Once everyone had filed out, he asked, “Why didn’t you come home? Why did you run?” She blushed at that, clearly not impressed with her actions, but she didn’t look embarrassed.
“I won’t apologize. I got the news and panicked. Ipanickedbecause you made it clear more than once that you weren’t interested in having any more children.”
All true. He frowned, thinking about what an unbending ass he’d been. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He stepped closer, close enough to take her hands into his own and hold them to his chest. He blew out a breath, not wishing to discuss what he knew he needed to.
“Helen was never kind to me. When she was pregnant, she was vicious. The results, the boys, was worth it, but it didn’t make me want to repeat it,” he explained. Rowan’s eyes were glassy when he finished. She knew how much Helen had hurt him during their marriage. She was the one to close the last of the distance separating them.
“I will only ever love you, pregnant or not.”
“I know that. This was all on me.”
“I…I want the baby, Hugh. I wish we could have discussed it together and decided the right time. You know I would have worn you down, and you would have eventually agreed,” she grinned up at him before sobering again, “but I do wish you’d had a choice.”
Hugh pushed the empty bowls back the girls had been holding and lifted Rowan to sit on the counter, where he stepped between her legs. He bent and whispered against her lips. “I had a choice, baby, and it was to be balls deep in you without a condom. We made this child, and I sure as hell am not giving either of you up. Ever.”
When her mouth parted on an exhale, he took advantage and kissed her. Something slow and sweet, a kiss that spoke of everything in his heart he wasn’t poetic enough to speak. Hebroke away long enough to fish the engagement ring out of his front pocket. Her eyes were still dazed from the kiss, and it took her a moment to see what he held pinched between his fingers.
“I came here today to ask you to marry me, well, I would have apologized for last night first but…Rowan Clary Byrne, will you marry me?”
Will you marry me?Looking between Hugh’s grim face and the ring, she felt her face flush with pleasure. Rowan was pretty good at reading his expressions, or lack thereof, and the blank one he was rocking in that moment was nervousness. As if he had any reason to doubt her answer.
“Yes, and it’s about damn time, Mr. O’Faolain,” she laughed as he slipped the—holy cow!—yellow diamond on her finger.Oh my.The cheers coming from the dining room made her smile and Hugh shake his head. His eyes were laughing, though.
“I picked it out in Tulsa after you agreed to give me another chance. I knew I couldn’t let you get away again. I picked it because I know yellow’s your favorite color, and I wanted you to smile whenever you saw it on your finger,” he added quietly, his cheeks pinkened at the admission.
“I love you,” she said, placing a kiss on the corner of his mouth.
“Christ, Row, I love you.”
He was just about to kiss her when Nan and Devlen walked into the kitchen, followed by a grinning Bran and Raven and Patrick and River.
Nan hugged and kissed Rowan. Tears were swimming in both their eyes. Nan had known the longest how desperately in love she’d been with Hugh. Devlen gave her a brief hug and pat on the back—the man was finally getting the hang of hugs.He shook Hugh’s hand in congratulations before stepping back, letting Nan hug…her fiancé.
“You’re the best of men, Hugh. I couldn’t have asked for a better match for my granddaughter. Rowan’s grandfather, Sean, and her father, my son, Daniel, would have approved heartily. Her mama, Lily, would have loved you immediately because her daughter did.”
“Thank you, Bébhinn,” Hugh accepted the high praise solemnly.
With that, the rest of the family swarmed the newly engaged couple to give their own well wishes and hugs. Hugh pulled Rowan against his side and kept her there. It was one of the best moments of her life.
“We’d better call your mom, or we’ll both be in trouble,” Rowan suggested.
“And Jo,” River reminded.
“Have you thought of wedding venues?” Raven asked.
Rowan cleared her throat and squeezed her arm tighter around Hugh’s waist. “Is this a good time to let everyone know that I would like to get married at the courthouse and have a destination honeymoon with our family and friends?”
“The courthouse,” Nan gasped.
“Really?” River wondered.
“Are you sure?” Raven asked.
“Sounds like a great idea to me,” Bran said.
“Thank fu—” Patrick cut off the curse word at Nan’s sharp look, “heavens,” he continued. “I think we should all write down our honeymoon ideas and pick the best,” Patrick grinned, patting his wife’s behind. “Riv and I will have the best ones.”
Hugh bent to whisper in her ear, placing his big palm over her flat stomach. “I’m praying the baby’s a girl.”
