“That was your doing—I assume you taught them about the nose wiggling?”
“I did, but I had no idea they remembered it.” She laughed as we started walking toward the house. “Are they going to claim responsibility for this?”
“Of course they are. They said it worked for the cat, and now it worked on us.”
“They’ll probably ask for a dog next,” Winnie said as we stepped onto the porch.
“Or a baby brother.”
She looked up at me and laughed. “Does that terrify you?”
“Actually, it doesn’t.”
Her jaw dropped.
Grinning, I pulled open the front door. “Come on. Our family is waiting for us.”
Thirty
Winnie
Two Months Later
“I can’t believe I have to do this.”
Ellie was not sympathetic. “Hey. You took the bet, you lost the bet. Now you pay.”
I looked around the crowded Mexican restaurant, which was always filled to capacity on karaoke night. Unfortunately for me, it was also the night before Christmas Eve, so in addition to all the regulars, the place was jam-packed with holiday tourists from all the nearby ski resorts.
Did I mention every single member of my family was there too? Also Dex, Hallie and Luna, Bree and Justin, Chip and Mariah, and half the Sawyer clan? Somehow they’d all heard about tonight and thought it sounded like a good time—I was going to murder Ellie if I lived through this.
Our group occupied a bunch of tables near the stage, where someone with way more talent than me was currently belting out a Whitney Houston song.
“You’re supposed to be my best friend,” I whined. “Can’t we work something out?”
“Dex, she’s trying to get out of it again,” Ellie said to him across the table.
“Dex knows how bad I am.” I turned to him. “You hate my singing voice.”
“I don’t hate anything about you.” He tapped my nose. “Plus this is going to be hilarious.”
“Ellie, I’m begging you.” I clasped my hands under my chin and pleaded with her. “Don’t make me get up there. I will die.”
“You’re not going to die.” She plucked a corn chip from the basket on the table and crunched happily. “You’re just going to know total and utter humiliation for like three minutes. But what’s three minutes compared to the lifetime of happiness you two are going to share?”
“And shouldn’t that count for something?” I bounced in my chair, panicking as “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” wrapped up. “I mean, this is real love! This wasn’t like those times before—I didn’t fall in love with a jerk, I fell in love with my soul mate! We’ve been together for months! I gave up my dream job for him.”
It was all true. After Dex’s big romantic gesture on the Wilsons’ lawn, I’d flown back to Rhode Island and been honest with Sandra Elson about what had transpired on my weekend visit home. She encouraged me to take time to think about my decision, but in my heart I knew where I belonged. With sincere apologies, I thanked her for the opportunity and gave my notice a week later. She was sad to see me go, but said she understood and wished me well.
Dex came out to Newport to help me pack up and make the move, and we spent our first full night together in my bed. When we woke up the next morning, the sun streaming through my bedroom window, he’d wrapped me in his arms and told me how grateful he was for me, how much he loved me, and how he would do everything he could to be the man I deserved.
I was back at home before Thanksgiving, and since my place had never sold, we were next door neighbors again—although we spent every night he didn’t have the girls in the same bed.
“I definitely agree you guys are the real deal,” Ellie said, reaching for her margarita. “It’s just that I don’t recall any sort of condition on the bet. You swore off men—all men, even soul mates—until Christmas. And I believe it was sometime in October I heard you declaring your love.”
“After everything I’ve done for you, you’re going to make me get up there?” I cried. “I saved you from dealing with brides every day! I rescued you from your mother!”
In a fabulous stroke of luck, Ellie’s parents had decided to go through with their dream of spending extended time in France—which meant Abelard needed a new events manager. When she heard I might be moving back, she called me and asked if I’d be interested in taking over the job. I’d jumped at the chance, not only because it would mean working where Ellie did, but because I’d always loved Abelard Vineyards. It was half the size of Cloverleigh Farms, and much less majestic than The Alexander, but it was intimate and romantic, and my first month there had been a delight.
Ellie pretended to consider this as she sipped her drink. “You did save me from brides, that’s true. And my mother is off my back since you came on board.”
“See?”
“But no.” Her eyes gleamed. “I still want the song.”
I glared at her. “You’ve watched way too many episodes of Friends.”
“True,” she admitted. “But I’m not sorry.”
The previous singer left the stage, and the emcee called my name. Everyone around us shouted and clapped. “Come on, Winnie!” Millie yelled.
“Winnie! Winnie! Winnie!” Hallie and Luna chanted.
“I’ll pay you,” I said desperately.
Ellie laughed and shook her head. “Get up there, MacAllister.”
Dex patted my shoulder. “Break a leg, babe.”
Reluctantly, I stood up. “If I pull the fire alarm, will you still love me?”
He shoved me toward the stage.
My eyes sought out the red EXIT sign over to one side of the room and I honestly considered making a run for it. But instead, I put my shoulders back, held my head up, and mounted the stage.
Taking the mic, I wished for the millionth time I could sing.
Over at his laptop, the emcee looked at me, and even though my knees were knocking, my hands shook, and my mouth felt drier than the Sahara, I nodded.
The music began, and I put the mic to my lips and tried to find the right notes.
“Her name was Lola.”
My family and friends hooted and hollered encouragement, but I wanted to die. My pitch was even worse than usual because I was so nervous.
“She was a showgirl.”
I looked at Ellie, who was laughing so hard, tears were streaming down her face. I caught Dex’s eye, and he winked, stuck his fingers in his mouth, and whistled loudly. Hallie and Luna had jumped out of their chairs and were dancing between the tables. My mother looked mortified for me, but all four of my sisters and my dad were on their feet, cheering me on.
Not because I was good—I was really, really bad—but because they loved me and supported me no matter what. Somehow it was enough to get me through the song, and thankfully, people had started to sing along, so I didn’t feel so alone.
By the end of the tune, I was laughing too, and when it was over, the place erupted with applause—I’m sure many in the room were just happy it was done. I handed the mic back to the emcee and quickly ran back to my seat. Flushed, I sat down and grabbed my margarita for a huge gulp.
“That was everything I wanted it to be,” Ellie said, still wiping tears.
“It wasn’t terrible?” I said in surprise.
“Oh no, it was terrible,” she assured me. “But I loved it.”
“You were very brave,” Dex said, clinking his beer bottle to my glass. “And even though I’m so grateful you went through that for me, I’m going to have to ask you not to gamble anymore. My eardrums can’t take it.”
“No worries.” I held up my hands. “My betting days are over.”
“I still can’t believe you made that wager in the first place,” said Ellie.
“Hey, I had one hundred percent confidence in myself.” I tipped my head onto Dex’s shoulder. “It wasn’t my fault I lost.”
“Are you blaming this on me?” Dex asked.
�
�Entirely. If you hadn’t moved in with your grumpy scowl and tight T-shirt, we all might have been spared tonight.”
“Don’t make me give you a lecture on how a man’s clothes are not to blame for a woman’s behavior,” he scolded.
I laughed. “Let’s call it even.”
“Deal.” Leaning close, he whispered in my ear. “As long as I can call you mine.”
Epilogue
One Year Later
WINNIE
“Working on any new stories?” I asked Hallie, dropping onto the foot of her bed. It was the night before Christmas Eve, and we’d spent the evening wrapping presents and baking Christmas cookies at Dex’s place. Snow was falling outside the girls’ bedroom window.
“I’m finishing an old one,” she said, hugging her stuffed penguin.
“Oh yeah?” Dex tucked Luna in and sat on the edge of her bed. “Which one?”
“The one about the ogre and the princess. It’s turning into a love story.”
“Oooh,” I said. “Tell me about it.”
“Well, they’ve been very good friends for a while, but the ogre would like to marry the princess.”
“But he’s an ogre,” Dex argued. “Are they even allowed to marry a princess? I thought her parents wanted her to marry the cruel prince.”
“They did, but this princess doesn’t care what other people say. She makes her own decisions.” She thought for a moment. “She’s a feminist princess.”
I laughed. “Good for her.”
“So do they get married?” Luna asked eagerly.
“Well, at first the ogre is afraid to propose. He thinks she’s going to say no because he’s not a prince. But he asks her anyway.”
“Because he’s learned to face his fears?” asked Dex.
“No, because her cottage is much nicer than his cave, and he really wants to live there with her.”
Dex harrumphed. “This ogre gets a bad rap in your stories.”
“What does she say?” I thumped Hallie’s feet through the blankets. “Don’t leave me in suspense!”
“She says yes, because she loves him and believes even ogres deserve a happily ever after.”
Luna grinned. “That’s a good ending.”
“It’s a perfect ending.” Smiling, I rose to my feet, kissed my fingers and touched Hallie’s forehead, then did the same to Luna. “Love stories are my favorite.”
“What about you, Daddy?” Hallie asked. “Are they your favorite too?”
“They’re growing on me.” Dex kissed his daughters goodnight while I leaned in the doorway. “See you in the morning.”
“You’re coming early in the morning for presents, right, Winnie?” Hallie asked.
“Yes,” I promised. “Just have your dad text me when you wake up.” Since the girls were spending tomorrow night with their mom, we’d told them Santa would drop by early to bring some gifts to open here.
“And you’ll come in your pajamas?”
“I’ll come in my pajamas.”
“And we can make chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast?” Luna asked.
“Yes—my mom’s secret recipe.”
“Goodnight, girls,” said Dex. “You have to go to sleep or else Santa won’t come.”
“You’re sure he knows to come early?” Luna sounded worried.
“Positive.” As Dex walked toward me and reached for the light switch, I saw both girls look at each other and wiggle their noses before the room went dark. I laughed softly as we went down the stairs.
“What’s funny?” he asked.
“The girls. I think they’re trying to cast another spell.”
We reached the bottom and he put his arms around me. “What could they possibly want now that they have a cat, the ogre has the princess, and I have you?”
“I don’t know,” I said, “but I definitely saw some nose wiggling in there.”
“Hmm.” He kissed the top of my head. “Maybe they were just making a Christmas wish.”
“True. Santa is coming tonight.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “Should we give it an hour before we bring their presents over from my place?”
His hands slid down over my butt. “Can we spend that hour making out on the couch?”
I laughed, running my hands up his chest. I always wanted to be close to him. “Definitely.”
The following morning, I went over to Dex’s in my flannel pajamas, as promised. It had snowed about eight inches overnight, so I had to wear my boots, but I took them off at the door and tugged on the fluffy cat socks the girls had given me last year for Christmas.
While holiday music played from the speakers and snow flurries continued to drift, Dex and I drank coffee and watched the girls sit by the tree and tear open presents from Santa, their dad, me, and even from my parents. Over the last year, Hallie and Luna had become almost like grandkids to them—my mother adored when I’d bring them over to the bakery, and my dad was always excited to see us when we popped over to Cloverleigh Farms. Last week he’d gotten the old horse-drawn sleigh out of the barn and taken us all on a ride through the snow. He said it reminded him of my sisters and me growing up with their endless questions and squeals of excitement.
My parents got along well with Dex too. My mother loved how happy he made me, and my father respected his military career, his job as a first responder, and his devotion to his daughters as a single dad. We all went to Sunday dinners at their house as often as possible.
I’d grown close to his sister as well. Bree and I had bonded over our shared frustration with Dex’s grumpy moods and stubborn nature, and he often had to put up with teasing coming at him from both of us at once. If Dex and Justin had a Saturday night off, we often spent the evening at their house playing cards. Bree was especially grateful to me for supporting Dex when he decided to visit their father a couple times before he died last spring. While he hadn’t ever brought the girls with him, he said he’d found some peace in forgiveness and would always be grateful for the letter. I noticed him talking more about his mom and dad with the girls afterward, describing good memories from his childhood—that made me happy.
Millie sometimes jokingly asked when she should start planning our wedding, but I told her we weren’t in any rush. As much as we loved each other, it wasn’t just about us, and we wanted to make sure the girls were ready for us to take that step.
But as far as I was concerned, Dex would always be the only man for me.
When all the packages had been unwrapped and paper, ribbons, and bows littered the floor, Hallie and Luna sat amongst it all and exchanged a distressed look. “But Daddy,” said Hallie, “there’s something missing.”
“There is?” Dex calmly sipped his coffee.
“Yes. The thing we got for Winnie,” Luna whispered, as if I wasn’t sitting right there.
I smiled at them. “But you got me plenty! The book I wanted, the new sweater, the toy for Piglet, the gift card for the salon. You spoiled me!”
“But there’s something else,” she insisted.
“Hmm.” Dex frowned. “You know, you’re right. There is one more thing.”
Hallie popped to her feet. “Where is it?”
“I think it’s in her stocking.”
“My stocking?” I looked at the banister, where yesterday three stockings had hung, personalized with Daddy, Hallie, and Luna. Today there was a fourth one hanging alongside them, and it said Winnie across the top. “Oh my goodness!”
Luna jumped up too. “Go look in it!”
I glanced at Dex—he said nothing, but his eyes sparkled with mischief. Setting my cup on the table, I went over to the stocking and stuck my hand inside.
My fingers curled around a small box.
Gasping, I looked back at the three of them. Hallie and Luna were jumping up and down.
“Is anything in there?” Hallie asked.
“Yes.” My heart raced as I pulled it out—it was gift-wrapped in shiny silver paper with a red velvet ribbon tied into a bow.
“What did you get?” Dex asked casually.
“I don’t know yet.”
“Who’s it from?”
I looked at it again. “There’s no tag. It’s a mystery.”
“Well, bring it over here. Let’s see if we can solve it.”
The entire room felt like it was tilting and spinning as I walked back over to where Dex sat on the couch and the two girls clutched each other in nervous excitement by the tree. When I reached him, I held it out. “Any ideas?”
He glanced at the box as he set his coffee cup on the table next to mine. “Hmm. I might know something about this.”
“He does!” Luna cried.
“Shhh,” Hallie admonished.
“Maybe you should open it,” Dex suggested.
With my pulse pounding hard, I untied the ribbon and unwrapped a small white gift box.
“Keep going!” shouted Luna.
I lifted the top off—inside was a black velvet hexagonal box. My breath caught and I looked at Dex.
“Keep going,” he said.
With trembling fingers, I removed the lid, and gasped at the diamond ring that winked at me in the tree lights. I blinked at it in disbelief, and when I looked up again, Dex had gone down on one knee at my feet.
“Oh my God,” I whispered.
He took the velvet box from my hands and plucked the ring from the cushion. Taking my left hand, he said, “Winnie, the last year has been one of the happiest of my life. You’ve brightened every single day with your smile and your spirit and your heart. All three of us agree you belong in our family.”
“Is it time for us now, Daddy?”
Dex glanced at Luna with a rueful smile. “I wasn’t quite done, but okay.” He looked up at me again. “The girls helped me pick out the ring, and they wanted to be part of this. I couldn’t say no.”
“Of course not.” My eyes filled as Luna and Hallie came and stood behind their father.
“Winnie, my favorite thing about you is your hugs,” said Hallie, as if she’d practiced her lines. “You always make me feel good if I have a bad day. Even if kids at school aren’t nice or I’m frustrated about something, I always know that when I see you, you’ll give me a hug and make me feel better.”
Ignite: A Grumpy Single Dad Romance Page 29