“I love you, Grace,” Max said. “I know you can’t comprehend the depth of that love right now, but I could never resent you for making me a better man.”
“I don’t want to change you, Max. I want you to be the best you can be, but I do worry that we’ll be bad for each other.” She slid her fingers through his hair. “I don’t want a project, and I don’t think you deserve to feel as though you are one.”
Max chuckled. “I get it. But we’re going to change each other just by being together, and I’m okay with that. I look forward to it.” He kissed her gently. “Will you be patient with me?”
“Will you be honest always, even if you think it’s something I don’t want to hear?”
“Will you stay if I say yes?”
Grace smiled. “Yes, Max. I promise I won’t run away.”
“Will you marry me now?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know. Do you still have the ring?”
He slipped his hand into his pocket and held it in his palm. “Aye, love. I still have the ring.”
She giggled. “I’ve decided I do want the romance.”
“And I want to prove I’m worthy of you.” He set her back on the sofa and knelt in front of her. “Grace Annabelle Wilson, will you do me the greatest honor and agree to be my wife?”
Grace laid her hand over her chest. “Why, Mr. MacMillan, I do declare, that is the most romantic proposal I have received in quite some time,” she drawled in a thick, southern accent. “I do believe I would be happy to grant you my hand in marriage.”
“Who is my competition?”
“Good lord, no one. I can only handle you.”
Max laughed, slipping the ring on her finger and pushing her back against the sofa, stretching out beside her in order to kiss her properly.
Grace sighed against his mouth. “No big wedding. Justice of the Peace will suffice.”
“Deal.” He kissed her again and then sat up, pulling her back onto his lap. “Now tell me why Charlotte is a pain in the ass. She appears far too lovely to be anything but sweet.”
Grace snorted. “You don’t know her very well. Just wait.”
Max raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“No, not really. She’s just really logical and asked me a few difficult questions. But I suppose she was right. I should give you more of a chance.” She flashed her ring finger. “I am happy to report, I took her advice.”
“Ooh, I think I love her.”
“Everyone does,” Grace droned. Max laughed, and Grace felt his pocket buzz. “Hmm, that’s a bit of a thrill I wasn’t expecting.”
“Hold that thought.” Max kept his arm firmly around her waist as he fished his phone out of his pocket. “This is Max. Hi. Really? Aye, that’s great. I’ll find out and ring you back. Thanks, Sam.” He hung up and grinned.
“What?”
“Samantha is developing a trial for different blood-related diseases, and she thinks she’s onto something. I asked her about Maggie’s Leukemia and Samantha has asked for more information. If your family agrees, and Sam thinks she can help, Maggie could be invited into the trial.”
“What kind of trial?”
“We don’t get sick, not like humans, and Samantha has been doing research to find out why. Cauld Ane’s don’t get cancer and have never been known to have any type of blood disorders, so she has been working to develop a trial that could potentially cure humans of blood-related diseases like leukemia, hemophilia, sickle cell, and others like them. She thinks she has a pretty convincing case and she plans to take it to the American FDA for approval if the trial goes well.”
“Will the trial be here?”
Max shook his head. “No, in Scotland. But there will be no cost to your family. Obviously, my plane will be at your disposal, as will my home. And if the trial happens in Edinburgh, Niall’s home is large enough to accommodate all of you...and more.”
“Maybe you want to ask him if it’s okay before you offer his home up?”
“He won’t mind, sweetheart. I promise.”
“I love you.”
He grinned. “I love you too.”
“Can we get married before we leave? I mean, will anyone be upset from your world if we don’t have a wedding there?”
“Not at all. They will expect a party to celebrate, but that can happen after the ceremony.”
“Really?”
Max nodded. “Yes. Really.”
“Are you okay with doing that?”
Max chuckled. “Baby, I’d marry you this second, if I had my choice. You set the day and the time, and I’ll be there.”
“You said you want to bind me at home. Do you mean in Scotland?”
He nodded. “Yes, but at my actual home. The biggest reason is that your body will go through a painful conversion, and I want to make certain someone is there to help you through it. Samantha, preferably.”
“How painful?”
“I can’t answer that specifically. Pepper said that it’s somewhat like childbirth, only without the option of drugs.”
Grace frowned. “I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
“I don’t have to bind you, love. We can be married, and not go through the ritual.”
“How does that work?”
He shrugged. “Well, we have the human ceremony and forego the Cauld Ane one.”
“But, will we be able to...you know...consummate the relationship?”
“Aye.”
“So, you’ve slept with human women, then?”
He grimaced. “Aye.”
“And their bodies didn’t change?”
He shook his head. “No, sweetheart. Our bonding ritual has to have three elements in order to take effect. The first one is that we are mates. Then the words, then the consummation. If we leave out the words, the conversion can’t happen.”
“You don’t have any illegitimate babies out there somewhere do you?”
“Grace,” he admonished.
“What? It’s not like it’s an out-of-left-field question.”
He rolled his eyes. “No, baby, I don’t have any illegitimate children out there. I have always been extremely careful.”
“Okay, I don’t need the details.”
Max chuckled. “The only person I want to have bairns with is you.”
She grinned. “How many?”
“A rugby team.”
“How many are on a rugby team?”
“Fifteen.”
She gasped. “You want fifteen kids?”
He chuckled. “No?”
She laughed. “Let’s start with one and go from there.”
“Fair enough. But can we agree on at least two?”
Grace grinned. “Yes, God willing, at least two.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re going to be tired at that rate, you realize that, right.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “In the best of ways.”
“We should probably talk about where we’re going to live,” she said.
“Ah.” He stiffened. “How do you feel about living in Scotland?”
She giggled. “Well done, baby.”
“What do you mean?”
“You posed that carefully...and as a question, not a demand.”
Max grinned. “Well, I wasn’t entirely sure how you’d react to the fact we really can’t live anywhere else, at least for most of the year.”
“Honestly, I’m a little nervous about living in a place without my family, and then there’s Charlie’s aversion to traveling, but if we could maybe do the holidays here, I’d feel better.”
“Christmas, you mean?”
She nodded. “And Thanksgiving, oh, and Halloween when we have kiddos.”
Max chuckled. “I believe that can be arranged. Perhaps we’ll buy a home here for the colder months.”
Grace clapped her hands. “Yes, please.”
He kissed her. “Your wish is my command.”
“Thank you.” She stroked his c
heek. “Not just for us, but for organizing all of the stuff for Maggie and being so much more than I deserve.”
Max grinned. “I think I’m the lucky one.”
“You know what? You’re right. Keep thinking that, baby. It works in my favor.”
He laughed. “Aye, I suppose it does.”
ONE WEEK LATER, Grace dragged four large suitcases from her bedroom downstairs to the foyer. Max had told her she could bring anything she wanted with her, and she was surprised she’d managed to get all of her mementoes and other sentimental items into only two bags. The other two were clothes and shoes.
Her parents had agreed to the medical trial, however, not until Samantha had spoken to Maggie’s oncologist and put together a game plan for the treatment and measurable goals. After a long and surprisingly easy conversation, Grace’s parents had given their blessing for Grace and Max to have a small, intimate wedding in Scotland since they would all be there for the trial, but made them promise they’d have a party back in the States once Maggie’s treatment was finished. Grace and Max had readily agreed, since they could be bound completely without delay.
Grace’s mom joined her in the kitchen. “Are you excited?”
Grace nodded. “You have no idea.”
“Oh, I think I do,” she countered. “Wow, moving to Scotland. What an adventure.”
Grace smiled. “I know. I’m going to miss you, though.”
“Oh, honey, don’t! Enjoy yourself. I have something for you, by the way.” Her mother grabbed a manila envelope from the desk and slid it toward her.
“What’s all this?”
“Just a few of my favorite things I saved and planned to give you on your wedding day.”
Grace pulled out the drawings and achievements from elementary school through college, and smiled. “Wow, you have something from every year.”
Her mother nodded. “Oh, I have more up in the attic, but these were just a few of the things I felt I could part with.”
Grace giggled as she pulled one out. “Lady Grace Annabelle Wilson’s house,” she read.
“I think you were seven or eight when you drew this.”
“It’s a nice house. I had good taste, even then.”
Her mom giggled. “Champagne taste on a beer budget, you mean?”
Grace nodded. “I love you.”
“I love you too, honey.”
“We’ll be back in time for Halloween,” Grace said, and grabbed her toast from the toaster. “Max thinks we should buy a house here and plan on spending the holidays when you don’t visit us.”
“That would be incredible, honey. The Millers are thinking about putting their house up for sale.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Anne told me last week. They want to move to Indiana to be close to Susie.”
Grace raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean you’ll move to Scotland to be close to me?”
Her mom laughed again. “And show favoritism? No.”
Grace wrinkled her nose. “But I am your favorite.”
Her mother rolled her eyes. “Not anymore. You’re leaving me.”
“Touché.”
“See what I did there?”
“Nice, Mom. Brought it all the way back around.”
Her mom bowed. “Thank you.”
The doorbell sounded and Grace grinned as she rushed to answer the door. Max pulled her into his arms and kissed her, kicking the door shut as he stepped inside.
“Good morning,” he said, stroking her cheek.
“Mmm, hi.” She kissed him again.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs forced her to break the kiss, but she kept her arms around his waist.
“Hey, Max,” Spencer said as he set his bag next to the others.
“Hi, Spence,” Max said, and pulled open the door, nodding to Bruce, who made his way from the car.
“Hi, Bruce,” Grace said.
“Miss Wilson,” he said, tipping his hat. “May I take the bags now?”
“Oh, yes, thank you.”
“I’ll help,” Spencer offered.
Bruce and Spencer lugged the bags to the car and Grace led Max toward the kitchen. “Are you hungry?” she asked.
Max shook his head. “We ate at the hotel.”
“Good morning, Max,” Grace’s mom said.
Max smiled. “Good morning, Mrs. Wilson. How are you?”
“Excited,” she admitted.
“I’m glad. I do hope we’ll have some time to explore. If Maggie’s feeling up to it, of course.”
“Yes,” her mom said.
Grace didn’t miss the sheen of tears as her mother turned around and busied herself with putting dishes away.
Oh, that was insensitive. I’m sorry, love.
Grace gave him a quick smile. No, it wasn’t. You were being sweet. This whole thing is just tough.
Max nodded and kissed her temple. Grace’s phone buzzed and she pulled it from her pocket. “Charlie will be here in ten minutes.”
Her mom cleared her throat. “Excellent.”
“She’s house-sitting,” Grace explained to Max.
“She’s not coming?”
Grace sighed. “She has an audition on Monday, so she wouldn’t be able to come until Tuesday...which is her excuse not to get on the plane.”
“That’s too bad.”
“I know. But I knew her answer before I even asked her.”
“Because she’s afraid of flying.”
“Like, scared, scared.” Grace sighed. “She’s actually a little miffed at me.”
“Why?” Max asked.
“She’s hurt she’s going to miss the wedding,” her mom said.
Max frowned. She could still come.
No, you don’t understand. She’s terrified. If she could do it, she would.
“We’ll Skype with her during the ceremony,” Max said. “She won’t miss a thing.”
“That’s a great idea.” Grace smiled. “Maybe I do love you more than I’d like to admit.”
Max chuckled, leaning down to kiss her.
Grace hadn’t noticed her mother leave the kitchen—she was far too swept up in the “event” that was Maximilian MacMillan. She smiled and broke the kiss, leaning against his chest with a sigh. “Do you think this will work?” she asked.
He slid his fingers over her hair. “Aye. I do.”
She glanced up at him. “Really?”
He nodded. “I don’t profess to be as smart as Samantha, but I do think she’s onto something.”
Before Grace could respond, her father walked into the room. “Good morning, you two.”
“Good morning, Mr. Wilson,” Max said with a smile.
“Garrett, please.”
Grace kissed her father’s cheek. “Hi, Daddy. Are you all ready?”
“I think so. How are we doing on time? When’s Charlotte getting here?”
“Soon,” Grace said.
“We have plenty of time,” Max said.
The doorbell pealed and then Charlotte’s voice sounded from the foyer. “I’m here if anyone cares.”
“No time like the present,” Grace’s dad said, and laughed as he headed down the hall.
Charlotte walked into the kitchen a few minutes later and gave Grace a forced smile. “Hi,” Charlotte grumbled.
“Hey.” Grace frowned. “Don’t be like this, Chuck. It’s not fair.”
Charlotte shrugged. Grace sighed. Max left the room.
“We have to go to Scotland, Charlie.”
“But you don’t have to get married there, Gary.”
“Come here.” Grace took her hand and yanked her to the couch. “Sit.”
Charlotte flopped onto the sofa with a groan.
“We don’t have time to get married here,” Grace explained as she took the seat next to Charlotte. “The medical trial starts in less than a week, and we don’t know if it’s going to work.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “We have to get married in Scotland, because we don’t know if M
aggie will be well enough to wait for us to get married here.”
Charlotte gasped. “Oh! I didn’t even think about that.” She burst into tears. “I’m so sorry, Grace. That was really selfish of me. I was just so hurt about not being there, I didn’t stop to think about anyone else.”
Grace pulled her friend into a hug. “I’m sorry, buddy, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I’m just as bummed as you are about everything. If I could drug you and put you on the plane myself, I would.”
“I know.”
Grace smiled. “Max suggested we have you on Skype during the ceremony, so you won’t miss a thing.”
“Ooh, that’s smart.” Charlotte’s head bobbed as she nodded. “Yes, please.”
“That’s what I said!”
Charlotte giggled. “Of course you did.”
“Come and have some coffee,” Grace said, and stood.
Charlotte followed.
Is the coast clear?
Yes, baby. You may return.
Max returned to the room and he and Charlotte were able to have more than a two-word conversation before it was time to head to the airport. Teary-eyed, Grace hugged her best friend and followed her family to the awaiting cars.
* * *
Two days later, Grace stepped out of the bathroom wearing a black camisole and lacy boy shorts. Kade had offered the apartment across the hall from them in order for Samantha to be close during Grace’s conversion. Pepper and Connall had traveled from Inverness to be close as well, in an effort to provide moral support if needed. Grace was quite humbled by their generosity, but also not quite certain what to expect.
She and Max had been married in a tiny little chapel in Edinburgh just a few hours earlier. Due to a technical glitch, Charlotte was unable to attend via Skype. The entire site was down, but Grace made sure the ceremony was recorded and sent to Charlotte before editing. Grace’s family was being entertained quite enthusiastically by Niall and Oliver, which gave Grace and Max two blissful days alone before Maggie’s trial started.
Max grinned as he let out a low whistle.
“Is this okay?” she asked. “I feel like I should have bought something sexier.”
Max shook his head and grinned. “You are stunning. My imagination didn’t give you justice.”
“Mmm, same.” She ran her finger over his smooth, chiseled chest. He wore black pajama bottoms that sat low on his hips, and she licked her lips as she swept her gaze over his body.
Bound by Song (Cauld Ane Series, #4) Page 25
