"Happy New Year, Riley."
"Happy New Year." Riley's smile was bright. "To new beginnings."
"To us."
"To home."
Grant kissed her again, softer this time, and Riley let herself sink into it. Into him. Into the life they were building together.
Around them, Pine Valley celebrated—music and laughter filling the community center. But Riley only had eyes for Grant.For the man who'd offered to fake date her and ended up giving her everything she'd ever wanted.
A home. A purpose. A future.
Love.
"Ready to go home?" Grant asked after a while, his voice warm.
"Yeah." Riley took his hand. "Let's go home."
They said their goodbyes—hugs from her parents, congratulations from friends, promises to get together soon. And then they walked back to Grant's truck hand in hand, the sounds of the party fading behind them.
The drive back to the farm was quiet, comfortable. Grant's hand stayed in hers the whole way, his thumb tracing circles on her palm.
When they pulled into the driveway, Riley looked at the farmhouse—at the warm glow of the porch light, at the fields stretching out beyond, at the barn where this had all started—and felt something click into place.
This was home now.
Not the apartment in the city. Not her childhood bedroom at her parents' house.
Here. With Grant. On this land. In this life.
"What are you thinking?" Grant asked, coming around to open her door.
"That I love you," Riley said simply. "And that I can't wait to build our life here."
Grant pulled her close, kissing her under the stars. "Me too. All of it."
They walked inside together, and Riley knew—knew with absolute certainty—that this was just the beginning.
The best was yet to come.
EPILOGUE
Grant
Almost One Year Later
Grant checked his jacket pocket for the third time in ten minutes.
Still there. The small velvet box that had been burning a hole in his pocket for the past two weeks.
"You're doing it again," Riley said from the passenger seat.
Grant's hand froze. "Doing what?"
"Touching your jacket pocket. You've done it like fifteen times since we left the house." Riley's eyes narrowed. "What's in there?"
"Nothing."
