“What the . . .” Behind Erin, Grace noticed Dameon’s mom and a man she didn’t recognize standing beside her.
What’s going on?
“You’re the only eligible woman here,” Erin said with a laugh.
“Ha, ha . . . very funny. Dameon, don’t let them—” She turned to find Dameon down on one knee.
Grace’s hands fell to her sides, the flowers loose in her hand.
“Grace . . .”
“Oh my God.” She couldn’t breathe.
Dameon smiled with a cat that ate the canary grin and reached to take her hand.
“You are the single best thing that has ever happened in my life.”
“Oh my God.”
“I think about you every day when I wake up, and every night when I close my eyes. I envision a half a dozen little Graces running around a twelve-foot Christmas tree and a huge fireplace. I think about you when I toss a pebble in a lake and see the ripples change the texture of the water. Because that’s what you did when you came into my life. You changed everything. And I want you to keep changing everything for as long as we have on this earth.”
Grace sniffed and brushed away her tears with the flowers in her hand.
Out of what seemed to be nowhere, Dameon held a tiny white box. Inside was a diamond ring.
“Grace Marie Hudson. Will you marry me?”
She dropped to her knees and kissed him like he was water and she was a fish flopping on the shore.
“I love you.”
“Is that a yes?”
He was crying.
“Yes, that’s a yes . . . Oh my God.”
Their families behind them were clapping.
Dameon slid the ring on her finger and kissed her again. “I’m the happiest man in the world right now. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He brought her to her feet and slowly walked back to their families. She couldn’t believe this was really happening.
Grace studied all of them. “You all knew about this?”
Dameon motioned to the man beside Lois. “Grace, this is my brother, Tristan.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you.” She reached out a hand but Tristan opened both arms for a hug.
“I always wanted a little sister.”
Grace was pretty sure she was slightly older than Tristan. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Dameon’s arm wrapped around Grace’s shoulders the second Tristan stopped hugging her.
“Maybe you can help my big bro relax a little,” Tristan said.
Grace laughed and Lois giggled.
And giggled.
And giggled.
Dameon and Grace exchanged glances.
“You guys haven’t been eating Maui cookies, have you?”
Tristan stared at his mom. “Oops.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It’s always nice to sit down at the end of a book and write from my own point of view. Setting the Creek Canyon novels in a place I called home for twenty-one years of my life came with its own challenges. I wanted to highlight the small town feel of the Santa Clarita Valley while giving the reader enough drama and conflict to keep you entertained. To that end there has to be a bad guy or two. For the record, I have no knowledge of bad bosses at city hall. I have, however, eaten more prime rib at The Backwoods Inn than most. The close-knit communities—from the bowling alley to the block-long Candy Cane Lane–themed neighborhoods—are staples of the city. To my friends, and friends I consider family, I miss and love you all. I simply couldn’t stay for another fire season.
This trilogy has been painful at times and cathartic at others. There is closure after writing these stories that I didn’t expect but am grateful for.
Thank you, Montlake and Amazon Publishing, for giving me the creative freedom to write the stories that sit deep in my heart.
Thank you to my editors, Maria Gomez and Holly Ingraham. Maria, you always believe in me, and that never goes unappreciated. Holly, thank you for helping me put the sparkle in the finished product. It’s been a pleasure working with you.
To Jane Dystel, your guidance through the maze of this crazy publishing world is always spot-on. Thank you.
And last, I would like to put a spotlight on Whiskey. This crazy rescue black Lab had endless energy and spirit. You were a joy from the moment you showed up in our lives. During the fire you didn’t leave our side for even a second, and when it was time to flee you jumped inside the car as if you were going to drive us away.
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written thirty-four books that have collectively sold more than eight million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned the Not Quite series, the Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. For more information on the author, visit www.catherinebybee.com.