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“I cannae believe I’ve been lucky enough to get thirty-five wonderful years with this woman. She cooks like an angel and keeps me on my toes, and she gave me two wonderful children, who, in turn, brought in two wonderful partners. It disnae get better than this.”
As my da bent to kiss my mum, I sighed in deep satisfaction. The surprise anniversary party I’d planned for them had come together beautifully. All our closest friends and family were packed in our back garden, which Alex and the guys had worked overtime to turn into an outdoor party space to rival any magazine spread. It was a labor of love because most of it couldn’t be left permanently outdoors due to the weather. But for tonight it looked absolutely perfect, with cafe lights strung in long, swooping arcs across the space. An iron chandelier that Connor had custom made hung from a pergola the guys had built over the long trestle table. Sophie’s flowers offered the perfect accent to the tablescape, and Afton’s food had been divine, as always.
Everyone in my circle was living their happily ever after. Including me.
Alex and I hadn’t made anything official. Not that there’d been time between the renovations on the house and getting his business off the ground. Business was booming for both Ardinmuir Event Planning and Out of Bounds Scotland. We’d bought the house and started working on renovations during our respective off seasons. I had my eye on a bigger one for the kitchen come winter. Maeve, the furry chaos monster who was one of the two loves of my life, had finally stopped chewing on every blessed thing that smelled like me. Ewan and Isobel had finally tied the knot in a private, family-and-friends-only ceremony earlier in the year.
Life was very, very good.
Toasts went on all the way through dessert—provided by Angus, of course. But eventually, the party began to wind down. Isobel and Ewan were among the first to go. They’d been making eyes at each other most of the way through dinner, and I had zero doubt about what they were headed home to do. Mum and Da were the last to leave.
They both squeezed me extra tight.
“Thank you for the party, love. It was wonderful,” Dad beamed.
“Worth it to thank you two for the incredible example you’ve set. You’re relationship goals.”
Mum’s cheeks pinked. “Oh, go on now.”
With one last round of hugs and handshakes, they were gone.
I shut the door behind them and leaned back against it with a sigh.
“Well, I’d say that’s another success to add to your list,” Alex remarked.
“Given how Ewan and Isobel were looking at each other, I suspect I’ll be planning a baby shower in the not too distant future.”
He took my hand and towed me back out to the garden, where smooth jazz spilled out of a Bluetooth speaker. “Something in the water,” he intoned. “Raleigh and Kyla again, Sophie and Connor, Afton and Hamish. Technically, it’s Ewan and Isobel’s turn.”
When he tugged, I flowed into his arms and the impromptu dance beneath the lights, while the dog slept the sleep of the over-indulged in her favorite spot on the outdoor chaise. “Expanding the next generation is the way of things. My mum will go mad for a grandchild.”
“Well, no’ that I’m eager to jump on that particular train just yet, but I think Ewan and Isobel have the right idea for how to spend the rest of the night.” He waggled his brows and began to back toward the house.
Laughing, I dragged my feet, glancing at all the detritus from the party that still needed to be cleared up. “But the mess.”
“Let it go. I’ve been waiting to get you to myself all night. We’ll get it later.”
I could never resist him when he looked at me like that.
But instead of pulling me into the house, he tucked me closer and continued to circle to the music. Content to be close to him and take our time, I relaxed against him and closed my eyes.
“You know, we’re really lucky,” he murmured.
So I wasn’t the only one feeling gratitude tonight. “In so many ways. But which ones were you thinking of?”
“We’re surrounded by all these incredible examples of good relationships. Rock-solid loves.”
Well, that wasn’t where I’d expected him to go. “It’s lovely to know that happily ever afters are real, even if you have to work at them a bit.”
When he lapsed into silence, I lifted my head to look into his face and found his expression serious.
“I’m really lucky you gave me another chance. Gave us another chance.”
I grinned at him, stroking the hair at his nape. “You’re awfully sentimental tonight.”
“I’m feeling pretty sentimental. And I’m feeling like we should make our forever official.”
I promptly tripped over my own feet. “What?”
“I love you. We’ve already been building a home together, making that steady foundation. So spend the rest of your life with me. Make some of those babies with me.”
“Babies?” I squeaked. But I could instantly see him with a wee blanked wrapped bundle against his shoulder, with his black hair and my blue eyes.
“Number and time to be determined. And if you’d rather stick to the furry kind, that’s all right with me. But the forever? That part’s non-negotiable.” He released me, stepping back only far enough to drop to one knee and pull a ring from his pocket. “Marry me, Ciara.”
We’d come so far, overcome so much, to get here. There was only one possible answer.
“Yes.” I whispered it once, then louder on a laugh of pure joy.
He slid the ring onto my left hand and lifted me into a dizzying spin. “You won’t regret it. I vow for the rest of our lives, you’ll never have cause to regret taking a chance on me again.”
“I love you, Alex. And I can’t wait to be your wife.”
He spun me again in those strong, capable arms that would never let me go.
“Now, about those babies,” I started.
“As I said, time and number to be determined.”
I curled a lock of his hair around my finger. “I think maybe we should go inside and practice right now.”
His dark eyes heated, and he scooped me up, bride-style. “We’re going to need so much practice.”
“So much,” I echoed and clung to my husband-to-be as he carried me inside to start our forever.
* * *
I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of Alex and Ciara’s happily ever after! If you’re new to the village of Glenlaig, there’s a whole other series about Kyla and Raleigh, Sophie and Connor, and the whole gang impacted by Afton’s decision to be a runaway bride! It starts with the prequel Jilting The Kilt and Book 1, Cowboy in a Kilt. You don’t want to miss it!