Serena heard the sound of soft, padded footsteps into the guest room, and certain it was either Peyton or Daisy checking up on her, she quickly dashed away the tears that had slipped from the corners of her eyes after that too emotional trip down memory lane, which only reminded her of what she would never have with Dylan. The boy she’d grown up with, the teenager she’d had a crush on, and the man she’d fallen in love with.

She turned around, startled to find Dylan standing there instead. She didn’t say a word, but as he closed the distance between them, her heart threatened to beat right out of her chest.

“Serena,” he said, so softly, so tenderly that it threw her more off-kilter than she already was. And when he picked up her hand and clasped his warm ones around it, her first reaction was to try and pull it back.

He held it tighter, not letting her escape. “Please, just listen to me, okay?”

She didn’t say anything, mostly because her throat felt too tight, but figured since she wasn’t walking away from him, that ought to be enough of an answer for him. She was here. She’d listen. But she wasn’t sure there was anything left to say.

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously. “I handled things very poorly that morning at your place, and I’m so sorry. I never should have let you walk away from me. I never should have left without telling you how I feel.”

For a moment, she held her breath, wondering if he’d finally say the words she desperately longed to hear him say.

“I care about you so much,” he said, his voice as sincere as the look in his eyes. “We’re good together, and you know me better than anyone else. You’re my person, and I want you, and only you.”

There was no I love you to be found anywhere in that sentence. The hope that had blossomed in Serena’s chest wilted. The man standing in front of her was speaking logically and practically, his words coming from that pragmatic brain of his, and not his heart, where it mattered the most. After everything they’d been through, she needed more than just the logistics of why they belonged together. She wanted, needed the emotional, vulnerable component of it, too.

She shook her head sadly and withdrew her hand from his. “It’s not enough, Dylan. I deserve better. I deserve more.”

His brows creased in confusion, as if she were speaking in Greek back to him. In any other situation, she would have thought his reaction was adorably geeky, but in this case, when it came to winning her heart and winning her, she refused to spell out what she needed to hear from him, because hand-feeding him the words was too easy. It was something he had to figure out on his own, and he would, eventually, if he thought she was worth fighting for.

“More?” He echoed the word back to her, his expression perplexed. “What kind of more?”

God, he was so obtuse sometimes, and she gave him his one and only clue. “I want the fairy tale, Dylan.”

She wanted the fairy tale. Serena’s final statement to him before leaving Dylan standing alone in his mother’s guest bedroom was still rolling through his brain by the time he got home that same night. After she was gone, he’d walked back to the kitchen in a stupor, where Leo, who obviously knew why he’d gone after Serena, looked at him and immediately asked, “What did she say?”

“That she wanted the fairy tale,” he said, dumbfounded by what had just happened. He’d gone into the room believing he was going to win the girl, and instead he’d fallen flat on his face with a big ol’ whomp-whomp.

Leo and Aiden had shared a laugh, and he’d watched Daisy and Peyton exchange an amused look. Even Isabella had blown a raspberry at him. The fact that he was left in the dark about Serena’s request annoyed the hell out of him.

He’d jammed his hands on his hips indignantly. “Anyone care to share what that means?”

“Nah,” Aiden had said before anyone else could provide the answer, his voice brimming with merriment. “I think it’ll be more fun, and way more meaningful, for you to figure it out on your own.”

“Asshole,” he’d muttered.

And now, he was at home by himself, sitting on his couch and absently flipping through the channels on his TV while mulling over what kind of fairy tale Serena was referring to. The only ones he knew of were in Disney movies. Pure fiction and not based in reality.

He came across the Hallmark Channel and stopped to watch the movie that was playing, wishing Serena was there with him because it was more fun viewing it with her than alone. Before long, he was sucked into the over-the-top, corny romance as the same old basic plot played out between the guy and the girl. He knew the story line by heart. They met and sparks flew. Usually there was some kind of opposition between the characters that caused a conflict to keep them separated. Then the big black moment, where the two of them were torn apart by their differences and all seemed lost.

But it was the part where they came to the realization that they just couldn’t live without one another that riveted Dylan, because it led into the cheesiest grand gesture from the guy that ultimately won the woman’s heart and made her swoon, along with a declaration of unending love.

Realization finally dawned. That was the fucking fairy tale that Serena was talking about. The words I love you that left no doubt in the woman’s mind that the guy was deeply, madly in love with her. Which was exactly how he felt about Serena . . . but he’d never told her.

Jesus Christ, it was that simple, but for a logic-minded guy, the notion had eluded him. But for a sentimental woman like Serena who was waiting to find her Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet, those heartfelt words meant everything.

And now that he knew what she wanted, what she needed, he was going to give Serena the fairy tale she’d waited her whole life for, and the one she deserved.

When Serena’s doorbell rang late Sunday afternoon, her first thought was that it was Dylan. Instead, when she peered through the peephole, she saw an older man dressed in a black suit that looked like a uniform. Confused, she cracked the door open so she could look at the gentleman, who greeted her with a smile.

“Can I help you?” she asked, certain he was at the wrong door.

“Are you Serena Fields?” he asked politely.

“Yes.” Now she was even more perplexed.

“My name is Duke Frasier,” he said, introducing himself as he lifted a shiny, gray Nordstrom’s box, topped with a big bow, toward her. There was also an envelope with her name on it. “This package is for you, from Dylan Stone.”

Surprise lit through her. “Oh.” She accepted the package, unable to guess what might be inside. “Thank you.”

Duke nodded. “There’s a note in the envelope. I’ll wait right here while you read it and follow the instructions inside.” He stepped away from the door and assumed a professional stance.

After closing the door, she headed into the kitchen and set the box on the counter. She opened the envelope first and read the message inside. Serena, please change into this outfit and leave with Duke. He will take you where you need to be. I promise you won’t regret it. Dylan.

She wrinkled her nose in surprise and confusion. It was all so cryptic, considering she hadn’t seen or heard from him since last night at his mother’s. But she was willing to follow his request, because she still loved him and wanted to hold on to hope.

Lifting the lid on the box, she moved the tissue paper aside and gasped at what she found inside. A gorgeous dress in a violet hue, with a fitted bodice and a flowy chiffon skirt. There was also a pair of bone-colored heels to go with it. The outfit was far more modest than the one she’d worn in Vegas, but much more her style. She couldn’t imagine that he’d picked it out himself, but in this case, she was okay going with it was the thought that counted.

She changed, and after a quick look in the mirror, she decided to put on a light layer of makeup and leave her hair down and wavy, just the way she knew Dylan liked it best. Twenty minutes later, she met Duke outside, and he led the way out to a limousine parked at the curb and opened the back door for her. She slid onto the soft, supple leather seat and saw that there was already a flute of champagne waiting for her in the glass holder and an open box of Godiva with her favorite chocolates tucked inside.

“We’ll arrive at our destination in about fifteen minutes,” Duke said, then enclosed her in the back, while he got behind the wheel and started to drive.

Feeling decadently spoiled, she drank her champagne and nibbled on the rich candy, trying to figure out, based on their route, where Duke was taking her. It didn’t take her long to realize that he was heading to Dylan’s house, and when they arrived and she stepped out of the limo, there was a trail of red rose petals all the way up the pathway to the front door.

She started to feel giddy, from the champagne and this romantic gesture that was straight out of one of her Hallmark movies. Anticipation had her following the deep red blooms, and even when she walked inside the house, the trail continued all the way to Dylan’s master bedroom. The door was closed, but she could hear soft music playing inside.

Her heart beat so fast it felt as though it had wings. Swallowing nervously, she knocked lightly, and when Dylan’s voice beckoned her to come in, she followed his order. A shocked gasp escaped her as she took in the transformation of his bedroom. There were white twinkle lights everywhere. Hundreds of them sparkling like a dreamy, romantic wonderland. More flowers were scattered on the floor, and the bed had been turned down, where a heart had been formed with roses.

But it was the gorgeous man standing there wearing a dark suit—which was something Dylan only did on formal occasions—that stole her breath completely. He was grinning, but it was the wealth of emotion shining in his eyes that had her walking toward him, praying that this huge grand gesture came with the most important declaration of all. Because without it, all this meant nothing.

He held his hand out toward her. “Dance with me?” he asked, surprising her.

“Yes.” She let him draw her into his arms and against the warmth of his body, where she fit against him perfectly.

Curling her arm around his neck, she glanced up at him, into the eyes that looked at her with pure, undiluted adoration. “This is all too much,” she whispered. But it wasn’t. Not after all he’d put her through.

“Not for you.” He gently kissed her temple. “I wanted to give you your fairy tale, Serena. All of it.”

The sweetness of it made her melt inside, even as a part of her remained guarded as she waited to see where all this would lead. “It’s impressive. I’m going to assume you had help?”

“Maybe a little.” He continued dancing with her, the hand around her waist tightening possessively. “Everything was my idea, but Peyton and Daisy were more than happy to pull it together while I ran a few errands for tonight.”

She felt his chest rise and fall as he inhaled and exhaled a deep breath, his feet coming to a stop so they were no longer moving. He reached out and gently caressed her cheek.

“There’s something I need to say to you,” he said huskily, his eyes darkening with emotion. “I love you, Serena, and that’s not something I figured out just recently. It’s something I’ve known since high school, but I was too afraid to jeopardize our friendship. There has been no other woman that I’ve ever loved. Only you.”

She laughed softly, joyfully, the relief in her chest immense. “You figured it out.” She couldn’t stop the huge smile on her face.

He sighed, but he was grinning. “I’m a little slow and hardheaded sometimes, but I swear I can be trained with the right incentive,” he teased.

“I love you, Dylan Stone,” she said, needing him to hear those words from her, too. “So much.”

“I know. I’ve always known, but hearing the words out loud is something I’ll never get tired of.” His hand traveled slowly, sensually, down her back. “I want you to have the future you deserve. The husband, the marriage, the family, and all the babies you were meant to have. I always wanted that for you. But I realized something . . .”

She blinked back the happy tears filling her eyes, but her heart was beginning to soar at the realization that all her dreams were gradually coming true. “What’s that?”

“I’m a selfish man when it comes to you,” he said, a possessive tone to his voice. “You’re mine, and I want to be the man who gives you all those things.”

She smiled. “There is no other man I’d ever want to have those things with.”

Relief passed across his handsome features, followed by a hint of nerves. “Okay, since that’s settled, then there is just one more thing left to do.”

She blinked curiously at him. “You’ve already done so much.”

“There’s just one more thing missing from this cheesy Hallmark-style grand gesture,” he joked, as he released her to reach into the front pocket of his pants.

In the next few seconds, he was down on one knee before her, popping open the lid on a small black velvet box that revealed a stunning engagement ring. “Serena Fields, you are the love of my life. Will you marry me?”

She couldn’t deny the jolt of shock that ran through her because he’d come so far so fast, but she didn’t hesitate with her answer, because she’d waited a lifetime to say the words to him. “Yes, yes, I’ll marry you.”

He slipped the ring onto her finger, which was a perfect fit, then stood back up and kissed her—hot and deep and packed with so much feeling she never wanted it to end. They melted together with all the passion and longing they’d both been holding back, and when he started unzipping her dress, she took that as her cue to help him out of his clothes, too.

When they were completely naked—except for the gorgeous ring on her finger—he pushed her down onto the bed, aligned their bodies, and eased deep, deep inside her. His hands came up to cradle her face, and she opened her eyes to look into his, marveling at the fact that she was going to marry her best friend.

“You belong to me,” he said, leaving no doubt in her mind that it was true.

“Yes,” she whispered, and she wouldn’t want it any other way.