Three months later
It’s beautiful!” Jane’s eyes filled with tears as the sign in front of her old home was finally revealed. She and Brock had decided it would be best to sell her family home, especially once she found out that her sisters were in such heavy debt that there was no other way out. She knew her parents would understand, and even though the house had memories there was no better charity organization to sell it to.
Her home now belonged to the cancer charity that Wellington, Inc. and Titus Enterprises were working on together.
Her sisters never said thank you.
In fact, they hadn’t said much since the ball.
For a while she’d been sad, but then she looked at her new family, the one surrounding her, and realized what a true family was about: Support. Love. Kindness.
The best part was that the charity was using her old house as Rosie House, a place for families to stay while going through cancer treatments in Phoenix.
And all because of a grandfather with a cold and a keen sense of wisdom when it came to his grandsons and what they needed out of life.
She still had Cinderella Cleaning, but after some encouragement from Brock she hired more staff and took a step back so that she could focus on Rosie House—something she realized she enjoyed because it was about helping people
Just like her cleaning business, sometimes you needed to pull back the dirt and muck, to get to what was underneath and make it shine. She wasn’t a cancer expert by any means, but she knew people, and there was something so satisfying about meeting all of the families and helping them on such a basic level.
“You’re beautiful,” Brock whispered in her ear. His hot kiss had her knees shaking as her body trembled with desire—and he’d only kissed her neck. The man had a mouth on him. She would never get tired of the way he kissed her.
Honestly, he was her family now—well, him, the twins, and Charles. Her sisters had all but disowned her once the house was sold—she’d tried reaching out but they refused to answer her calls. Brock was convinced it was because they couldn’t handle her fame and success.
But she didn’t think of herself that way—even if the world did. The headlines after the ball had been insane: REAL LIFE CINDERELLA FINDS HER PRINCE.
If they only knew what it had taken to get to that place.
She smiled, thinking about the ranch, and all the animals. They were going to spend the next two weeks there.
Charles and the twins were coming by for dinner and then returning to the city. It would be nice to have the family all together.
“You ready?” Brock asked, his eyes dancing with excitement.
“Yup.” She nodded and took his hand as he led her to the waiting limo.
Once they were inside and the car had started toward the ranch, Brock turned to her. He handed her a glass of champagne.
“You left your shoe.”
“Huh?”
Brock grinned. “The first time I saw you, you left a shoe; or actually, you broke a shoe.”
“Like Cinderella.” She grinned.
“Yes.” He held up his hand then reached behind him and pulled something out of a bag.
Jane gasped. “That’s my black shoe!”
“Size eight and a half black pump. Yes, it sure is.”
“You kept it?” Her eyes filled with tears. “Why?”
He smirked. “I’d like to say it’s because I knew this moment was happening and I wanted to get laid in the back of a limo.”
She smacked him in the chest.
“But I was cleaning out the closet, and found it. I’d stashed it there after I’d slept with it like a complete ass and dreamed about your hair.”
Jane sighed happily. “That’s romantic.”
“There is nothing romantic about sleeping with a stiletto.” He grinned. “But maybe this will make up for it.” He handed her the shoe.
Inside was a small pale blue box.
Tears filled her eyes as she grabbed the box and slowly opened it.
A giant, princess-cut diamond shimmered back at her.
It was huge.
Bigger than her fist.
Okay, maybe not that big, but at least a few karats. She swallowed a lump in her throat as Brock pulled the ring from the box and whispered. “You left your shoe, and took my heart with you that night, and you’ve had it ever since… Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” Tears streamed down her face as she threw her arms around his neck and sobbed.
The limo came to a stop and then the doors were opening on all sides.
“Thank God!” Bentley shouted, shoving his way into the limo. He looked like he was already drunk. An expression of pure irritation marred his features before he straightened and said, “If you didn’t hurry I was going to propose.” He licked his lips and winked at Jane. “Someone’s looking good.” His smile looked forced—it didn’t help that his normally perfect features were marred by dark circles under his eyes.
Brock groaned.
Brant piled in next, followed by Charles.