“I love you, too.”
Since he’d told McKenna he loved her, he couldn’t count how many times he’d repeated those words, and every time he felt the same wonder and excitement when she said she loved him too.
He clasped her hands in his. “Last chance to wait. There’s no rush. We can take our time.”
She laughed, and his bright smile disappeared.
“That wasn’t meant to be funny.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry, Zane. I was laughing because when we met, you were so spur of the moment. I was the cautious one who insisted on planning everything out. Seems like I should be asking if you’re sure?”
“I am.”
Hand in hand, he and McKenna stepped into the ballroom to greet Ginny, along with Cooper and Cheyenne, Ty and Cassie, AJ and Grace. His real family. The ones God blessed him with. The ones who’d saved him. “McKenna and I want to thank y’all for coming on short notice. While the road here has been bumpy—”
“Bumpy? More like pothole ridden after a major ice storm,” AJ teased, grinning at his own joke.
“Thanks, pal. That’s what a man wants to hear. Heckling on his wedding day.”
Pandemonium erupted as everyone tossed out questions.
“You’re getting married?”
“You skipped an engagement?”
“Wow, you moved faster than Cheyenne and I did.”
“For reportedly such a smooth talker, that was an interesting way to make that announcement.”
“It may not have been eloquent, but you’ve got to admit it’s memorable,” Zane countered.
“You’re a wedding planner. Don’t you want a big wedding?” Grace asked.
Zane shuddered at the thought. Beside him, McKenna giggled and patted his arm. “See how pale he got when you mentioned that, Grace? I don’t think Zane could handle us planning another big wedding, even our own.”
“You wouldn’t believe how hard McKenna and Ginny work.” Zane turned to AJ. “Whatever you’re paying them to coordinate your wedding, you two are getting a bargain.”
With Cassie and Grace also clustered around McKenna, Cheyenne asked to see her engagement ring and reached for McKenna’s left hand. “We decided on just matching bands.”
“I want you to have my engagement ring,” Ginny said as she walked forward. Unlike everyone else who appeared shocked by their announcement, his grandmother appeared unflustered. In fact, if asked, he’d describe her look as wise and knowing.
McKenna shook her head. “I can’t take yours. I really didn’t need one.”
“I insist.” Ginny slipped off her engagement ring, and placed the delicate diamond in Zane’s palm, and closed her hand around his.
McKenna held out her left hand, and Zane slipped his grandmother’s diamond on her finger.
Ginny grasped their hands in her own and gazed at Zane. “A few months ago, I went to the wishing well because I was worried about you. The older you got, the more you cut yourself off from people.”
“No, I don’t. I’m extremely selective, that’s all, because I’d trust anyone here with my life.”
Ginny smirked and shook her head at Zane’s comment. Then she turned to McKenna, her gaze filled with love. “You, my dear, are the well’s answer to my wish. When I returned to my office, I checked my email. The first one I read was from you with your resume.”
“I remember I was surprised how quickly you responded and that you asked me to call. When I did, you wanted me to come for an interview the next day,” McKenna said.
Ginny nodded. “The minute I met you, I suspected you and Zane were right for each other.”
Zane chuckled as the pieces clicked into place. “We did agree to me simply handling the finances at first, didn’t we?”
