by Amanda Ashby
“Ring?” she repeated.
“If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.” He stood up and kissed her again before peering around. “So, you going to tell me where my clothes are?”
She blinked, making her look adorable as she pointed under the large couch to where a suitcase peeked out. He kissed her again and stalked over to it.
He unzipped it and flipped it open. Everything was neatly folded. He tugged out the clothes one by one until he finally found the jeans below his favorite fishing shirt.
His hands shook as he retrieved the velvet case.
From behind him came a little gasp.
“You really have one?” she whispered. “Even if I’d never come back to you?”
“That’s why I had to have it,” he said as he took her fingers in his. He loved her hands. Soft but with tiny callouses from all her time spent lugging flowers and branches around. “Because if you did come back, I had to be ready. Blame Eloise. She changed my ring tone to ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it).’ I think Beyoncé is my new spiritual advisor. Now, where were we? Oh, yes.”
He dropped down to his knee, her hand still in his. He didn’t plan on letting go of it anytime soon.
“I still can’t believe you’re doing this.” Her eyes were once again glittering with tears.
“That’s fighting talk right there. I need to do a damn good job so you do believe it.”
She giggled and sucked in a breath of air as if determined not to cry.
Emotion swept through him. Hell. He wrote words for a living. He wasn’t going to mess this up. Not after waiting all this time.
“Laney Nina Elle Litchfield George. Possessor of my heart,” he said. Violet let out a sharp bark. The little dog jumped up from the discarded shirt, one ear up and her fur scuffed out in all directions. He winked at the dog and turned back to Laney. “And human of a nail polish–wearing fur ball.”
Violet nodded in approval. One down. One to go. He tightened his grip on Laney’s hand and met her wide-eyed stare.
“Since the day we met, I’ve never stopped thinking about you. Not always for the right reasons but always from the right place. My heart. You’ve always been at the very center. Even when I didn’t want you to be there. Like a—” He frowned and peered up at her. “You might have to help me out here. What’s a flower that’s sexy but sweet and smells like heaven but still makes a guy want to rip his clothes off when he’s around it?”
“Magnolia,” Laney suggested, her hand shaking in his.
“Yes. Magnolia. That’s how I see you. My sweet, wild Laney, will you please, please marry me?”
She dropped down, kneeling next to him, and threw her arms around his neck.
“Yes.” She found his mouth, her lips warm and seeking. Her body pressed into him, sending his heart rate through the roof. “Yes, yes, yes,” she said, still kissing him. He needed to put the ring on her finger, but there would be time for that later; right now he had more important things on his mind. He returned the kiss, and they both collapsed onto the floor, arms around each other. Definitely worth the wait.
…
“You know I hate surprises, right?”
“That’s not what you said last night,” Adam purred in her ear as he guided her out of the car. The blindfold around her eyes seemed excessive, but trying to convince her fiancé of the fact had proved difficult.
Fiancé.
She wasn’t going to get sick of saying it in a hurry. It had been four weeks since he’d moved back to St. Clair with her. No longer in Paige’s upstairs apartment but in hers. No longer hidden away like a secret but part of her life. A really hot, wonderful, wild part of her life.
Her fingers tightened around his, and her nose twitched. They were near a garden. Spring had given way to summer, and the scent of dry grass was in the air. He led her forward, and dirt crunched underneath the sandals she’d paired up with the white linen trousers.
“Where are we?”
“We’re home.” He slid his arms around to the back of her head and untied the ribbon over her eyes. Darkness gave way to light, and she peered around.
They were at Doug’s cottage. The garden was still a mess, but someone had started to clear away the weeds, and scaffolding had been set up against the barn wall. Adam’s arms encircled her waist, and he pressed his head on her shoulder.
“It’s still a work in progress, but I wasn’t sure I could afford anymore BS points to stop people from telling you about it.”
She let out a little gasp and spun around to face him. “You were the out-of-town investor? But it was sold before—”
“Before you broke into my apartment and stole my clothes?” He planted a kiss on her neck. Familiar longing ran through her. “When Ryan told me to wait better, I figured I had to do something. This seemed like a good idea. Though it wasn’t entirely done to try and win you back. My next book is going to be set here. Figured I needed a backup in case my regular muse wasn’t available.”
Her voice caught. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You better think quickly, because you’re about to get mobbed.”
“M-mobbed?” she stammered as people spilled out of the barn. Laney let out a gasp.
Jessica, Brett, and Lily. They were followed by Eloise, baby Theo, and Ryan, who was holding a giant kite. Then there were Paige and Luke and Sam, along with Kira, Cal, and Olive. Tilly appeared wearing her favorite overalls and gave her a wink.
Laney blinked.
India bounced out with Drew in tow. And Patsy. Good grief. Even Carl and Giselle?
“Mobbed,” Adam confirmed. His fingers found hers, and they walked toward their friends and family.
Finally. Laney’s itch let out a contended sigh. She smiled and nudged Adam’s arm with her shoulder. He was right. She was home.
Epilogue
“And just like that, the most beautiful woman in the world was my wife. Love like that might only come around once in a blue moon, so when you find it, don’t let go.” Blue Moon
“There you are.” Laney walked over to the granite headstone she’d spent so much time with. Adam was leaning against it, his legs stretched out, with Violet curled up on his chest. The sight that once scared her so much now had the opposite effect. All the parts of her life were together. Whole.
“Hey, you.” He gave her a breathtaking smile, and familiar warmth spread through her. “Tilly was coming here. I figured it was a good chance to get a lift in a pink hearse.”
“Really?” She glanced over. Tilly was pulling weeds out of the space around Martha McDonald’s headstone. She waved at her friend, then turned back to him. “That would be more convincing if I didn’t know you can drive the hearse anytime you want. You have her wrapped around her finger.”
“I think you’ll find it’s the other way around. Yesterday I had to paint someone’s mailbox for her,” he protested, the teasing light in his eyes causing her stomach to tighten with longing. “Anyway, what are you doing here? Isn’t it bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?”
She sat down on the ground next to him, letting the warmth from his skin flow through her. “It’s not until tomorrow. We still have some time until you need to avert your gaze. So, what are you really doing here?”
“Just having a guy-to-guy chat with Simon.” He used one hand to scratch Violet’s ear. “I owe this guy a lot. He stopped you from drowning when I couldn’t.”
A lump formed in her throat.
“Yes, but you saw me as someone who could rescue herself. You never thought I was broken.” She pressed her mouth to his hand and delighted in the little shudder that went through him. “What were you talking about?”
“I wanted to run something past him.” He released her hand for long enough to reach down to his lap and pass her a small leather box. Curiosity and confusion swirl
ed through her as she carefully prized open the lid.
It was a blue garter, the fabric faded and soft.
“Is this what I think it is?” she gasped as a smile broke across his beautiful mouth.
“You already borrowed it once. I figured you must really like it.”
“I don’t understand. You had it cut up? But it symbolizes our relationship. The good and the bad.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “And you think this doesn’t? This romantic gesture is going to have Sam and Paige wailing in despair that they’ll never find anyone half as romantic as Laney George’s hot husband.”
There was a teasing edge to his voice, and she giggled. “Good point. Though I’m not fond of seeing my friends wail, so we might have to keep it between us. But I love it.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Now I guess I’d better take you to the Bluebell for your night with the girls.”
“Thank you. For this. And for Simon.”
“He’s part of your life, so he’s part of mine. I foisted my ex onto you. It’s only right I spend time with yours.”
“Eloise told me I’d eventually find her charming, and I do. Entirely.”
“You say charming. I say bossy,” he said but smiled. “I’m pleased you like her.”
They sat there for several more minutes until Tilly strolled over, silver hair spiked around her face.
“Right, I’m off, but before I go, I wanted to talk to you about my outfit for tomorrow. I was thinking about wearing the pinstripe tux. I want to look spiffy if I’m giving you away. But if you really want me to wear a dress, you know I will. Whatever you want.”
“A pinstripe tux sounds wonderful.” Laney gave her friend a grateful smile and threaded her hand into Adam’s, Violet at their feet.
“Should we tell everyone we secretly got married last month in Vegas?”
“If we told them about it, then we’d have to mention the rather wild adventure that led us there. Wouldn’t you rather keep it just between us?” He kissed her neck, and heat traveled up her body. He’d cut back most of his schedule, and the events he did go to, she joined him, each time discovering more about each other and the world.
She groaned. “You’re saving it for a book, aren’t you?”
He grinned and kissed her again. “I have a wife, a dog, and a flower farm. I need to make sure I do my bit.”
“At least I know what I’m getting myself into,” she said, warmth spreading across her entire body. “I love you, Adam.”
“I love you, too, Laney.” He answered her with a kiss, his eyes gleaming. Today they were the color of forget-me-nots. His flower. The one he’d be wearing in his buttonhole tomorrow. “We still have an hour before I need to deliver you to your posse. Would you like a quick trip to the woods?”
Her heart exploded, and her grip tightened on his hand. “With you? Always.”
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Acknowledgments
To Sally Rigby and Christina Phillips, once again thanks for all the things. And to Rachel Bailey for helping me bring Violet to life on the page!!!!
I’d also like to thank everyone at Entangled, especially Candace Havens, Wendy Chen, Meredith Johnson and Hannah Lindsay. I really appreciate all the help you’ve given me and this story.
A big thank you to Pam, Nick and Liz for always supporting me and my books, and to Barry, Molly and Arthur for all the impromptu plotting sessions I’ve dragged you into over the years. I’m so adorable like that.
Finally to everyone who has read my books. You have no idea what that means to me. Thank you!
About the Author
Amanda Ashby was born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand, where she writes romance, young adult, and middle grade books. She also works in a library, owns far too many vintage tablecloths, and likes to delight her family by constantly rearranging the furniture. She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and her first young adult book was listed by the New York Public Library’s Stuff for the Teen Age. Because she’s mysterious, she also writes middle grade books under the name Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her Netflix schedule.
Don’t miss the Belles of St. Clair series…
What Were You Thinking, Paige Taylor?
Also by Amanda Ashby…
Falling for the Best Man
The Wedding Planner’s Baby
Dating the Wrong Mr. Right
The Heartbreak Cure
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