Page 110 of Manhattan Bossholes

“Oh, I know what’s happening now,” Vincent said while I stared into the eyepiece. “One of the stars actually fell out of the sky.”

I jerked away from it and scowled at him. “Huh?”

He walked to the front of the telescope tube, reached up, and pulled something from it.

A small black box.

My heart thundered in my chest. What was happening?

“Vincent…” I breathed as he walked back to me, clutching the box. “What…what is that?”

“It’s a symbol as beautiful and perpetual as the stars above us.”

He dropped to one knee in front of me, and tears instantly sprang to my eyes.

“Piper,” his voice cracked on the two syllables, which sent tears down my cheeks. “I can’t even begin to tell you how lucky I am to have you in my life. You changed me for the better, and I don’t even want to imagine how empty my world would be without you in it.”

I sniffled as he cracked open the box to reveal a heart-stoppingly huge diamond ring.

“I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy.” His eyes were shining as he gazed up at me. “Piper Doyle, will you marry me?”

I was nodding before he could even finish the sentence, and bawling by the time he did.

“Are you speechless?” he laughed, and I continued crying and nodding at him like a lunatic.

Vincent took the ring out of the box and held it up. “May I?”

More ridiculous nodding and crying as I held my hand out. And now I was hiccupping too.

He slid the ring on, and of course it fit perfectly. I gazed at it through bleary eyes.

“Vincent,” I breathed as I shifted my hand back and forth to take in the ring. “It’s so beautiful. I can’t believe this is happening!”

He finally stood up and wrapped me in his arms. I buried my face against his neck, breathing in the warm, woody Vincent scent I craved like a drug.

“I am so incredibly happy,” he whispered to me. “I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to get to spend the rest of my life with you.”

He brought his hand up to caress my cheek as he stared into my eyes.

“I love you, Piper,” he murmured.

I reached up to the back of his neck to pull him closer for a kiss. “I love you too, Vincent. You just made me the happiest person on the planet.”

“Then I guess we’re even.”

He kissed me gently, and it was then I realized I didn’t need a telescope to see stars.

33

PIPER

I’d insisted to Chloe that she didn’t need to go through the trouble of hosting an actual party to celebrate our engagement, but she wanted to do something to thank us for our help with the wedding and beyond. And that was why we found ourselves the center of attention in an intimate yet opulent gathering.

She and Paul had rented out a gorgeous British-garden-inspired restaurant. They had leaned hard into the garden party aspect, suggesting that men wear morning jackets and top hats and the ladies wear pretty floral dresses and fascinators. The result was a hilarious take on British royal traditions that had everyone assuming fake accents throughout the day.

My heart swelled as I looked at everyone gathered in the room together. The Lost Boys were in full effect with Nana Dee holding court near them. Mercedes had even shown up, festive in a cherry blossom print dress and bright pink fascinator.

Darcy drifted over to me looking like a dream in a floaty, sky blue confection. “Did you see Lorenzo in a top hat? I mean…it’s taking all my willpower to keep from dragging him into a closet.”