Cinnamon Roll Set Up (Cinnamon Rolls and Pumpkin Spice)

Epilogue

GEORGIA

It’s not us. It’s not. They’re fictional characters, and their names are Ryder and Lily. He’s trying to save his family’s struggling Christmas tree farm, and she’s the attorney trying to foreclose before Christmas Day.

Yes, Ryder wears glasses and has messy hair like Miles. And yes, Lily’s wavy blond hair is somewhat familiar, but her fun sweater does not make her me .

I stare at the illustration on my tablet, searching for some way to make it clear I wasn’t inspired by me and Miles. I am not going to be so love drunk that I put us on every cover where it even remotely makes sense. I sketch out work boots on him and put spike heels on her.

There. Very unlike us.

“Hey.” Miles stops right beside my chair and leans in close to inspect my work. He kisses the top of my head. “We look great.”

We’re hanging out in Dogeared after closing like we sometimes do. He’s deep in drafting his next book and likes to work in the quiet of the bookshop. The only distraction in here is me.

And honestly, I can be pretty distracting. But I try to let him work. Most of the time.

I save the file and close the app. “It’s not us.”

“I know.” He holds out a hand to me. “The spring samples Bailey left are cool now. Do you want to try them?”

“Um, try delicious treats? Don’t mind if I do.”

In the back, Bailey’s left us mini versions of six desserts to try. We always carry a few staples in the café, like Miles’s mom’s cinnamon rolls and vanilla scones, but they’ve been changing up the menu every few months, too. Give the treats case a little razzle-dazzle every now and then.

It looks like she’s switching from the dark chocolate muffins and warm, spicy loaf cakes we had all winter to bright, light lemon bars and strawberry turnovers. I try each one, hoping they don’t expect me to rule any of them out. They’re all delicious.

It’s only after I’ve taste-tested every one—and then some—that I realize Miles isn’t taste-testing with me. I rinse my hands in the sink and head to the front.

“What are you—” I stop on the other side of the curtain.

The lights are out, but candles glow throughout the bookshop. I have the ridiculous thought that candles aren’t safe next to this many books, right before realization stops my breath in my lungs.

Miles stands in the middle of the bookshop. “I’ve thought of a bonus epilogue for Captain Aster.”

I take a few steps closer. He knows the right lures to use. “Can I read it?”

His smile peeks out. “I haven’t written it yet. But I think it will show that he’s going to get that happily ever after you’ve always wanted. ”

“With his second in command?”

We’re not talking about Captain Aster and his second any more than my latest book cover isn’t Miles and me.

“It will show that he finally gets the woman he’s been in love with for so long.”

“How will he do that?” It’s hard to sound bold when you’re on the verge of jumping up and down.

“It’d probably go a little something like this.” He reaches into his sport coat, pulls out a small box, and lowers himself to one knee.

I ignore the fireworks going off in my chest and try to memorize this moment. He hasn’t even said anything, and it’s all I can do not to tackle him already. And sob. A crybaby tackle is in order.

“Georgia, I’ve loved you for a long time now. And I promise you, I’m never going to give up on you. I’m going to go on loving you, and supporting you, and laughing with you for as long as I live. And I’d like to do that as your husband, if you’ll let me. Will you marry me?”

I join him on the floor, my tears making him blurry. “I love you so much. I would love to marry you.”

He kisses me, and we get just a tiny bit sidetracked from the proposal. When we finally break apart, he slips the pale purple gem on my finger.

“It’s a vintage amethyst,” he tells me. “Seemed a good fit for my thrifting-loving girlfriend.”

“It’s beautiful.” And exactly the thing I would have chosen. He knows me too well.

Or precisely well enough.

“And I’m your fiancée now,” I add. Crazy. But the best thing ever.

He grins and moves us over to Make-Out Chair to settle me on his lap. “I didn’t ask your father’s permission. I didn’t think you’d like it very much if I consulted him first.”

Dad tries a bit more than he used to, but Miles is right. I wouldn’t have wanted him to feel like he could pass judgment on this decision before I could.

“But Sam and your grandpa knew what I was planning. And they gave their blessing, which felt just right to me.”

“You’re going to make me cry even more. Did Sam give you a hard time?”

“A little bit. Wanted me to ask you if he should throw away Maverick’s number.”

I laugh, burrowing my face in his neck. “He’s the worst.”

“I told him he can throw every guy’s number away. You’re mine.”

Yeah. That’s the good stuff. “Say it again.”

He gets this delightfully intense look on his face. “ You’re mine .”

Then he kisses my cheek and wraps me even closer in his arms. This is everywhere I want to be.

“I can’t wait to live my whole life with you,” I tell him. “I want it all—love and laughter, joy and babies?—”

He stops my list with a kiss. “No spoilers.”