“I swear this is going to be the last time I have a name change.” She laughed, looking into Josh’s blue eyes. Summer was in full bloom in Silver Ridge, and they had snuck away to their favorite field not too far from his house.
After several months of splitting time between her house in Silver Ridge, his house in Silver Ridge, and his penthouse in New York, they’d finally decided to make hers a vacation rental, and she’d been living with him ever since.
Josh laughed and shook his head. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
She wiggled her empty ring finger. “You are seeing it.” She chuckled. “Hailee Turner. I love the sound of it.”
“You always said that, but we’ll see.” He playfully scowled, running his hands over her hair as she lay in front of him, resting her head on his knee. “Maybe someday, it will actually come true.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” She let out a happy sigh and sat up so she could see him better. The truth was that she was just happy to be with him. It didn’t take a ring to solidify their commitment to one another. She was pretty certain the eighteen years they’d spent alone, yet wishing it was with one another, did that.
“You’re telling me.” He shook his head, his brown hair blowing all over in the breeze. He’d gone the last couple of weeks without shaving, and she loved the look. They were taking a little break before heading back to the city and she started another round of her book tour.
“And I can’t believe people actually like my book.” She grinned wryly. “Even though it wasn’t straight off of a Dr. Phil episode like the other books you specialize in.”
He chuckled. “I guess cynicism doesn’t always have to be front and center of every story or piece of advice.”
“It restores my faith in humanity.”
“It should.” He pulled her hand into his. “It was a beautifully crafted memoir.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and playfully punched him in the arm. “You’re just saying that because you take center stage in it.”
“That’s not true. I know good writing when I read it.” He squeezed my hand. “It was a good story.”
“Our love story was a good story,” she whispered. “It is a good story.”
“Yes, it is, and it’s only just started.” He pulled her onto his lap. “But that wasn’t the only thing your memoir covered.”
“I know, but there were some juicy bits strewn in.” She wiggled her brows, thinking back to the first chapter she’d written about her first time with Josh.
At first, she was mortified that his parents and sister would read it, but then she got the courage to forge ahead, and she was so glad she had. It was important to be open with her readers, and now she was getting more mail than ever, but this time, the topics had shifted away from strictly dating and relationship advice to heavier topics.
Not that lists mattered, but they kind of did, and she had hit the top of each bestseller list and her book had stayed in the Top Ten all summer.
“I still can’t believe I haven’t heard from my parents since that morning.” She shrugged. “But I guess we were right.”
“Not all stories have happy endings,” Josh whispered.
“But ours will.” She snuggled deeper into his embrace.
“Ours already has.” He kissed the top of her head and slid her off his lap, nearly dumping her on the ground.
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” she asked, dusting herself off.
“I forgot to tell you. My parents are coming over for lunch.”
Her brows furrowed. “Okay, so I guess you’re telling me our day at the park is over.”
Josh laughed and helped her up, but before he let go of her hand, he brought her to him and softly and ever-so-lovingly kissed her. She let a little moan escape as he parted from her and she blinked her eyes open.
“When are your parents coming over?” she murmured.
“They’re probably already there.”
She let out a groan and smacked him on his rear as he pulled her along to the home they shared. But instead of entering through the front door, he took her around back and opened the latch on the gate, pushing it open to reveal their yard full of family and friends.
Dakota and her parents were standing front and center, and Hailee’s heart began to pound at an unstoppable rate.
“Hailee Hudson.” He took a deep breath and turned around to face her before getting down on one knee while Dakota ran over with a ring box.
“You’ve made me the happiest man on earth deciding to come back home,” he began. “I’ve loved everything about you since the moment I first met you, and considering that included those years of braces and purple hair, that’s saying something.”
Everyone laughed, and Hailee gave him a playful dirty look.
“But the one thing I can say without a reasonable doubt is that my life is far better with you in it. I’ve had enough years to fully understand that, and I don’t want to wait for one second more to have you become my wife.”
Hailee’s world began to spin, and her eyes widened as she willed herself not to pass out. She wasn’t going to miss her own proposal.
Josh saw the look on her face and held her hand tightly.
“Remember, Hailee. I’m always here to catch you if you fall.” He smiled. “But please don’t fall.”
Warmth spread through Hailee as the crowd began cheering and Josh bowed his head and sniffled before looking back at her.
“Hailee, will you be my wife?” His smile widened, and the crowd hushed as they awaited Emilia’s answer.
Emilia’s eyes stayed on Josh’s, and she took in a deep, steadying breath before giving him her answer. After all, she had a lot to think about, like how to change her name yet again.
“My answer is yes, Josh Turner.”
He hopped up and spun her around in his arms, and she felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
Hailee knew their story was unusual and their love for one another unique, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I can’t wait to be Mrs. Hailee Turner,” she whispered, feeling his arms tighten around her. “It will make things so much easier when little Turner comes into this world.”
Josh froze in place and slowly let her down to the ground.
“What?” he whispered, a quiet excitement resting behind his gaze.
“You heard me.” Her mouth curled slightly, and he shook his head.
“You’re pregnant?”
“Six weeks.” She bit her lip and looked at his parents. “We might have to adjust the schedule for my book tour, if you think the boss will let me.”
Josh smiled and touched her belly, her hands covering his. “I don’t think either of us will be the boss any longer.”
Hailee laughed and nodded in agreement as she let out a happy sigh, realizing that the funny thing about love is that no matter how hard you to try run, true love will always find you.