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He pulls up in front of an old Victorian house and parks.
“What are we doing here? Whose house is this?” I ask, sliding my sunglasses down to get a better look.
“It’s ours,” he says, his eyes not leaving mine.
“What?” I whisper, looking over at the tall yellow and white structure right here on Main Street. It’s not far from the bakery and the law office. It has a beautiful turret and a large white wraparound front porch.
My hand goes to my mouth as I open the door to the Jeep and step out, not even feeling my feet hit the ground.
“You want to livehere?” I ask. I’m confused.
“No, I thought this would make the perfect bookstore.”
All along, I’ve been waiting for a commercial space to rent. I never thought of a house. An older home would be perfect. A home full of love and memories turned into a bookstore where more memories can be made. My heart swells, and I feel it. This is it. This is the place.
“Oh my God. I see it, Preston,” I say excitedly. I run to the front steps and look around. “There could be natural wood rocking chairs out here with glasses of sweet tea.” I point to the front of the porch.
I look out over the yard and picture the sign out front. I look back at him. He’s watching me, his hands in his pockets. “You want to build this with me?” I ask him.
“I want to build everything with you, Paige.”
I run and hug him and kiss him; he pulls me in even closer. “What do you say?”
“I say yes. Yes to it all. I love you. I love us.” I hold him tight.
“Let’s go in and see it. This was Evelyn’s home. It was her idea. She wants to give it to us.” He pulls the keys out of his pocket and unlocks the front door.
We step inside. The foyer is beautiful, with a large curvy staircase. I walk from room to room, picturing where I can put bookshelves and have rooms for events for the town. The turreted room would make the most beautiful space for a children’s reading area. Story time in here would be magical, and I can just see the kids learning and falling in love with books. The walls are high, and I can picture us painting beautiful murals and all the happy memories we’ll make here.
I grab Preston’s hand and drag him out back. The yard is huge and has a pergola that is overgrown with blooming purple wisteria. It needs to be cleaned up a little but is otherwise dreamy. “I can picture lights out here, and movie nights on the lawn.”
He holds my hand as we walk from room to room, dreaming up our future. There’s nobody I’d want to be my partner in life or anything else. He’s right. We’re turning the page and starting a new chapter. Together.
epilogue
Preston
Never Going Back Again
9 months later
She’s officially movedinto my house, the bookstore, and my heart. And she’s never leaving. Because when you find someone you love who drives you crazy like Paige, you have to hang on to them. I thought this would never happen for me, but Paige showed me what true love really means. This is it.
She’s setting up her books in what was once the living room, and I bring her a coffee.
“How’s it coming along?” I start breaking down boxes and stacking them.
“Better now that you’re here.”
“I got a few packages for you and have one for you to open,” I say, handing her a smaller box.
She opens it and gasps. “Preston Steele, are you...?”
I smile and get down on one knee.
“You are not proposing to me when I’m in sweaty clothes and working...” Her hand goes to her mouth.
“I’m not?” I question.
