“Oh, yeah?”Iraise an eyebrow. “Whoelse are we sending thank you notes to?”
Hesmiles the cutest smile. “TheCoffeeLoft’sspiced chai.Andthe barista who makes them.I’vealways liked it, butIswear that when you make it, it tastes better.”
“That’sbecauseImake it with love.”
“Iknew it!I’mconvinced it was your master plan all along.”
Ilaugh. “Yes.I’vebeen seducing you with spiced chai lattes.Itjust took a lot longer thanIthought it would.”
“Butit did work.”
“Pleasetell meI’mnot going to have to wait for another spy mission for you to kiss me.”
Olliechuckles. “Nah.I’vedone the risk assessment already, andI’mgoing to recommend moving forward.”
“Ilove it when you talk accounting to me.AmIthe client in this metaphor?BecauseIaccept your recommendation.Butinstead of ‘shaking on it’ or athank younote for my alluring chai lattes,I’lltake your lips right here.”Itap my lips with a finger.
Olliewraps one arm around my back, pulling me close, and cups the base of my head with his other hand andIsink into him.Thenhe presses his lips to mine.Thetouch is somehow both soft and firm at the same time and sends so many sparks of happiness and contentment and excitement and peace coursing through me at the same time.Ilink my hands at the back of his neck and try to soak in everythingOllieis as our lips move together.
Thereare sounds of people in the distance closing down the fall festival and getting the bonfire going, yet it feels like we’re all alone at the edge of the park, kissing to the sounds of crickets chirping and the stream gurgling.Ican’t imagine anything more perfect.
Ihad thought that our kiss in the middle of the fall festival with people all around had been so great because of the excitement of the danger and the fact that we were kissing as a way to hide.Butthat wasn’t it atall.Everythingthat made that kiss amazing—and this one even more amazing—is because it’sOllie.
Eventually, he breaks the kiss and trails his fingers along the side of my face and on my neck, andIclose my eyes, soaking in the feel of it.
Iam a kite, and right now,Iam soaring so high in the sky.AndIknow thatIam tethered exactly whereIshould be.
EPILOGUE
FUR, FIASCOS, AND FOREVER
Ollie
Mybrother andIpull into the parking lot of the wedding venue at the same time asDaisyand her sister pull in.Weboth get out, holding our garment bags with our tux and dress inside and make our way to each other.I’mso happy to see her—well, every single day, but especially today—thatIcan’t stop smiling.
She’ssmiling, too, and asIwrap the arm around her that isn’t holding the bag and pull her in for a kiss, she smiles into the kiss pretty quickly, and says, “Isn’tthis supposed to be bad luck?”
Hersister,Laurel, says, “Onlyif he seesyou in your dress,” at the same time thatIsay, “AnytimeIget to see you is always good luck.”
Wego inside the building and take a peek in the grand hall where all the chairs are set up for the guests and the florists are setting up the arch we’ll be getting married under in a few hours.Everythingis looking amazing.
“I’lltake this to the bride’s room,”Laurelsays as she addsDaisy’sbag to her load of bags.
“AndI’lltake yours,” my brotherEthansays.
Thenit’s just me andDaisy, andIsneak another kiss. “Mmm,”Isay. “Thisday is working out pretty perfectly already.”
Everyoneis in town and coming to the wedding.Laureland her husbandGavinhave been here fromCharlottesvilleall week.Ethanand the woman he’s dating came in fromBoston.Myparents already live close by.Daisy’sparents just got to town fromMontpelier,Vermont, where they’ve been running a maple syrup spa retreat.Friends.Coworkers.Family.EvenJaceandMackenzieare coming.
Daisyrests her head against my chest andIwrap my arms around her. “Canyou believe we got everything done?”
Ilet out a soft chuckle. “Itwas nothing short of a miracle.You, my bride, are a superhero.”
Ican feel her smile against my chest.Ican also feel the relief.Daisyis incredibly creative, and once she gaveher creativity permission to roam free, she has made some jewelry and accessories that are so unique that people have been going crazy for them.Shestarted selling them online and posting videos about them on social media.That’swhen things really picked up.
Daisystarted making coffee mug earrings.Shecrafts them herself and paints the mugs for each pair uniquely.Someare filled with coffee, but she even makes latte ones with a heart in the foam.Acelebrity bought a couple of pairs, andIguess she became “obsessed” with them.Shereached out toDaisyand said she’s going to post a video about them but wanted to let her know ahead of time because it’ll send a lot of customers her way, and she’ll need to be prepared.
Soit’s been a flurry of activity for both of us as we, along with any friends who can, have been helping with all the parts that don’t have to be done byDaisyherself.Allwhile at the end stages of planning a wedding.Andall while working at our day jobs and not taking any time off because we need our vacation time for our honeymoon.
