“That isn’t going to happen,” Keith assured her.
Emily walked slowly to the front of the stage and turned, so she was facing the crowd. She didn’t close her eyes as she stared at him.
“Close your eyes, Princess.” Keith reminded her.
Marina stepped behind her and put a blindfold over Emily’s eyes. It had been her idea. She didn’t believe Emily was going to keep her eyes closed long enough for them to pull things off.
“What are we doing? Playing pin the tail on the horse?” Emily laughed as Marina made sure Emily’s eyes were fully covered.
When his sister-in-law nodded, everyone scattered to the job they’d been given. John and James brought out a huge birthday cake with Princess written on it in purple icing. Stephanie brought out a tiara and placed it on Emily’s head. Emily squeaked when she reached up and touched what was on her head.
The next thing was the huge black box that was brought out for him to climb into. It had taken an entire day driving all over the city to find one big enough for him to crouch down into. He and his brothers had finally gotten a bunch of big boxes and put them together in a way that looked like it was one big one. Kristy and Isabelle had wrapped it covering all the seams. Jess and Pam had managed to find a big ribbon to put on the cover.
The box was set up so when she lifted off the cover the sides fell open, and he would be inside on his knee holding the last black box. One that contained the engagement ring he’d picked out for her. A single tear drop diamond on a delicate gold band. He also had Burlap inside the box in her carrier. It took some major begging for his aunt Alice to allow him to bring Burlap into her pub.
Once Keith was situated and had Burlap in the crook of his arm, John, James Ian, and Mike closed up the sides while Nick placed the cover on top. Keith knelt in the box his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear everyone whispering around him, and he pressed talk on his phone. When Emily opened her eyes, she would see the cake and Jess would hand her a phone with his recording on it.
Grandda wish me luck.
Chapter 32
Emily waited for someone to give her the okay to remove the blindfold. She did like the little tiara that she’d got placed on her head. It had to be Keith’s idea of a joke, but she liked it.
“Is he gone?” She heard Marina ask.
“Yes.” That was Pam.
“What’s going on? Who’s gone?” Emily asked.
“Keith but don’t worry,” Jess assured her. “Now you can take off that blindfold.
Emily pushed the black mask off her eyes and blinked. It really did keep her in the dark. In front of her was a huge cake decorated in her favorite color. Again, it had to be Keith. Princess was scrawled across the cake. She looked to the right of where the cake sat on a table and gasped.
An enormous black box wrapped with a purple ribbon stood in the middle of the room. She was about go see what it was all about when Jess put a phone in Emily’s hand. Keith’s beautiful smile was on the screen. She hit the play button and held it up.
“Happy Birthday Princess, I hope you’re enjoying the hunt for your birthday present. You just have one last thing to open, and then you can have your present. I love you, and when you open that box, you can join me.” Emily lifted her head and glanced at Jess.
“Where exactly will I be joining him?” Emily asked.
“I’ve got no idea. I was just told to give you that.” Jess took the phone and stepped back.
“All of you are just mean.” Emily slowly moved toward the scary looking box. It wasn’t exactly scary, but it was huge, and she couldn’t imagine what was inside the thing. “Where the hell am I supposed to start opening this thing?” She walked around it and couldn’t see exactly where to start.
“Just lift off the cover.” Aaron laughed.
When Emily glanced across the top of the box, she stuck her tongue out at Aaron. It only made him laugh more.
“I swear if something jumps out at me I’m going to kill someone.” Emily grabbed the corner of the cover and lifted it. Nothing popped out, so she pushed the cover to the floor. The four sides of the box flopped to the ground, and she heard a small meow.
“Keith?” At first, she wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he held out his hand, and she gasped.
“Happy Birthday, Princess.” He was on one knee, and she knew exactly what was happening.
“Oh, my God.” Emily squealed and covered her mouth with her hands. Burlap mewled again, and Keith chuckled.
“Do you know what she just said?” He asked. Emily couldn’t speak and just shook her head. “She wanted me to ask you something.” Emily was bouncing up and down as Keith placed Burlap in the carrier next to him.
“Sorry cat, Aunt Alice will kill me if I let you roam around.” Keith closed the carrier and turned back to Emily.
“You’re lucky I like you, or that cat wouldn’t get close to this place,” Alice shouted.
“Emily Mary Bradshaw, from the very second I saw you, I knew my life was about to change. You also nearly drove me out of my mind.” He took her hand. “I never thought I could find a love like you ever or for it to happen so fast but it did, and the only thing that would make me happier is if you would agree to be my wife.”
Keith dropped her hand and pulled the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen from the box. He took her hand again and gazed up into her eyes. His blue eyes sparkled, and she couldn’t look away.
“Emily, will you marry me?”
She was nodding long before he’d even finished the question and as soon as he slipped the ring on her finger, she screamed yes. She wrapped her arms around his neck before he could get to his feet. They fell back onto the floor with her on top of him.
“Hey, that stuff has to wait until you go home,” Nick shouted.
By the time, Keith had them back up on their feet, Emily was surrounded. She was hugged, kissed and was welcomed into the most amazing family she’d ever had the privilege to meet. She not only fell in love with Keith she’d fallen in love with the huge group and knew for the rest of her life that nothing would be boring.
Epilogue
It was the fourth of his brothers to tie the knot. This one had been quick, but Keith never looked happier, and Emily was glowing. Mike O’Connor grabbed a beer from the bar and twisted off the top. From the way things were going, he’d be the last of the brothers to settle down.
It was almost comical how his family thought he was playing the field. He hadn’t had sex for six months and not because he couldn’t. He had a couple of women that called him on a regular basis for booty calls. Mike was sick of the meaningless sex. He wanted someone to spend time with. In bed and out.
Maybe it was because he’d been watching his older brothers all settle down. They were all so sickeningly happy. Not that he wasn’t glad for them, but it was getting more difficult for him to be around them. Especially, when they’d start on him about how he had to stop running around.
“Bro, we’re a dying breed.” Aaron nudged him.
“Hey, with the way this is going Mikey here is the next to sail off into the sunset.” Nick laughed.
“Maybe I’ll just be the cool single bachelor that your women call and complain to.” Mike laughed. That was certainly not what he wanted.
“Bachelor maybe but definitely not cool.” Isabelle poked him in the chest.
“That’s right I’m the cool one.” John draped his arm around Isabelle’s shoulder.
“Dream on. Your cool factor dropped after you took the plunge, bro.” Nick teased.
“Yeah but his sexiness skyrocketed.” Stephanie tucked herself under John’s arm and kissed his cheek. She and John had found out they were about to have another baby and they were both over the moon.
“Please, don’t use sexy in the same sentence with my cousin.” Kristy gagged.
Mike was starting to feel like he was smothering as everyone circled around the bar. He stepped back and let out a breath.
“Hey, ar
e you okay?” Stephanie touched his arm.
“Just been busy at work.” Mike forced a smile.
“That makes what I’m about to ask really bad.” Stephanie pointed to the door leading to the patio.
“What is it?” Mike didn’t care how busy he was. When it came to family, he’d be there. Just like they always were for each other.
“John, I need to talk to Mike about that situation.” Stephanie kissed John’s cheek and linked her arm into Mike’s elbow.
It was a beautiful night even though it was a little chilly for the end of August. Mike walked with Stephanie to one of the patio tables outside the country club. They sat down, and Stephanie smiled.
“I’ve got a friend who may need some advice on a situation.” Stephanie folded her hands in front of her.
“Do I know this friend?” Mike asked.
“I don’t think so. She’s actually the grand-daughter of one of my clients.” Stephanie explained. “She’s trying to get custody of her friend’s daughter.”
“It’s hard to get a judge to take a child away from their parents unless there’s something dangerous.” Mike had seen enough of it to know.
“Her friend was the girl murdered last month,” Stephanie explained.
“Did her friend have a will or anything to give her custody?” This was a different situation altogether, and chances were child welfare would be the ones to deal with any arrangements for the child.
“No, but she always told Belinda that if anything happened to her, the little girl needed to be kept safe.” Stephanie sighed.
“Then Belinda and her husband need to tell child welfare that,” Mike said.
“See that’s one of the problems. Belinda isn’t married.”
“That could make things harder.”
“But the little girl is deaf, and Belinda knows sign language. She’s also a social worker herself.” Stephanie sighed. “She’s desperate.”
“If she’s a social worker than she should know how this works,” Mike said.
“She does, but John tells me you know sign language too.”
“What difference does that make?” Mike didn’t know how him being able to sign could help her friend’s situation.
“Belinda don’t need a lawyer for herself. She needs one for the child.” Stephanie took his hands. “They want to place the little girl with the man Belinda thinks killed her friend and the little girl is terrified of him.”
“Well, that really changes things.” Mike sighed. “I’ll see what I can do. Text me her information.”
About the Author
What does someone say to describe themselves? You could start with giving what others say about you. Scratch that. It doesn't really matter what others think about you. It matters what you think of yourself. So here we go.
First of all, I'm a wife and mother. I'm also a grandmother. That alone would fulfill any woman's life and to be honest, it does. But.....
I'm also a writer. Someone who loves to tell stories of love, suspense, heartache and of course happily ever after. For most of my life, I've written those stories for myself. A type of therapy, I suppose. I love the characters I create. They become part of who I am because there's part of me in them.
So.... Now that you know this about me. I hope when you read my books, you fall in love with them.
You should also know that I'm a Newfoundlander. What is that you ask? We're a proud people who live on an island, off the east coast of Canada. Some people believe Canada ends with Nova Scotia. It doesn't. If you keep going east, there is a beautiful island full of amazing people and magnificent scenery. That is where my stories are set because let’s face it. The best stories always come from the places you know and love.
If there is anything else, you would like to know about me. Ask me!
O’Connor Brother Series
Read more about the sexy O’Connor Brothers
In Books 1, 2 and 3
Available on Amazon and
Kindle Unlimited.
Dangerous Therapy
Book 1
Officer John O’Connor is giving up on life after a terrible accident. His family are at their wits end when he refuses any kind of therapy. The only thing keeping him sane is his dreams of a beautiful woman he pulled in for a traffic violation months before.
Physical Therapist Stephanie Kelly is healing from a broken heart. When she is hired by Nightingale’s personal care and physical therapy, she’s ecstatic, but she's shocked when her boss asks her to take on a new patient. Shocked because the patient is her boss's nephew and he’s not exactly keen on therapy. He’s also the cop who's been heating up her dreams.
As Stephanie helps John get back on his feet, they grow closer, but someone is out to hurt Stephanie, or worse. After multiple attempts on her life, John’s family tries to figure out who’s after the woman he loves and stop them before it’s too late.
Amazon
Dangerous Abduction
Book 2
Widower James O'Connor has been fighting his growing attraction to his brother's sister-in-law for four long years, but when someone breaks into her home, destroying everything she owns, James takes her and her young son into his home. The break-in wasn’t random. Marina and her son are in danger, and James swears to protect them, but can he keep them safe?
Marina Kelly dedicates her life to caring for her sweet little boy, Danny. Since she broke free from her abusive husband, she's sworn off men, but when James O'Connor keeps entering her thoughts and her dreams, it takes everything she has to keep her feelings hidden. Now, her sister and parents are out of the province, and she's in danger, Marina has no choice but to accept James’s help and try to hide her attraction and growing feelings.
The attraction between them impossible to resist. Only her ex's family secret may tear it all apart. Can Marina and James unravel the family's hidden mystery without losing each other?
Amazon
Dangerous Secrets
Book 3
Ian O’Connor has everything going for him. He’s got the O’Connor drop dead good looks, an incredible body and to top it off he’s a doctor. Why wouldn’t anyone want the man but none of that was the reason Sandy Churchill was head over heels in love with the man. After he had stood her up for their first official date, she was weary of taking another chance. When she ends up in the hospital because she turned her back on a criminal determined to get away from her, Ian admits that he loves her and wants another chance. A secret from his past throws Sandy into a tailspin, but she has a secret that she’s hiding from everyone.
Ian’s on cloud nine when he finally takes a leap of faith and tells the woman he’s loved for four years how he feels and wants a chance to make up for his screw up. They have two weeks of bliss, but a murder and secrets come back to haunt him. Sandy’s reaction tells him there’s another reason why she’s avoiding him. She’s hiding something, but he has no idea what and to make matters worse there’s danger coming from her past that could hurt the people he loves the most.
Amazon
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STAY ROMANTIC AND MUCH LOVE!
Dangerous Beauty (O'Connor Brothers Book 4) Page 25
