Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires, #3)(146)

She yawns. “Towel. I’m too tired to do anything else.”

“Hold on.” I come back with a wet towel to clean us both up the best I can before collapsing into bed.

Lana cuddles up against me and tucks her head between the crook of my neck. “I love you.”

My chest tightens. It took me a while to feel worthy of those words from her, but I’m slowly getting used to them.

“I love you too.” My lips brush against the top of her head. There is nothing I won’t do to make sure Lana spends the rest of her life being cherished like the gift she is.

She changed my life and proved to me that loving myself matters just as much as loving others. Because in order to show up for everyone else, I need to show up for myself first.

The future won’t be easy. I’m not foolish enough to think I won’t be tested and tempted into falling back into hurtful patterns. But with Lana, Cami, and our family by my side, anything feels possible. Even the failures.

And I think that’s what my grandpa was trying to teach me all along.





EPILOGUE





ALANA





One year later


“You’ll close up for me tonight?” I tug my apron over my head.

Gabby, my amazing employee, pauses her sweeping to look up. “No problem, boss. I got it.”

I have three people working for me, all of whom are incredible in their own ways. Besides their love for baking, they are passionate about testing out new recipes to see who can make the next best Dreamland dessert. Turns out my tres leches recipe was a hit, and Rowan is already pressuring me for more sweets.

He is the reason I have been working later than usual this week. If it weren’t for him asking me for a new holiday recipe, I would have been the one to pick up Cami from school. Instead, Cal has been the one to take care of her while I’ve been obsessing over what holiday treat I plan on presenting to Rowan this weekend when we go visit the family at Dreamland.

My phone rings in my hand. “Shit. Bye, Gabby!”

“Where are you?” Cal asks when I answer.

“On my way.” I flip the switch for the neon sign before walking out the front door. The Sweets and Treats Bake Shop sign lights up above me.

It was the same name my mom and I came up with together one day while standing in the same spot. I’m sure my mom would be proud, knowing I finally achieved the dream of opening my own bakery.

“You’re still at the shop, aren’t you?” Cal’s question drags me away from my thoughts.

“I’m leaving now, I swear!” I juggle my phone between my shoulder and cheek while digging around my purse for my car keys.

Someone groans in the background.

“What was that?” I ask.

“The television. See you soon. Love you. Bye.” He hangs up.

Huh. That was weird.

The stars are already out by the time I pull into the driveway of our lake house. I expect to find Cami and Cal in the living room working on the new boat he bought, but the place is pitch black. I reach for the light switch near the sliding door, only to stop myself as something outside catches my eye.

The dock is lined with candlelit glass lanterns illuminating a path toward the end.

“Oh my God.” My hand shakes as I open the sliding door and step out onto the wraparound deck. I walk down the steps and across the massive lawn, straight toward the shadow standing at the end of the dock. Grass crunches underneath my feet, breaking the silence.

Cal looks over his shoulder. The moon shines above, illuminating his entire face. “Hey,” he calls out loud enough to be heard from a distance.

“What’s all this about?” I say with a loud voice. I think I have a good idea what is going on, but only because Cal picked a terrible spot to hide an engagement ring. I’ve been waiting weeks to see when he would pop the question. He even teased me twice, with him making a big deal out of tying his shoe on two separate occasions.

I swear he knows I know.

He turns to face me. Something long and wide is cradled against his chest, but I can’t make it out from here. The dock creaks beneath my sneakers as I close the gap between us. My heart pounds so hard that I’m afraid it might break a rib in its attempt to bust free from my chest.

“What’s that?” I stop in front of him and point to the piece of wood in his hands.

He flips the piece of wood.

My eyes widen. No way.

“Is that…” I reach out with a trembling hand and trace the L etched into the wood beside the C.

“You didn’t think I would really let the construction crew throw it out, did you?”

My tongue feels heavy. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I had big plans for it, and I didn’t want to risk you burning it or something.”

I look up at him with watery eyes. “What kind of plans?”

“The forever kind.” Cal holds the plank in one palm while he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out…his Swiss Army knife?!

“Cal…” I press my palm against my gaping mouth.

He kneels and props the plank on his thigh. The sharp blade glints as he presses the tip beneath the L column, right below my other strikes.

“I dare you to spend the rest of your life with me.” He drags the tip of the knife down, making a solid line. “I dare you to let me love and protect you and Cami and every other kid we have with my whole heart.” He adds a second strike. “I dare you to take a risk on me, knowing that things won’t always be the easiest and that I will struggle, although I have every intention of being the man you will always deserve.” A third slash is added. “I dare you to trust me to be your companion, your lover, and your best friend. To let me be your biggest cheerleader and the shoulder you cry on when things get hard, trusting that I will be the one to wipe your tears and fix whatever hurt you.” His fingers tighten around the knife as he draws the fourth slash.