My Beautiful Neighbor (The Greene Family Book 1) by Piper Rayne (android based ebook reader txt) 📗

up to the entrance of a teepee with white sheets over it. Inside is a big fluffy blanket and a laptop set up to display the last year of our lives in a slideshow. Thank goodness for Clara’s and my family’s need to constantly snap pictures. I did have to swear Nikki to silence, which wasn’t easy.

“You better go. She’s on her way home. Thanks for your help.”

“We’ll see you at the brewery.” She jumps up and down, clapping. Always the cheerleader.

“If she says no, have the whiskey ready.”

She hugs me hard. “She’s not going to. Welcome to the family.”

I shake my head. I’m looking forward to this, but I’ll be happy when this is over. It’s nerve-racking as hell.

I catch sight of Presley’s SUV driving down the road and I push Clara out. She sneaks away through the thick trees. The sun is about to set, so the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

I leave the note I prepared on the table before heading outside. Waiting in the teepee is excruciating as I see Presley turn on the lights in the house. A minute later, she walks out on the balcony and glances down.

“Cade,” she says with that smile I love. “What are you up to?”

She walks down the stairs and through the path of luminaries, her eyes locked with mine. She’s not stupid, she knows exactly what this is. And I pray her smile means my racing heart can calm down.

When she reaches the teepee, I offer my hand to steady her. “Take off your shoes.”

She does and sits on the fluffy blanket. “It’s gorgeous.”

I lean forward and kiss her. “You’re gorgeous.” I hand her the laptop and kiss her one more time.

“What did you do?”

“Stop asking questions and press Play.”

She does, and a three-minute video of pictures and videos of us this past year plays. Her head falls on my chest and I wrap my arm around her shoulders.

“I love you,” she says in the middle, and I point at the screen for her to pay attention.

This section shows our trip to Connecticut so I could meet her dad, which is when I asked him for his daughter’s hand. I told him I didn’t know when I would propose, but I knew I wanted her to be my wife. We went on a ski trip and headed down to the lower forty-eight to see Xavier play. The rest of the video is filled with kisses my family caught when we didn’t know anyone was watching.

At the end, Will You Marry Me? comes on the screen and the music continues.

She turns to me, tears glistening in her eyes.

“I never imagined my life could be this happy. All those years I pushed it away, and I’m glad I did because I think you and I have the perfect love. You’re meant for me, Presley Knight, and I think I’m meant for you. This past year has been amazing. How about we make it last a lifetime?” I pull out the ring, scared to death for this part. I never should have let Clara talk me into this.

“Cade, I’d love to marry you. We are meant for each other.” She rises on her knees and kisses me.

“Whoa now, hold on, lady, you gotta wear the ring first.”

She giggles and falls back down to her bum.

I offer the silver-banded diamond ring. “This was your Grandma Beatrice’s diamond, but I put it in a new setting. Clara thought—”

“I love it,” she gushes.

“I have another one picked out if you don’t like this,” I say, giving her an out.

She shakes her head. “No. She’s the one who brought me back here all those years ago. When she died, I met a stranger at a cemetery who would later turn out to be you. It’s only fitting that we use her diamond.”

I smile, remembering that day I mistook her for Clara.

“That might not have been our time, but fate brought us together again.”

“Thank goodness, because I think you saved my life.”

She straddles me and I put my hands on the back of her head, threading my fingers through her beautiful blonde hair.

“We saved each other,” she says.

She holds her hand out and I slip the ring on her finger. A perfect fit.

“Kiss me, soon-to-be Mrs. Greene?”

“Every day for the rest of my life.” Her lips land on mine and my body finally feels at peace.

A half hour later, it’s all I can do to get Presley out of the teepee. Thank goodness we had some privacy.

“Do I have to put a bra on?” she asks.

“I wish you didn’t, but yes, we’re going to be in public.” I stand with my hand out.

“Public? Why?”

“Because the first day of tourism season starts tomorrow and we’re going to support the town. Plus, I want to show off my new fiancée.”

Her hand lands in mine and I pull her up. “Well, when you put it that way.”

We walk toward downtown, enjoying the nice spring night.

Everyone from Sunrise Bay has come out. As we approach Truth or Dare, there’s a mass of people inside and outside because of the new beer flavor releasing today. Jed took care of it for me. But people walking past the brewery are gawking at the large sign out front.

I love Presley Knight… soon-to-be Presley Greene.

“My declaration of love to you in front of the whole town.” I hold out my arms. “Just like you wanted.”

“You didn’t,” Presley says, standing in front of me with her forehead on my chest.

“You want me to put it up in the square instead?”

Clara runs out of the brewery. “So?”

I lift Presley’s hand and she turns around.

“She said yes,” I say.

Everyone cheers and claps, and Presley turns the most beautiful shade of pink. Then she punches me in the side. “Seriously, talk about embarrassing.”

“You’re embarrassed by this? All the shit that’s been talked about you and the fact that you agreed to be my wife is what embarrasses you?”

She wraps her arms around my stomach. “I love