anything for the residents of LOCAL. And thank goodness I did, because seeing you walk into the bar that night, bloody and forlorn, was enough to open my heart and my eyes. After a year and a half of running from my feelings, I couldn’t walk away when you were in so much pain. You laid your heart out to me that night, Justin, and you gave me the courage to do the same. And every day since, you’ve shown me how to love without fear or reservation. You made me realize that all those things I collected were just buoys helping me remain afloat in a sea of hopes and dreams. But you are my safe haven, my happy place. You are my island, Justin, and I want to be yours.”
He swept her into his arms, kissing her smiling lips, and said, “I love you.”
“I love you, too. This is the most amazing birthday. My head is spinning. Should I rent my cottage? Sell it? When do you want me to move in? Oh my God, Justin. I’m moving in!” She launched herself into his arms again, and he twirled her around.
They kissed and laughed, and when he set her on her feet again, he said, “It’s a good thing you want to move in, because if you didn’t, it would make this a little more complicated.” He opened the kitchen door and whistled. In trotted Sampson, with a blue bow tie around his neck.
Chloe squealed and dropped to her knees, loving Sampson up. He licked her face, and suddenly she was laughing and crying. “He’s ours? What about the cool couple you told me about?”
“That was us, sweet cheeks.”
“What about Shadow?”
“Sid’s been working with them, and they get along really well. He’ll be coming home soon, too.”
“Oh my God!” She sprang to her feet, trying to wrap her head around all he’d done. “Justin…We have a family. Shadow and Sampson have a family. Thank you for the best birthday ever.”
“It’s not over yet, sweetheart. There’s something I want to run by you.”
“Oh my gosh, you’ve done so much alrea—”
He dropped to one knee, and her heart nearly stopped as he took her hand, gazing up at her with so much love in his eyes it nearly took her to her knees. Sampson licked Justin’s cheek, then sat beside him.
“I don’t know if fate or dumb luck brought you into my life, but I knew the first time we met that we were meant to be together, and every day since has proven me right.”
“Justin…?” she whispered shakily.
“I know this might feel fast, but I waited a year and a half for you to give us a chance, and I meant what I said about that time giving us a solid foundation.” He rose to his feet, gazing deeply into her eyes, and said, “I love you, baby, and I want to spend the rest of my life making every day of yours the best it can be. I want you in my arms at night, and I want to bring you coffee every morning. I want to celebrate your twenty-ninth birthday for the next sixty years, go on long motorcycle rides, and dance under the stars. I want it all with you, baby, and I hope you want it all with me.”
He reached behind the vase and held up the most gorgeous ring she’d ever seen. A canary diamond lay in a setting of gold flowers with a gold dragonfly across the middle of the stone, its wings spread as if it were caught midflight. Tears spilled down Chloe’s cheeks.
“My sexy, sweet girl, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”
“Yes,” she said just above a whisper. Then louder, “Yes, yes, yes!”
He slid the ring on her finger, and for the third time that morning, she threw herself into his arms. With their fur baby leaning against their legs and their hearts beating as one, they kissed through salty tears, whispering promises of everlasting love.
Chapter Twenty-Six
IT HAD BEEN hours since Justin had proposed, and Chloe still couldn’t stop looking at her ring. They’d forgone breakfast and spent the morning making love. After satiating their desire, they’d talked about when Chloe should move in. Neither of them wanted to wait. After getting ready to face the day, Chloe called Serena to share their good news, and Justin called Preacher. One call was all it had taken for Justin’s phone to start vibrating like the Energizer