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Cat chuckled. “To think it all began with a fake kiss.”

“There was nothing fake about that kiss and we both know it.”

“I love you so much, El,” Cat whispered.

“Oh, babe, I love you, too.”

Their lips met again in a passionate kiss as their arms tightly wrapped around each other. Time stood still and when they pulled away their smiles could light the evening sky.

Elena furrowed her brow and tilted her head. “At your sisters’ proposals, their family and friends were waiting somewhere.” She looked around the beach but they were the only ones there.

Cat smiled. “They’re all at the restaurant waiting for us.”

Elena gasped then narrowed her gaze at Cat. “Wait a minute. You told them about us?”

Cat nodded. “I told Cory and CeCe it would be fun to have the big wedding,” Cat explained. “They had the most confused looks on their faces.”

“Oh, no. What did you do?”

“CeCe asked how we could pull it off if you and I were in a fake relationship.”

“And?” Elena said as a big smile grew on her face.

“I said, maybe it wasn’t fake.”

“Oh my God! Did they lose it?!”

“Cory said she knew it, but they were both happy for us and then I asked them to help with the proposal. I wanted to tell you how they reacted, but this had to be a surprise. I wasn’t so sure you’d say yes,” Cat said.

“You weren’t sure? Why? I adore you, baby. I’m so in love with you, most of the time I can’t think straight.”

Cat raised her eyebrows and grinned. “I don’t want you to think straight.”

Elena threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, Cat. I knew your bookstore was going to be special. That’s why I couldn’t wait to walk in on that first day. Dean told me to go find who I was and I just knew the key was inside those walls. He would be very happy for us. I just know it.”

“I hope he knows how much I love you and how much I appreciate him,” Cat said.

Elena furrowed her brow. “You do?”

“Yes. I think, in a way, he gave you the courage to walk into the bookstore where you found me. Your heart saw how much I needed you and my heart knew you were the one to show me I could love again.”

“Catarina,” Elena whispered and kissed her again. “You and your bookstore.”

“Oh!” Cat raised her eyebrows. “That reminds me. Since you now work for Your Next Great Read, you’re also the co-owner.”

“What? No, honey. The bookstore is yours.”

Cat shook her head and smiled. “It never has been. You were a part of it from the beginning, just like me. Actually, you’re the most important part, in the bookstore and in my heart.”

“My lover is a romantic,” Elena murmured, grabbing Cat and kissing her with all the love in her heart. “They’re going to have to wait a little longer.”

Cat deepened the kiss and her heart overflowed with happiness and love.

They heard a noise in the distance and both looked toward the restaurant.

“Well?” Nicolas shouted from the deck of the restaurant, waving his arms over his head.

Elena and Cat both laughed. “I guess we’d better go tell them you said yes.”