“Don’t leave me here,” Evie begs when I kiss her goodbye.

“You’ll be fine. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

It’s our last day in Philadelphia before we return to Ridge Hollow, and I have a few things to get done before we leave. Many of the things, I don’t want Evie at my side while I do them either.

She grips my arms tightly. “Come on, you could use a massage.”

Peeling her fingers away from my skin, I lean in for another kiss. “You need a little pampering. I have some boring business things to do anyway.”

“Promise me you won’t be long.” She pouts, jutting her bottom lip out, and I want to bite it.

“I promise, love. I’ll be back soon.”

She nods slowly, her eyes flickering between the receptionist and me. “I’m ready,” she tells her, finally letting go of my arm.

The receptionist motions for Evie to follow her, but before she does, she glances back at me with a small smile. I mouth the words I love you, and she does the same. Once she disappears, I head out to finish the few things that I must get done before we leave the city.

“May I help you?” the salesman asks as soon as I walk inside the jewelry store right next to the salon.

“I’m looking to buy an engagement ring.”

He smiles, extending his hand as soon as he walks around the counter. “I’m Simon, and I’d be delighted to help you find the perfect ring for your lady today.”

I shake his hand and am suddenly filled with excitement. “Great, Simon. I want to wow her and show her exactly how much I love her.”

“Divine.” Simon’s thick British accent makes his statement sound less cheesy. “Do you have a budget in mind?”

“No budget. It just has to be perfect, and I need it today.”

“Hmm,” he mutters, walking along the glass display cases. “Do you have a shape you’d like?”

“I don’t know.” I stand next to him, looking down at an entire case filled with diamonds of every shape and size. They sparkle like stars in the sky.

“I like that one,” I say, pointing to a ring that’s rectangular and so big that I’m not sure how it’ll look on her dainty hands.

“Ahh. That’s an emerald cut and extremely popular.” He reaches into the case and pulls it out, holding it up to the light. “It’s part of our Polaris collection.”

“Like the star?” I ask, and I know it’s meant to be.

“Yes.” He hands the ring to me.

I don’t know what I’m supposed to look at, but I stare at it anyway. “I’ll take it.”

“It’s quite pricey,” he says, probably thinking that I can’t afford it.

“Doesn’t matter. I have the money, and she deserves the best. Wrap it up.”

Simon moves quickly to wrap up the ring and run my credit card. I don’t bother to look at anything else. It’s perfection, just like Evie.

“Thank you for your business, Mr. Nelson,” Simon says, handing me a bag with the ring inside.

“Thank you for your help, Simon.”

I walk out of there a hundred grand lighter, but I don’t care. I’m going to ask Evie to be my wife, and that’s the only thing that matters to me. There is no price on my love for her.

I ditch the bag before I walk into Dirty Deeds Designs and place the ring box in the pocket of my blazer.

Cameron’s waiting for me when I walk inside, but everyone else who works in the corporate offices is off on Sunday. “What did you do?” he asks, studying my face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I try to keep a straight face but fail. I’m too damn happy to conceal my joy.

“I know that look, and it means you’re up to something.”

I reach into my pocket and pull out the box, showing it to him.

His eyes widen, and his body recoils as if I just showed him something hideous. “You didn’t.”

“I did, Cam. I’m going to ask her tonight.”

“Jack, don’t you think that’s a little rushed?”

I laugh. “Rushed? I’ve loved Evie for as long as I can remember.”

Cameron follows me into my office and collapses into the chair directly across from me. “I never thought you’d settle down, man.”

“It’s not settling,” I tell him, relaxing into my chair and placing the ring on the desk in between us. “I’m finally getting what I want. I’ve waited my whole life for this. Evie is the woman of my dreams. I knew the first moment I saw her that I had to have her and make her mine.”

He grabs the box, flicking open the top to expose the ring. He lets out a whistle. “Wow. You have it bad for this girl.”

“Listen, Cameron, someday you’re going to fall for someone, and when you do, it’s going to knock you on your ass. Wait and see.”

“Never happening,” he mutters with a shake of his head, making a not gonna happen face.

“I can’t wait to see your face when you realize there’s no going back to random sex with strangers.”

“Shut your mouth.” He snaps the lid of the box closed and places it back on the desk, pulling his hand away like it burned him. “I like my life just the way it is. Let’s change the subject. This one is boring me.”

Anything having to do with a relationship is like having a taboo conversation with Cameron. He refuses to believe he’ll ever fall in love. If Evie hadn’t come back into my life, I never would’ve found someone else to love. No one compares to her and never could.

She’s my one.

My only.

“Let’s go over the plans for Ridge Hollow so I can leave tomorrow. I won’t see you again until you come to town for the meeting with the zoning board.”

“Please tell me there are a lot of hot women in Ridge Hollow.”

I have to bite back my laughter; he is in for one hell of a surprise. “There are tons,” I lie right to his face. “You’re going to be a very busy man.” I grin.

“Thank fuck,” he whispers.

If he only knew.

We spend the next four hours going over the application for the zoning board to have most of the land parcel split into sections, including the one that needs to be changed to commercial use. Hopefully, since half of it will be used for a town recreation center and charity, they’ll push it through without any bullshit.

“I’ll be there to meet with the zoning board in a few weeks, and once they approve it, we can break ground and start construction immediately.”

“You’ve done an amazing job with everything, Cameron.”

“That’s what partners are for, Jack. I think this is exactly what we need to take Dirty Deeds to the next level.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

His phone buzzes, and he glances down.

“Hot date?”

“Twins,” he replies with the biggest grin as he types a message.

“You’d better be careful, or your prick’s going to fall off.”

He stands up and jams his phone into his back pocket. “I’ll take that challenge. I gotta run. I’ll see you in Ridge Hollow. Good luck with Evie.”

“I’ll lock up. Have fun tonight,” I tell him as he heads for the door.

“I plan on it,” he says before disappearing down the hallway.

I sit back, looking around my office and everything that we’ve achieved in a short time. We built a company from scratch with only a few thousand dollars we had saved. Neither of us expected it to take off the way it did even though we believed in our concept and had the drive and determination to pull it off.

It’s late afternoon by the time I get to the spa. Evie’s just walking out into the lobby, looking refreshed and glowing.

“I missed you,” she says, wrapping me in a tight embrace.

“I hope you had fun, love.”

“It was amazing, Jack.” She smiles, pulling away from me to wave at the receptionist, who’s watching us. “She said you were very handsome.” She snakes her arm into mine as we walk out, resting her head on my shoulder.

I feel like a million bucks with her on my arm as we walk down the street to my truck. I’ve loved Philadelphia since the moment I moved here, but I love Evie more, and staying in Ridge Hollow with her feels right.

“Are you ready to go back?”

“We can stay longer if you want,” she says, to my surprise.

I don’t want to be anywhere else but Ridge Hollow. It’s where we belong and where our kids will be raised. “I’m ready to go home.”

She climbs into the truck, holding my hand the entire time. “Anywhere we are feels like home, Jack, as long as you’re with me.”

I lean in, giving her a passionate kiss. When I pull away, I brush a few strands of her hair that have fallen free back behind her ear. “I love you, Evie.”

“I love you too, baby.”

I can’t wait to make this woman my wife and give her a happy life. Evie deserves the world.

---

“Let me drive,” Evie begs.

“Right now?” I ask, glancing around at nothing but darkness.

“Yes. Just pull over.”

Against my better judgment, I veer off to the side of the highway and get out, switching places with Evie.

“I haven’t driven this truck in years,” she says, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

I’ve had the truck since high school. We’ve made out in this truck more times than I can count. When I could afford to buy a new car, I couldn’t part with this one. Cameron gave me a lot of shit, but the truck held too many memories to get rid of it.

Evie eases back onto the dark highway and turns up the radio, dancing in her seat to the newest hit from the Chainsmokers. I watch her, transfixed by her beauty as the headlights of the cars on the other side of the road illuminate her face.

Her eyes widen, and she lurches the truck to the right. I yell out, reaching for the steering wheel to right the truck before it starts to roll from the sudden movement, but I’m too late. The vehicle tumbles on to its side and keeps rolling. I see Evie and the fear in her eyes as I try reaching for her, but my head hits the window, and then there’s total darkness and nothing but silence.

“Evie!” I yell when I start to wake.

A man pushes against my chest. “Settle down, sir.”

“Where’s Evie?” I cry out, terrified, hoping she’s okay. The last thing I remember is the terror on her face before I was knocked out.

“She’s being taken care of. Don’t move until we know the extent of your injuries.”

But I don’t care about myself. The only thing that matters is making sure she’s okay. I have to get to her. I need to see her. I try to move again and realize I can’t. My body is strapped to a board, and there’s a neck brace stopping me from turning my head. “Is she okay?”

“I’m sure she’s fine, sir.”

“Evie!” I yell out to her, waiting to hear her response but hear nothing in return. “Where is she? Where’s Evie?”

“Let’s go,” the paramedic says to someone, and suddenly I’m in the air, moving toward a waiting ambulance.

I try to look around and catch a glimpse of her, but with the neck brace and straps, it’s impossible.

“Evie!” I yell again and keep yelling, struggling against the restraints until they slam the doors of the ambulance. My throat is hoarse, but I don’t care. She has to be all right. She just has to be. “Evie, honey!”

“Someone sedate him please,” a deep voice orders.

“No!” I yell, but it’s no use. I feel the needle prick in my arm, dragging me back into the darkness.