Placing my hand on her neck, I lean in and press my lips to her forehead. “Because, my beautiful Lou, I’ve been looking for you my entire life.”
“You have?”
“You, this town, and that house.”
“You’re after me for my house?”
Shaking my head, I reach out and hold her hand again and tell her about the life I’ve always dreamed about.
“So am I the pretty wife?”
“God, Lou.” I sigh. “I hope so.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
LOU
One Year Later
With the keyin my hand, I turn and smile at my closest and dearest friends. Dad, Bella, Mom, and Chase are all behind me literally and figuratively. “Ready?” I ask as I slide the key into the lock. When I hear it click, I turn the knob and push the door open, revealing a completely remodeled central hallway.
Bella is the first to say something. “Hurray,” the sarcastic bitch says. The thing is, they’ve all been here throughout the rebuilding process of the Little house, so none of what they’re about to see is new. The unlocking of the door is more ceremonial than anything, because it’s finally finished. Almost two years of hard-as-hell work, and it’s finished.
“I’m going to let you all wander around while I get the champagne out of the fridge.” I meant this to be a celebration and that’s what it is. I’ve even got a charcuterie board that I made myself. Well, Chase helped by cutting everything up for me while I arranged it.
Making my way into the kitchen, I open the fridge and pull out several bottles of below-average bubbly. What? I’m not made of money.
Well, I sort of am made of money, but nobody expects Dom Pérignon. Besides, there’s a full bar in the dining room and beer in the fridge if anyone wants it.
I’m expecting more people to arrive shortly. People like Kitty and Mona.
Yes. Even Mona is invited. I want her to see the finished product and hopefully, this will put an end to her constant and needless attempt to stop the progress. The woman just can’t seem to help herself. It hasn’t been an easy adjustment, but we came to an agreement when I told her if she didn’t get off my back, I was going to tell Finn Manning about her stealing my coin and that I had photographic proof and a witness who used to be in law enforcement and who has a friend in the FBI. Weirdly, Chase and Agent Trent Wilde became friends after everything happened with Bill and the treasure.
Don’t get me wrong, not for a minute do I think Mona has changed her ways, but she seems to be busy dealing with former tenant lawsuits, among other issues. But the minute she tries to screw with me again, I may reconsider the plan of running her over with my new pickup. I’d have to damage Toni 2 to do it, but if I must….
“Can I help, babe?” The second I hear his voice, I smile.
“Sure.”
“Let me get the platter out of the fridge.” It’s funny. He calls it a platter because he refuses to say “charcuterie.”
“Thanks.”
We work in companionable silence. I get a little pat on my ass when he passes by me, and I kiss the back of his neck when I do the same. That’s how it is with us. We’re affectionate, demonstrative, and in love. He said it first. I thanked him and made him wait a few hours before I said it back. Letting him stew about it for a while was good for him. And stew he did. There was a whole lot of grumbling and grunting until I wrapped arms around his neck and said those three little words that mean everything to me. To us.
“Love you, Lou.”
See there? He says it all the time. For no reason. Take now. I’m busy trying to open the stupid bottle of champagne, and he’s—I look to my right, then down. He’s on his knee. Holding up a little box.
“Oh. My. God.” It’s Mom’s voice but I can’t be distracted. I refuse to look at anyone but Chase.
“Chase?”
“I love you so much, Velma Lou. You’re my everything. My opposite, my heart, the love of my life. I knew it the minute you hit me with that board with the nails poking out of it that you were the one for me.”
I hear my father laugh, then Bella.
I glance down at the ring. It’s a diamond. Not huge but just right. “You want to marry me?”
