“Oh, don’t worry there,” Bri says, smiling. “It was really complicated, but basically, we sold the Den back to The Grand Waterways, and as payment, Gavin took an equal amount of stock value in the hotel corporation. We know you wanted your own place without worrying about complying with hotel rules.”
“Really?” I ask, and Brianna nods. “Thank you, Bri.”
“Oh, it gets better,” Oliver says, turning around. “Gavin has decided to work with me on investing. Now, he’s nowhere as rich and powerful as I am . . .”
“Unless you keep playing poker with me,” Gavin mock-growls, and I have to laugh.
Oliver laughs before turning back to me. “Anyway, Gavin’s pooling some investment money with Steele and Associates, seeing as how I know how to turn rich into super-rich. Trust me, Princess, these two are going to be sitting pretty while I’m elbow deep in flour.”
“Sounds good to me—I’ll just have to wash you up more often.”
“I knew there was a reason you decided to keep the shower in the apartment upstairs.”
Turning back to Bri with a smirk, I tell her, “Now, about that ‘yes, we did, and yes, I loved it.’ Tell me all about it.” Just as I expected, she blushes and ducks her head. Yep, still got it.
The line outside the cafe is buzzing, and I’m moved. Sure, it took a little bit of shameless self-promotion. And yes, Gavin has agreed to lend his bit of star power to the whole affair, but to see fifty people lined up when this isn’t even the official grand opening?
“Whoa,” Oliver says, looking as handsome as ever in his white dress shirt, sexy black jeans, and his apron with Mindy’s Corner stenciled over his heart. “Hope we’ve got enough cinnamon rolls.”
“I’m sure if you don’t, I’ve got something that’ll keep them entertained,” a voice from behind me says, and I turn, nearly squealing in delight as I see Roxy come up from the basement. “Hey, Sis.”
“Roxy? What the hell are you doing here?” I ask, running over and giving her a big hug. “How’d you get there?”
“Ask Mr. Sexy Pants over there,” she says, grinning. “He invited me. Said he had something I just had to see.”
I turn to Oliver, who’s grinning. “Just in time too. Where’s Brianna and Gavin?”
“Just a moment!” a muffled Bri yells from downstairs. “Dammit, you know I can’t resist these rolls, especially since I’m pregnant again!”
I chuckle, a little jealous but knowing that Bri’s earned it. Since finding out she’s pregnant again just two weeks ago, we’ve both been giddy planning for her new baby. I’m hoping for a little girl. Bri and Gavin appear a moment later up the back stairs, Gavin wearing one of his old jerseys which I’ll admit he still fills out well, while Bri’s wearing a Mindy’s Corner apron. For one day only, they’re working together again under the same roof. “Yeah, well, don’t eat all the damn profits!”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” Roxy says guiltily. “I ate one, too. Damn, if I knew you were this good, I’d never have let you leave home.”
“That was Oliver, actually,” I concede, and Roxy looks at him in amazement.
“No shit?”
“No shit,” Oliver replies. “Ruins the texture of the dough.”
“Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Well, there’s one thing,” Oliver says, “but I can fix that right now.”
I turn and my heart stops as I see Oliver get down on his knee, reaching for my hand. “Mindy, I know it’s a little fast, and it’s a hell of a lot shorter than the year you were engaged to that loser Harold, but . . . I can’t imagine a better couple of months than I’ve had right by your side, and I want to keep it going. I’ve called you Princess ever since we first met, and it was a joke at first because you acted like you were a queen. It’s not a joke anymore. Princess . . . will you let me be your prince? Will you marry me?”
He reaches into his apron pocket and pulls out the same ring that he’d given me for our fake engagement, and I gawk. “Where did you get that?”
“I had a talk with your stepfather,” Gavin says with a chuckle. “He mailed it to me. Now answer the man!”
“Yes! Of course I’m saying yes!” I gush, tears coming to my eyes as Oliver slides it back on my finger. “Oh, Oliver . . .”
Oliver stands, and I jump into his arms just as the line of people outside, attracted by what they saw through the windows, erupts into cheers. Oliver holds me tight, kissing me hard after he sets me down with a grin. “So, Princess . . .”