Page 74 of Finally Home

“Puppies, Ms. Hollie, puppies,” Eva shouts from her dad’s arms. “There’s one that always licks my face.”

“I’ll have to plan a trip up there so that I can take it.”

“I’m holding you to that.” Brynn laughs before turning to her husband. “Callum, you heard her, right?”

He chuckles with a nod.

A clinking sound causes everyone to quiet down and turn toward the bar.

“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” Ollie stands slightly taller than the crowd, so I assume he is partially leaning on a stool. He glances around the room, and when his eyes lock on mine, he tilts his head in invitation to come up and join him. Once I’m by his side, he wraps his arm around my shoulder.

“Kiss her, you fool,” someone shouts from the crowd.

“Don’t need to tell me twice.” Ollie catches me off guard as he dips me backward. My hands cling to his arms as he kisses me passionately. Hoots and hollers surround us as he stands us back up. That kiss spins me off my axis, and I have to lean into him to keep my balance.

“I just want to take a minute to thank everyone for coming to celebrate today. And I expect to see all of you”—he points out to everyone in the crowd—“to be at the grand opening of Wanderlust next week. In case you needed further encouragement, Tilley’s is catering, and Rhy put together a special, delicious menu for the event.

“But more importantly, I just wanted to thank the love of my life, Hollie.” The crowd awes in unison, and I feel my cheeks heat as tears fill my eyes. “Every day, I’m thankful that out of all the places you walked into, it was this one. There is no one else outthere that I’d rather spend the rest of my life with. I will always be your home and you mine. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I mouth.

“To Hollie and Ollie,” Rhy shouts, and the crowd joins in, holding up their glasses. Ollie holds up his glass, and I bring mine up to cheer him.

After taking a sip, Olie leans in and presses his lips to my ear. “And the wiener bandit and grocery store menace lived happily ever after.”

Yes, they did.

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