“Dom,” I breathe, turning to face him. He’s behind me still, but he’s lowered to one knee. I can’t help the tears from running freely now, though I let out a small laugh as Carl hurries to Dom’s side. The goofy dog dives low and rolls, paws in the air and tail wagging, waiting for belly rubs.
“Penelope Elizabeth Adams,” he begins, then pauses. Dom shakes his hands at his sides, shaking his head. “Fuck, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with my hands since you’ve already got the book. Er…”
“Here,” I laugh through my tears, holding the book out to him so he can hold it up to me.
“Thanks.” Dom’s smile at this moment is one I wish I could burn into my memory— his smile is so wide that his dimple is popping, it’s so beautifully radiant. It’s my favorite smile yet. “I love you, Pen. Without you, there is no me. And that’s not a hyperbole, it’s the damn truth. The man I am today is all thanksto an outgoing, kind-hearted, intelligent girl who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
I giggle at the memory, touched by how much of an impact I truly had on him back then.
“Despite it all, this last year has been the absolute best of my life. Yeah, I came back to Prairie Ridge because of some stupid shit, but I won’t regret that. Ever. Because it all brought me back to you. When I’m with you, I’m home. And I never want to lose that feeling, never want to lose you again.” Dom takes a shaky breath and whispers, “Will you marry me, Pea?”
Crying the happiest tears, I drop to my knees beside Dom. Gently, I place the book on the side table before we wrap our arms around each other. Carl jumps up on us, trying to get between us, licking our faces and hands.
Pulling back slightly, I press my forehead to Dom’s, staring into his eyes with unabashed passion.
“Of course I’ll marry you, Dominic Miller. I can’t imagine my life without you, without us. You’ve brought so much light and joy to my life this last year.” He rolls his eyes playfully and I nudge him with my shoulder. “I mean it. Even when you’re being an absolute grump.” Taking a deep breath, I continue. “You see me, Dom. You see me in a way no one ever has, not even me. You make me feel like I’m enough, just as I am.”
Dom runs a hand through my hair, tugging it softly so I tilt my head up. “You are everything, Pen. Fucking everything to me.”
“You know, I think I like you, Dom.”
“A little?” He smirks as he wraps an arm around my waist, another around my legs to scoop me up, depositing me on the couch.
Before I can respond, he covers me with his body— that delicious, masculine weight pressing into me, his mouth covering mine. And he claims me, right there on the couch. Rightbeneath the stunning custom-built shelves. Before I even have a chance to try on my ring.
TWENTY-FOUR
december
DOMINIC
I haven’t workeda holiday in retail in almost two decades and every day working at the store reminds me why. Customers are often pissy, tempers are flaring, and it’s as though the term “holiday spirit” is a myth.
“It’s not so bad,” Pen muses as she fills an entire cart full with books to be reshelved.
Pointing at the crammed cart, I grumble, “That’s twice as many reshelves as we usually have at closing time. It’s like customers are going out of their way to be messy assholes.”
“Dominic!” Penelope hisses, admonishing me, but I don’t care. The store is closed— I just locked the front door and it’s taking all of my willpower to keep moving instead of collapsing on one of the couches.
“Pea,” I plead, grabbing the other end of the cart so she can’t pull it away from me. She smiles at me but it vanishes quickly, evaporating to an expression of disappointment. “Shit, I’m sorry. I’m just venting–”
“No, that’s not it,” Pen says quietly, glancing up at me. “I just realized… it’s stupid.” She waves her thought off, but I’m not buying it.
“Spill it, Penelope. What thoughts are circulating in that beautiful head of yours like a tornado?”
She looks down at her hands, resting on the cart, and I notice her gaze lingering on her ring. Shit. Is she second-guessing saying yes? If she is, I might actually pass the fuck out, right here and now.
“I won’t be Pea anymore.” Pen’s voice is quiet, barely above a whisper. She’s twisting her lips like she’s trying to manage the emotions that are threatening to bubble up and out— I know her too well to let her pass this off as something “stupid.”
Taking a few steps around the cart, I stand next to her, brushing some hair off her face and tilting her chin up to look at me. “You’ll always be my sweet Pea,” I murmur. “And if you want to keep your last name?—”
“No!” Pen blurts out, making us both laugh. “That’s not what I mean at all. I’m looking forward to being Mrs. Miller one day.” She stands up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to my cheek. “I mean, you could always start calling me… Pem?” Now it’s my turn to scrunch up my face. “Doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it?”
“Sounds like aPride & Prejudicereference,” I laugh. “Like I said, you’ll always be Pea to me.”
Pen sighs, looking down at the cart. “I suppose we should get these put back.”
“Hmmm. Actually, there’s something else I’d like to do instead.” Winking at her, I reach for her hand.
