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Too bad my mother didn’t think about the curtain on the stage. It would be easy to escape through there, but Lewis stopped me in my tracks before I could get out.

“Look at me,” he said. “Please.”

I swallowed.

“I’m sorry, Olive. About everything.”

His words made me drag my gaze away from the floor. As our eyes locked, my breath caught in my throat. He looked so pure, so honest, so vulnerable.

“I shouldn’t have said any of those things to you about not wanting to date you while working together, or you not being trustworthy. I realized that way before your mother dragged me in here, talking about some hamster problem she was having.”

“You did?” I asked.

He nodded. “The day after that argument, I felt so bad, but also extremely afraid.” He paused, searching for words. “I thought I was heading down the same road again. You know, falling in love with someone who couldn’t be trusted.”

“You… you were falling in love with me?”

He took both my hands in his and gave them a squeeze. “No. Ihavefallen in love with you. I still am. I want to be with you, Olive. That date I asked you on? That’s been on my mind ever since the moment I laid eyes on you. But I will understand if it’s too late now. If you feel I messed up too badly, then I will respect that and leave you be.”

I couldn’t help but grin. Once again, tears made my vision blurry, only this time, they were happy tears. “It’s not too late. I’m falling in love with you too,” I said with a blush. “If you think you can get rid of me that easily, you’re in for a treat, Doctor Grant.”

“Wow. You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that,” he said with a laugh.

Then he caressed my cheek with one hand while he put the other on the small of my back, pulling me closer to him until our lips met.

His kiss felt amazing. His soft mouth belonged on mine, almost as if it was made only for me. I deepened our kiss as butterflies raced through me, lighting my entire body on fire.

On the other side of the curtain, the fundraiser was in full swing. The laughing, cheerful music and excited chattering clued me in to the fact that everyone in Old Pine Cove was having an amazing time, but I knew with absolute certainty that none of them could be as happy as I felt in that perfect moment. I let my hand roam through Lewis’s thick hair.

But our kiss ended abruptly when I heard people cheering us on. How was that even possible?

I glanced sideways. The curtain had opened without either of us noticing. Milly stood on the stage, clapping her hands, and everyone was looking at Lewis and me.

“We were just about to announce the silent auction winners,” Milly said with a laugh.

Lewis cleared his throat and tried fruitlessly to get his hair looking smooth again.

Milly winked at us. “I promise you this whole win a date with Doctor Grant thing won’t be awkward for you two lovebirds. In fact,” she said, turning to face the crowd. “A very special lady has won this auction, thanks to some sweet people sponsoring her entry.”

Oh, no. Melissa had rounded up sponsors to ensure she won? The last thing I felt like doing was handing Lewis over to her now.

“Please welcome our winner to the stage,” Milly said.

I held my breath, nervous for her next words.

“Congratulations, Lily! You won a date with Doctor Grant.”

James helped his daughter walk up onto the stage. The girl was holding what I could only assume was her imaginary dragon friend in her arms.

Lewis’s face lit up. We shared a look, and I knew he was just as moved by this as I was. I couldn’t have thought of a better person to win a date with him.

Milly knelt down next to Lily. “Where do you want Doctor Grant to take you, honey?”

“I’d like him to come to the playground with me and Dad to look for special rocks. Drake, my dragon, loves those.” She looked up at the two of us. “And I want his friend to come with us. They both helped Drake when he was hurt, with their special Ladricon spray. My dad said they are both sweethearts and that we can all have a picnic together.”

The crowd applauded as Lily walked off the stage. Lewis and I followed suit, and I spotted my mother smiling at us with tears in her eyes.

Lewis grabbed my hand and pulled me close while he was being greeted by several women I recognized from yoga class.