Epilogue

Dell pushed the last pallet into the truck. Spring was just springing and this new season of the market was the first time he and Mia weren’t just sharing a ride; they were sharing a business.

Pruitt Morning Sun Farms’s stand was ready for its first season at the market. Dell couldn’t help but grin. A year ago, Mia had been a blip on his radar. Now, well, he patted his pocket. Now, she was a hell of a lot more.

He climbed into the truck, and then just sat there, a weird nervousness battling it out in his gut.

“Going to start the truck?”

He glanced at Mia, who had her hair back in a ponytail and her big black framed glasses on. She hadn’t been able to wear her contacts all week after somehow managing to scratch her actual eyeball.

Damn, but he loved her.

“In a sec.”

“What are we waiting for?”

“Kind of a big occasion. Our first official market as Pruitt Morning Sun.”

She smiled and took his hand. “Yeah, I guess it is a pretty big deal. No battle of the sexes this year. No competition.”

Dell pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. “Hopefully no hail or drought, either.”

“Oh, don’t jinx it.”

Dell rolled his eyes, but the nerves in his gut didn’t let him get too cocky about it. “You know, speaking of mergers…”

“Were we?” She laughed.

Dell took his hand from hers and moved to his pocket. If he could wait to toss his breakfast until he got through with this, that’d be great. He pulled out the little gold band with a really little diamond on top and held it out to her.

She stared at it, comically open-mouthed. He moved it back and forth so the light danced on the diamond.

“That’s a ring.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.

“An engagement ring, at that.”

“An…” She trailed off, breaking her gaze at the ring to look at him. She swallowed, both visibly and audibly. “Engagement ring?”

He nodded. “I was thinking we needed to totally merge. Business. Us. Makes sense.” His voice was casual, but the next words were a little harder to be casual over. “So, Mia, will you marry me?”

She blinked and then nodded emphatically.

“Oh, don’t cry.”

She sniffled. “I’m sorry. Girls get to cry when they’re proposed to.” Over the console, she leaned into his shoulder. “Dell.”

He kissed her temple, wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I love you, Mia.”

She sniffled again. “I love you, too.” She looked up. “Well, don’t I even get a little bit of a kiss?”

He laughed. “Hold on. I’m trying to breathe again.”

Mia couldn’t stop staring at it. She wouldn’t have cared if it was the most hideous thing on the planet, but it was perfect. A little gold band with a diamond set in it. She could even wear it while she worked without worrying about it.

Dell pulled the truck into the parking lot. “You know, you will have to stop staring at it long enough to work today.”

She gave his side a little jab. “It’s perfect.”

He smiled, pleased with himself. Mia leaned over and kissed him until someone started rapping on the window. She wrinkled her nose at Cara.

“Stop being gross,” Cara yelled through the closed door. “I didn’t wake up this early to have to watch that.”

Mia pushed the door open, unable to stop grinning. “Sorry.” She held out her left hand, jiggled the ring around in the light. “I was a little overcome.”

Cara’s screech had at least ninety percent of people’s heads turning her direction. “Oh, my God. Oh, my God! Oh, my God! You’re getting married!” Cara all but jumped up and down while holding Mia’s hand and examining the ring.

“And now the entire town knows.” Dell walked around the truck and opening the truck bed door.

Cara swatted him on the shoulder. “Good. They should. So, how’d you do it? Was it super romantic? Or super lame?”

“How about you help unload?”

Cara shook her head, turned back to Mia. “I need all the details. Every last one. Immediately.” She started pulling Mia toward the stand, then stopped abruptly. “Oh, man, now that you’re engaged are you going to let Dell take off his shirt?”

Mia grinned. “Actually, yes. Anna and I came up with a little plan for that.”

“Why am I suddenly very afraid?”

“Come here, sweetheart.” Mia crooked a finger at him. He followed but he shook his head.

“I have a terrible feeling about this.”

“Don’t worry. It won’t hurt a bit.” Slowly, maybe a bit slower than necessary, she unbuttoned his flannel shirt.

He leaned his mouth to her ear. “If the idea is to give me an erection, you’re succeeding, but I’m not sure what your end game is.”

Mia laughed, then shook her head. “Is that all you think about?”

“Occupies a lot of brain space, yes.”

Mia held out her hand and Anna slapped a paintbrush and tube of black paint into her palm. “You just sit still.” Carefully, she painted five large letters down Dell’s chest.

TAKEN.

He glanced down, and chuckled when he read it. “Taken, huh?”

“I’m too much of a businesswoman to let a prime opportunity like using the Naked Farmer to my advantage go.” She grinned. “But no touching allowed.”

“I see.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure how exploited I’m supposed to feel.”

“Well, you think about it and we can discuss it later when I wash the paint off.” She waggled her eyebrows until Dell laughed.

He leaned down, kissed her nose. “I guess it works. I am very much taken.”

“Good.” Mia looked down at her finger, couldn’t help but enjoy the little sparkle in the light. It symbolized a future, a promise. One that really could not be more perfect.