Page 63 of Secret Dynasty

He rushed forward and opened the door. “Allow me.”

“You aren’t going to turn into a gentleman on me, are you?”

“I’d say it’s unlikely,” he reassured me He helped me into the passenger seat and then proceeded to stuff my skirt in as quickly as he could. We both knew that Spencer had probably made good on his promise to call the police.

“This is a lot of dress,” he grumbled, barely getting it all in the cabin. He managed to shut my door. I fought the cloud of tulle, pushing it down so I could see beyond it.

Holden reached the driver’s side, and my heart soared. We’d finally escaped.

“What are you doing?” Caroline shrieked, her voice slicing through the air, and my joy turned to ashes.

Holden turned around and waved to her. “Surprise, mum! I think I’m finally settling down”

“You can’t do this,” she said, walking swiftly toward the car. Apparently, she was still above running. I mean, what would people think?

Holden shrugged. “I think I already did.”

“That is your brother’s fiancée.” She jabbed a finger in my direction.

“No,” he corrected her, “that is the love of my life.”

“You don’t even know her.”

Holden didn’t argue with her. Instead, he closed his door and drove toward the gate, leaving the past where it belonged. Behind us. Someday, we might have to reveal the truth. But when we were ready. Those memories belonged to us, even the ones I’d lost along the way, and we would find them together.

He stopped the car at the end of the drive and turned to me. “Are you sure about this?”

“Absolutely.”

His gaze drifted out the window, and he frowned.

“What?” I asked as my pulse pounded.

“You and me.” He shook his head, and I thought my heart might stop. “This is going to make family Christmas awkward.”

I rolled my eyes, instantly feeling calm. After what we had survived, I knew we could make it through anything. “Want to change your mind?”

“Nah.” He grinned at me, and my heart flipped as I realized this was actually happening. “You’re worth the trouble. You always have been.”

He leaned across the console and took my chin in his hands. A deep peace settled over me. We had the rest of our lives together, and when he brought his lips to mine, I knew we could conquer anything. As long as we did it together.

When I finally pulled away, his eyes remained closed, a smile playing on his lips. After a minute, he opened them and gestured toward the road ahead. “Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere,” I said with total certainty. I wasn’t the person I’d been when I came to Sparrow Court. I was still finding the real me, but now I knew I could be whoever I wanted. And I knew exactly who I wanted by my side. “I’ll go anywhere with you.”

The end, but…