At the look of intensity in his eyes, Eliza’s breath sputtered, stalling in her throat. Heat swept across her cheeks, and every inch of her body, for that matter.
Grant cleared his throat. “Until then… I believe this is yours.” He popped open the lid, revealing a delicate rose gold band. The intricate engravings shimmered in the glittering lights overhead, bringing tears to her eyes.
Grant plucked it from its resting place with one assured motion. “Lizzy, my promise to you has never changed. You are, and always will be, the one and only woman I’ve ever loved. And I will continue to cherish you with each and every breath I take, for as long as I have air to breathe. And delicious desserts to sample.”
Laughing through her tears, she nudged him with her elbow.
Grinning, he slipped the ring on her finger, his deep-blue eyes glistening behind his glasses.
As the smooth, familiar metal grazed her skin, a tear tumbled down Eliza’s cheek.
Tenderly brushing it aside, Grant grasped her newly adorned hand, drawing her against him, swaying to the dulcet notes they’d both long since memorized.
Eliza slid her arms around his shoulders, clasping them behind his neck. “Tell me what it says,” she murmured, although she knew every word by heart.
“What?”
“The inscription.”
A smile teased Grant’s lips as he gazed into her dark eyes, his own glinting with affection. “One life…”
“One love,” she finished on a whisper. Rising onto her tiptoes, she gently brushed her lips against his, quivering as her pulled her closer, deepening their kiss.
As her eyes fluttered closed, she could still see his face, no longer a shadow engulfed in a crowd.
Steady. Constant. Devoted.
A truth she could count on.
For the rest of her life.
Epilogue
Standing on the outskirts of the dance floor, Colt Davis didn’t notice the lively music, boisterous laughter, or swirl of colors as couples spun and twirled past him. He couldn’t take his eyes off Penny Heart, an arresting vision in a coffee-colored dress that accentuated her slender figure and perfect coloring. Although he’d teased her for her red hair and copper eyes in school, he’d never seen a more remarkable combination. He only wished he’d been brave enough to tell her back then.
As he brought a bite of cheesecake to his mouth, cold metal prongs collided with his front teeth. Wincing, he glanced down at the empty fork before noticing the white smear on his silk tie, then the glob of whipped cream on the tip of his Oxford shoes.
He suppressed a groan.
“Maybe you should consider wearing a bib?” Jack teased, handing him a napkin.
“Or stop staring at Penny long enough to make sure the cheesecake makes it all the way into your mouth,” Reed added with a chuckle.
“You two are hilarious.” Rolling his eyes, Colt scrubbed at the stain in agitation. “Really, you should take your comedy act on the road.”
“Thanks for the advice.” Jack grinned. “Now, let me giveyousome. Give up now. Penny will never go out with you.”
“Yeah,” Reed agreed. “Especially after you asked out Eliza.”
Colt grimaced. Admittedly, that had been a mistake. Selfishly, he’d hoped dating a single mom would push him toward a sense of responsibility and stability. But the decision had been impulsive. Desperate, even. And he wasn’t proud of it.
But Penny… she was unlike any woman he’d ever met.
Ever since she’d unleashed that tiny yellow ball, plunging him into an unpleasant ice bath, she’d unleashed something else….
An intense desire for something real. Something like Luke and Cassie shared.
For the first time in his life, Colt had met his match.
