23. TROY

I watch the New York skyline fade in the distance as we jet back home. Skye sits beside me, her head resting on my shoulder, her fingers laced with mine. There’s a quiet hum of excitement between us—not just because we’re going home, but because we’re about to start something new.

“Do you think we’ll find a house today?” she asks, her voice soft but tinged with curiosity. And expectation.

I grin, turning to kiss the top of her head. “If not today, then soon. But knowing you, you’ll spot the perfect one the moment we get there.”

She laughs, a light sound that always makes my chest feel full. “I’m not that picky.”

“You fought a billionaire to save your town,” I remind her, smirking. “You’re picky in all the best ways.”

The plane slows as we descend into Seaside Cove, to the proper landing strip this time. The familiar scent of saltwater and the distant cry of gulls pulling us closer to home. When we step onto the tarmac, Skye takes a deep breath, her face lighting up.

“I missed this,” she says, squeezing my hand. “The air smells like… freedom.”

“And fish.” I wrinkle my nose playfully.

She elbows me. “Don’t ruin my moment.”

By mid-morning, we’re driving through town, Skye in the passenger seat with a map of available properties spread across her lap. She’s circled a few listings, each accompanied by her neat handwriting—“Close to beach,” “Big yard,” and my favorite: “Not haunted (hopefully)."

“What about this one?” she asks, pointing to a charming cottage near the edge of town. “It’s got a wraparound porch and… oh, look! A hammock in the yard.”

“Sold,” I joke. “Let’s go see it.”

The house is even better in person. The porch is wide, the shutters are painted a cheerful blue, and the yard is dotted with wildflowers. Skye’s eyes sparkle as she walks through the front door, her fingers brushing the wooden banister of the staircase.

“I can see us here,” she says, spinning slowly in the living room. “You, me, maybe a dog or two…”

“A dog?” I raise an eyebrow. “I thought you were more of a cat person.”

“Why not both?” she counters, grinning. “We’ll have the space.”

The kitchen is cozy, with white cabinets and a farmhouse sink that Skye immediately declares “adorable.” Upstairs, the bedrooms have slanted ceilings and windows that let in soft, natural light. One room, smaller than the others, catches her attention.

“This could be a study,” she says thoughtfully. “Or maybe a nursery someday.”

I stop in the doorway, watching her as she stands there, a dreamy look on her face. “Someday,” I agree, my voice steady with the weight of the promise.

The next day, after putting in an offer on the house, we decide to visit the local animal shelter. Skye has been buzzing with excitement since breakfast, her phone filled with photos of adoptable pets she’s already fallen in love with.

“We can’t adopt all of them,” I warn as we step inside.

“Don’t tempt me,” she replies, her eyes already scanning the kennels.

She crouches in front of a scruffy terrier mix, her voice soft and sweet as she coaxes it closer. “Hi there, little guy. What’s your name?”

The shelter worker smiles. “That’s Pippin. He’s a sweetheart, loves to cuddle.”

After a short conversation about the dog, Skye turns to me. “What do you think, Troy?” she asks, glancing over her shoulder.

I’m too busy being ambushed by a tabby cat that has decided my lap is the perfect throne. “I think this one has already chosen me.”

Skye laughs, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Well, it looks like we’re getting both.”

The shelter staff helps us with the paperwork, and soon we’re driving back to our rental house with a dog in the backseat and a cat in a carrier between us. Pippin barks excitedly at every passing car, while the cat, whom we’ve named Gatsby, watches everything with regal disdain.

“Now, this is chaos,” I say, laughing as Pippin tries to climb into Skye’s lap.

“This is perfect,” she corrects, her hand resting on mine.

A few weeks later, after closing on the house and moving in, we finally have a moment to breathe. The cottage is everything we hoped it would be—warm, inviting, and full of potential. The wraparound porch has become Skye’s favorite spot, especially in the mornings when she drinks her coffee and watches the sun rise over the ocean.

Pippin has claimed the yard as his kingdom, chasing butterflies and digging holes with unbridled enthusiasm. Gatsby, true to his feline nature, has made it his mission to find every sunny spot in the house for napping. He’s also taken to perching on the porch railing, surveying his domain like the king he clearly believes he is.

One afternoon, Skye and I sit on the porch swing, the sound of waves crashing in the distance. She’s holding a sketchpad, doodling ideas for the garden she wants to plant in the spring. Pippin is at her feet, chewing on a stick, while Gatsby dozes on the windowsill behind us.

“You know,” I say, breaking the comfortable silence, “I think we’ve finally got it all figured out.”

She looks up, her eyes meeting mine. “Oh, really? And what’s that?”

“Home,” I reply simply, gesturing around us. “This house, this town, this family. It’s everything I didn’t know I needed.”

Her smile is soft, her hand reaching for mine. “Me too. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

As the sun dips lower, casting golden light across the porch, I tighten my arm around Skye, my heart full. This is where we’re meant to be, where we will raise our children, and where all our family memories will come from.

For the first time in a long time, everything feels right, everything feels perfect.

***

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Falling for the Small Town Billionaire A Sweet, Enemies to Lovers Romance

I meet a grumpy EMT in my new small town and fall for him big time.

Just when our lives finally start to feel right, my past reappears, stirring up chaos. Now, with a little help from his wise grandmother, we might just have a shot at putting the pieces back together.

Falling for My Billionaire Fake Date A Sweet Small Town, Enemies to Lovers Romance

Our blind date was a disaster, so how did I end up as his fake girlfriend?

When I find Jake as the CEO at my job interview, he offers a deal too tempting to pass up.

But just as our act starts to feel real, his ex turns up and pulls a stunt that leaves me questioning everything.

Falling for the Silver Fox Pilot A Sweet, Small Town, Billionaire Romance

A billionaire silver fox drops out of the sky to steal both my business and my heart.

Stranded by a snowstorm, we’re drawn together, but his plans threaten everything I've built.

Can I protect my business, or will love win?

My Small Town Silver Fox Billionaire A Sweet, Small Town, Friends to Lovers, Age Gap Romance

A captivating silver fox sweeps me off my feet, but then his past comes back to haunt him .

Robert, once a grumpy customer, is now my closest friend—and maybe more.

Just as our feelings deepen, his vengeful ex-fiancée reappears, threatening everything.

But, I’m determined to protect the love and future we’re building.

Falling for Mr. Grump Next Door A Sweet, Single Dad, Enemies to Lovers Romance

A peaceful life in Sonoma was all I wanted…

until a gorgeous developer arrives with plans to build condos on my land. When a storm forces us together, undeniable sparks fly, and I start to hope he’ll choose love over his project.

Will he risk it all for a future with us, or stick to his corporate plans?