“Let’s give these kids some privacy, Jasper.” Mom smiles and my face heats up. “I’ll ask Suzie to arrange something sweet for everyone. This calls for celebration.” She presses a kiss on my forehead and squeezes Lukas’ arm before she and Dad lead our staff inside.

“How the fuck did you manage to get the firefighters in on this charade?” Lukas asks Gavin after pulling me closer to his chest.

“They aren’t real.” Gavin smirks, but when someone from the crew grunts, he corrects himself. “What I mean is, they’re retired, and so is the truck. That’s my friend Bo, and he owns this bad boy now.” Gavin grins and nods toward the fire engine as Bo waves at us.

“So the plan worked? You now believe in true love?” Gavin’s eyes dance with mischief as he eggs Lukas on.

I can’t believe this big, bulky man has a teasing bone in his body.

“Don’t you think Gavin seems overly happy since he moved to Cherrywood?” Lukas looks down at me. A beautiful smile adorns his lips, making me crazy happy.

“He does.” I tap a finger on my lips, as if thinking. My chest is swelling with happiness. “If I had to guess, I’d say it’s the effect of one mouse.”

“Mouse?” Lukas chuckles.

And God, I’ve never seen such a big man blush as Gavin shakes his head. A lock of hair escapes his small ponytail, falling on his forehead. Smiling, he turns around and joins our mock firefighter crew.

I wave them a thank-you as they leave, and then the truck exits the inn’s compound.

“Are you still upset?” I ask Lukas once we’re finally alone.

He shakes his head, and his finger skims my face, starting from my forehead to my cheek. “I’m glad you did that. I needed to see what I was doing wrong…with us. Thank you so much for believing in me when I couldn’t.”

“I’ve always believed in you, Lukas.”

He kisses me deeply, capturing the rest of my words in his mouth. He wraps his hand around the back of my neck and pulls me closer to him, as if he’s scared I won’t be here the next minute.

I feel so many emotions in his kiss.

Fear. Worry. Happiness.