Page 70 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)

Holden

Three Months Later

I glance at Greer as we drive up to the beach house in East Hampton. It’s our first time here since we met.

“Is this it, Dad?” Olive asks from the back seat of my car. “This big house is our house?”

I reach for Greer’s hand to kiss her palm before I answer. “It’s our house. I think you’re going to like it here.”

“Like?” She laughs as she unbuckles her seat belt. “I already love it here. Is the water close?”

“Very close,” I tell her. “We have a pool, too.”

“No way!” She taps the back of Greer’s seat. “Maybe Kirby can come with us next time, Mom. Can you ask Uncle Rook if she can come next time?”

Witnessing Greer become an integral part of my friend group has been a gift to me.

She effortlessly fell into step with all of them.

Rook and Carrie’s daughter, Kirby, has become fast friends with Olive.

They’re about a year and a half apart in age, but that hasn’t stopped them from making plans to make friendship bracelets together, go to the park for playtime, and even arrange sleepovers.

Greer has been coordinating all of that with Rook and Carrie.

It took Greer some time to adjust to Krista’s move to Los Angeles, but they talk on the phone every day. Greer cried when Krista told her that her daughter would be named Ceci when she’s born. It’s a fitting tribute to the friend they both loved and lost.

Greer has been working closely with Rocco on mapping out a path forward for Sweet Indulgence. Before she officially signed on the dotted line to approve the sale of Krista’s share to Rocco, we briefly discussed the idea of partnering on the business.

At the end of the day, and after hours of discussion, we decided our personal partnership would always be our priority. Adding the extra layer of a shared business interest to that is not something either of us views as a priority right now.

I’ll always be available to offer her advice if she asks for it, but her business is going places and I couldn’t be prouder.

“I’ll talk to Rook.” Greer shoots me a smile.

“Let’s get inside.” I swing open my car door. “There are bouquets of roses inside for my two favorite people.”

“That’s Mom and me!” Olive yells as she slides out after I open her door.

She races toward the house, looking up at how expansive it is.

As we follow her up the paved walkway, Greer glances in the direction of Mrs. Frye’s house. Even though it’s not visible from here because of all of the trees and shrubbery, it still brings back memories of the day we met.

“After Olive goes to bed tonight, I’ll go over there and take a dip in the pool,” I whisper in her ear. “I’ll leave an umbrella close by so you can threaten me.”

She lets out a laugh. “You’re not funny.”

“You laughed,” I point out. “So, I am funny.”

“Dad is funny.” Olive nods as we get closer to where she’s standing by the door. “He told me a joke last night about a pony that’s sick.”

“It had a sore throat,” I set up the punch line.

“That’s called a little hoarse,” Greer says with a laugh. “That’s it, right?”

Shaking my head, I playfully poke her in the side. “You’ll pay for ruining my joke later.”

“I sure hope so,” she whispers.

It’ll happen. I’ll take her to bed late tonight and remind her of what we did in this house the first time we were here together.

“You always make me feel so good,” Greer purrs as she snuggles up against me.

“Same.” I chuckle softly. “How the hell did I come twice in thirty minutes?”

She slides the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip. “I had no idea after I blew you that you’d fuck me senseless minutes later.”

My gaze trails over her naked body. “I want to go again.”

She kisses the center of my chest. “Let’s catch our breath first.”

“I’ll get a washcloth to clean you up,” I whisper as I kiss her forehead.

We stopped using condoms the day I moved into the townhouse. That was almost two months ago now.

Greer is on birth control. We want another child, but we’re going to take some time to enjoy our daughter together first. Rook directed us to a friend of his who practices family law.

She’s been helping us with the paperwork that’s required to ensure I’m Olive’s legal father on record.

She’s also handled our daughter’s surname change.

“Okay,” she murmurs.

I get up to head toward the bathroom attached to our bedroom. I stop in place when I notice the moonlight filtering in through the break between the sheer curtains that cover the large window overlooking the beach.

I tug them open more, allowing the light to stream in. It’s dim, but it hits the bed in just the right way, casting a beautiful glow on the woman I love.

She’s on her side. I can tell she’s deep in thought. I hope to fuck she’s thinking about the same thing I am.

“Let’s go out to the pool for a glass of wine,” she suggests. “The moon is beautiful tonight. Let’s not waste that view.”

“Last one to get dressed is getting pushed in the pool.” I laugh. “Go.”

She’s out of bed with her sundress over her head in no time flat. I don’t even have a chance to get my jeans in my hand before she calls it a win for herself.

“I’ll get the wine,” she says. “You get ready to get wet.”

She slides on a pair of panties from one of the dresser drawers before she swings open our bedroom door and walks out, closing it with a soft click behind her.

I get dressed, taking time to pick a clean and pressed button-down shirt. I clean my eyeglasses, brush my teeth and my hair, and look in the mirror.

If anyone had told me a year ago this would be my life, I would have laughed in their face, but I’m about to make it even better.

I head out into the hallway, stopping briefly to open the door to the bedroom Olive declared was hers now. She’s fast asleep, dreaming of only good things, I hope.

I shut the door quietly, sprint down the stairs, and make my way straight out to the pool.

The tiny white lights that are strung from all the trees around the property are lit up. With the moonlight adding its own special magic to the moment, it looks like a fantasy come to life.

Greer is standing on the pool deck, looking at the still water. A light breeze is gently moving the skirt of her dress. Her long hair is cascading over her shoulders.

“The breeze is carrying the scent of the lilacs this way,” she says. “Can you smell it, Holden?”

The fact that she knew I was behind her brings me joy. I can always feel it when she walks into a room. It’s the same for her.

She’s shared the significance of white lilacs with me. Knowing they were Celia’s favorite flowers helps me appreciate them more when I sit in the garden of our home in Manhattan with our daughter.

It seems appropriate that they’re adding a subtle touch to this moment.

I drop to a knee. “Turn around, Greer.”

As soon as she does, her hands are clasped together on her chest. “This is it.”

I smile because she’s right. This is the moment I’ve been waiting a lifetime for. I know she has been, too.

“The day I met you, I had no idea what that would mean to me,” I say, trying to swallow back my emotions. “I see forever when I look in your eyes. I love you endlessly. I will cherish you until my days on earth are over.”

She steps closer. Tears are streaming down her cheeks.

“Please marry me, Greer. Please say you’ll be my wife.”

“I will!” she screams. “A thousand times over, my answer is yes, yes, yes.”

I slip the ring on her finger and jump to my feet to kiss my fiancée. It’s tender and soft, and mixed with both of our tears.

“You’re a gift to me,” I whisper to her. “You and Olive are my everything.”

They are. They will always be, and I can’t wait to find out what life has in store for all of us.