before I took my place beside the man I loved.

I spoke for a few minutes, mostly thanking individuals that had helped me. Then the mayor presented me with a special plaque. Everyone clapped, and I thought the ceremonial part of the evening was done, but then Xander took the floor again.

“I have one more gift to bestow upon our hometown-girl-made-good if everyone can give me your attention for a few minutes longer. Trish?”

Surprised, I watched as my friend made her way to the front of the room. She was holding a large box wrapped in green and white-striped paper. She handed it to Xander and then whispered something in his ear.

Xander held the box out to me. “For you.”

Carefully, I took the box from him, surprised that my arms were trembling. Then I realized that it wasn’t me that was trembling—it was the box. Suddenly, the lid of the box popped up an inch and a familiar black nose appeared. Laughing, I set the box on the ground and lifted Lulu out. I was happy to see her, but I had no idea what she was doing here.

“Those of you who’ve been by the house know that we’ve had some discord in the past year. Some disagreements and few out-and-out turf wars. But the bottom line is that I love Rachel, and so does Lulu. So a few months ago, we agreed to set aside our differences for the woman we both adore.”

He kissed me on the forehead and took Lulu from me. “I’m pleased to announce that both Lulu and I are now graduates of Miss Paula’s Obedience School. You can read more about Mrs. Paula and her canine charm school in chapter twelve of the book.”

Lulu looked perfectly happy in Xander’s arms, and my heart sang. I had no idea he’d been taking Lulu to obedience classes… it must’ve been on Tuesday or Thursday evenings when I taught a history class at the community college. I kissed Xander on the cheek and whispered in his ear. “I always knew you two would get along once you learned to obey her.”

“Just for that, you’re getting spanked when we get home,” he whispered back. Then he raised his voice. “Care for a demonstration?”

The crowd evidently concurred because there were a lot of cheers before things quieted down. Xander set Lulu on the floor. “Sit!” he said. She did, looking up at him expectantly. “Roll over!” She did that, too, rolling onto her back and then getting back up on her feet. How’d he teacher her to do that? The only trick I thought she knew was how to beg for table scraps.

Xander picked Lulu up and tucked her under his arm. “Speak!” She barked twice, and Xander patted her on the head before reaching into his pocket. “Propose!” As the audience murmured in confusion, Xander lifted a small basket up to Lulu’s mouth. She took it delicately from him, holding the handle between her teeth. Then she turned to me.

“Such a good girl,” I said, grinning down at her. “Such a good—”

I paused, looking at the little basket she held. Inside were some tiny white flowers, and in the middle of that, a blue box. A small, blue box with the lid open. And inside the box… something shiny. Something sparkly. Something that made tears roll down my cheeks.

Trish appeared and took Lulu from Xander. As he took the little basket from Lulu, he kissed her on the top of the head and said, “I’ll take it from here.”

Then the man I loved got down on one knee, set the basket down, and held the little blue box up to me. “Rachel James, you’re already my partner and the love of my life. Will you do me the great honor of being my wife?”

The tears were flowing too hard to speak, so I nodded. But he knew. He knew that this was what I wanted more than anything. That he was what I wanted more than anything.

He leaped to his feet and slid the gorgeous ring on my finger as everyone cheered and congratulated us.

And as he kissed me, all I could think about were the words from my diary, words written so many years ago. I’d written that anyone who married Xander was the luckiest woman in the world.

My younger self had been right.

I was the luckiest woman in the whole wide world.