Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires, #3)(147)

“I dare you to marry me.”

Tears spill down my cheeks as he adds a diagonal line across the other four.

He places the plank on the dock before grabbing a ring from his pocket. It looks even better than I remember, the brilliant diamond sparkling more than the surface of the lake at noon. The jewel is a tasteful size—big enough to spot from a long distance but small enough to not risk getting robbed.

It’s absolutely perfect and everything I wanted for myself.

“What do you say, Lana?” He grins. “Are you crazy enough to accept the challenge?”

My chin trembles. “Like I ever stood a chance at saying no to you.” I hold out my hand.

Cal slides the ring up my finger before standing and pulling me into his arms. I cradle his head between my hands and kiss him with every ounce of love and adoration I feel. His fingers dig into my hair, fusing our mouths together and drawing a sigh from me.

He breaks away all too soon. “I love you.”

“I love you too—always have and always will, so long as I live.”

He steals another kiss before pulling back again. “She said yes!” he calls out to the dark.

My mouth drops open as people pop out from their hiding places. The whole town, plus Cal’s family and my friends, step on to the lawn and make their way toward us. Music pours from the speakers and a party gets started around our pool.

My eyes narrow at the man with a massive grin on his face. “You were that confident I would say yes, huh?”

He winks. “I caught you trying on the ring with the goofiest smile on your face while practicing your surprised face.”

Oh my God. My cheeks heat.

“Why didn’t you do anything sooner?” My eyes widen.

“I had fun seeing you get all worked up every time you thought I was about to propose.”

I slap his shoulder with a laugh.

He traps my hand within his and kisses my knuckle above the ring. “It was cute.”

“Cute? I probably looked crazy trying on that ring.”

“No. You looked like mine.”

My stomach dips at the hungry look in his eyes.

“Mommy!” Cami dashes down the dock, clutching her stuffed lamb to her chest. She launches herself at us, and Cal lifts her into his arms before wrapping his other one around me.

I smile up at them. Cal was right. There was no way I would ever say no to marriage because there’s nothing I want more in life than to spend the rest of it with them.

Our forever family.

THE END