his mouth covered hers whole. Boone kissed her like they were alone with no one watching, like the only two souls that existed belonged to them.
When he finally broke away, she was barely coherent. “We have so much to talk about. I’m sorry for the way I acted. Ashamed, really. I just… Amber got in my head, and all that stuff from the past hung on my shoulders like one hundred pound weights.”
“I know. And we will. We have the rest of our lives. I love you, Poppy. I think I’ve loved you since I was eighteen. I was just too young and dumb to realize it. But I’m a better man now, and I’ll do better. I promise.”
“Oh. My. Gawd.” Poppy’s masseuse frantically waved his hands in front of his face. “That’s such an Instagram moment. Damn, girl, are you going to answer him or what?”
Overwhelmed, she stared wordlessly up at Boone. Had she missed a question? Everything went out the window the moment she heard the word love.
That wicked grin she’d missed so much touched the corner of his mouth. “I want you to pay attention. Can you do that?” Boone spoke gently and slowly.
She nodded.
“I love you. And I want to make a life with you. I want to marry you, Poppy Fairbanks. That’s the question that needs answering.”
She had to work at the knot in her throat, and when it finally gave way, her voice was hoarse and barely discernable.
“Yes,” she answered simply. She didn’t get a chance to say another word on account of the fact that Boone’s mouth was on hers again. He kissed her until her head spun. Until her heart nearly beat out of her chest and she shook from the intensity of it.
He kissed her until she was drowning.
And then he scooped her into his arms, and, without a word to anyone, Boone Avery took her home.
Epilogue
Two months later…
October in Crystal Lake was like heaven on earth. The state was in transition as summer came to a close and fall fell into place. The forests were alive with all the colors of the season, with every shade of orange, yellow, and gold painting the horizon as far as you could see. Various towns had their fairs or festivals to celebrate the end of harvest. There’d been an apple butter festival two counties over the weekend before, and this coming weekend, Crystal Lake was celebrating their tenth annual Pumpkinfest.
Poppy had never felt so alive or happy. Sometimes, when no one was looking, she actually pinched herself to make sure it was real. It would hurt. She would grimace. And then Benji would hop onto her lap and ask her to read to him, while Boone watched from the kitchen or from beside her.
It was real. All of it. And now she was officially moving on to the next part of her life.
She stood back from the edge of her driveway and looked at the For Sale sign on her front yard with a feeling of trepidation, but also hope and excitement. Just off work, she’d swung by this way for a look before heading out to the lake. She’d moved in with Boone over a month ago, but only just listed her house. And maybe she’d dragged her heels because it was hard. This place was her first real adult purchase. It meant a lot to her. But it was a chapter that had ended, and she was finally ready to move on.
She looked down at the sparkling ring on her finger and smiled, turning her hand so the large solitaire could catch the sun.
“That’s beautiful.”
Startled, she glanced over her shoulder and spotted Emily Davenport a few feet away, holding a leash with an energetic puppy on the other end. The woman looked sadder every time Poppy saw her, and now she walked toward Emily with a gentle smile, wishing and hoping that one day, Emily would find some kind of happiness again.
“Hey,” Poppy said. “Thank you.”
“I’m happy for you two,” Emily replied. “Boone’s one of the good ones.”
“He is.” She nodded toward the puppy. “I see Molly convinced you to adopt.”
“She did, but it didn’t take too much convincing. Bilbo is adorable, and I couldn’t say no.”
Poppy hesitated, but decided if she didn’t say anything, it would be weird. “I heard about Ethan. Is he okay?”
“I wouldn’t know. He won’t talk to me.” Emily shrugged and attempted a smile. “They only kept him overnight, so he’ll be fine. I guess.” She