Page 130 of The Friends and Rivals Collection

EPILOGUE

Derek

A little later

Shaw juggles some chocolate chip cookies that Arden made.

“Look at that!” He tosses three in the air, spinning them in circles out here on the deck.

I clap a few times. “You’re a master juggler, but I don’t think anyone wants to eat those.”

“That’s cool. I do.” After he lets the cookies fall into his palms, he stuffs them into his mouth, one after another.

“You’re kind of a pig, Shaw,” Vanessa calls out from the kitchen.

He winks at her, and I make a note to talk to Perri again later about these two. Pretty sure I have a good inkling as to what’s up between them.

Perri’s dad joins us on the deck, clapping me on the back as I help him at the grill on a Sunday afternoon.

“How’s everything going at work, Derek?” he inquires.

Perri’s dad is one sharp fellow. Smart, involved, and thoughtful. Her mom is pretty awesome too. I know because I go to her parents’ house most Sundays for dinner. They’ve welcomed me into the family and treated me like her partner from the first time we met.

Sure, I’m still her roommate, but we share a room now. Her bedroom. Actually, we share the whole house, and all the bills. There is no more lease, no more month-to-month deal, and there are no more separate doors and hallways.

There is only one home, and it belongs to us.

“Work is good, sir. I landed a promotion and a raise, so I have zero complaints.”

“Excellent. And how’s everything with your sister?”

“Her husband is coming home in a few months, and Devon is walking, so Jodie has her hands even more full.”

“But she has more hands to help her too,” Perri chimes in from her spot lounging on a deck chair. “I happen to like the kids.”

“Maybe you can give me a grandkid, then,” her dad says, winking at her.

“Dad!”

He shrugs. “Just saying. Sooner rather than later would be good.” He leans in closer to me, whispering, “Maybe you could make her an honest woman, son.”

I say nothing. I simply head inside and enjoy the meal with my woman, her family, and all our friends.

Later that evening, I unlock the front door and toss the keys on the entryway table. “I’m thirsty. Want some wine?”

She wiggles her eyebrows. “Wine is always a good idea.”

“I’ll pour some glasses. You get comfortable, kitten.”

She sinks down on the couch, grabbing her knitting bag, pulling out the hat she’s making for Jodie.

I head to the kitchen and open a bottle, but it’s not wine. It’s a bubbly beverage. Call me confident, call me cocky. Or just call me certain of this love.

I have a damn good feeling we’ll be celebrating any minute.

I pour two glasses, set them down, and grab a piece of light-blue chalk. I write a message on the blackboard, then I call out, “Hey, can you help me with something in here?”

She chuckles. “What on earth do you need help with in the kitchen, Mr. Chef?”

“I need help pleasuring you on the kitchen counter. So get your sweet ass in here.” Sex works wonders on the woman, and I suspect it’ll indeed lure her.

Her boots click across the hardwood, and she turns into the doorway.

I drop to one knee and hold up the chalkboard.

I love you madly and always. Will you marry me?

Her eyes pop. She clasps her hand to her mouth. Tears well up. “Yes!” She nods vigorously, joins me on the floor, and kisses me passionately, even with the blackboard between us. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Happiness floods every damn cell in my body. “You haven’t even seen the ring.”

“I don’t care about the ring.”

“You better care. It’s fucking beautiful. Just like you.”

Letting the blackboard fall to the floor, I stand, her hand in mine, then I give her a glass of champagne. Hers contains a sparkling diamond on a silver band.

“God, it’s gorgeous.” Her green eyes twinkle with delight.

“I knew you’d like it.”

She dips her fingers in, tweezer-like, to fetch it, and when it’s in her hand, I take it and slide it on her finger. “Beautiful,” I whisper.

She throws her arms around my neck. “By the way, have I mentioned how awesome this kitchen is?”

“This kitchen is everything.”

I lift her up on the counter, and we enjoy another one of the great pleasures of this room.