Page 89 of Save a Wish

“I’m glad you think I’m worthy,” Jimmy said. “It gives me the courage to ask you a question.” He slid his chair farther back out of the way and slowly lowered to one knee.

Mrs. Hartley gasped, her hands going to her cheeks as she watched Jimmy with wide eyes.

“Beth, you have made me feel like a man again, like a part of this town, like a member of your family,” Jimmy said. “I’d love to make that family bit official.” He held up a small, velvet box, snapped it open, and angled it toward Mrs. Hartley. “Would you do me the incredible honor of marrying me, Elizabeth Hartley?”

Amelia let out a little squeal then clamped her hands over her mouth. “Sorry.”

Isaac gathered his daughter into his lap. “It’s okay, Tiny. We were all squealing in our heads too.”

Mrs. Hartley held out her left hand and wiggled her fingers. “You put that ring on me right now, Elijah Jameson Slater III, because, yes! Yes, I will marry you!”

Those squeals in our heads? Yeah, they released in full force, filling the kitchen with wild joy. Congratulations circulated, hugs ran rampant, and Mrs. Hartley and Jimmy made those Cinderella and Prince Charming costumes come to life as Jimmy twirled his bride-to-be around the kitchen.

“Can I be a flower girl, Mr. Jimmy?” Amelia asked.

“Of course!” Jimmy took the girl’s hand and spun her around. “And someone has to lead the parade of dogs down the aisle because we can’t leave Maggie, Dasha, and Merlin out of the wedding.”

Amelia screeched with delight. “A wedding doggie parade! Daddy, there’s going to be a wedding doggie parade!”

The revelry continued with a toast to the newly-engaged couple. Jimmy gave Mrs. Hartley the heart pendant he’d had me make and she instantly put it on.

“Oh, it’s so lovely.” She eyed me as she fingered the rock dangling from the leather cord. “As is the person who made it.”

A cozy warmth flooded through me at her motherly praise, and once again, true delight coursed in my veins at having found this welcoming bunch.

The Hartley siblings then ushered their mates out of the farmhouse and to their own homes. Beckett came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He rested his chin on my shoulder and pressed a kiss to my jaw.

“Shall we, Your Highness?” He nudged me toward the door. “I think it’s time for Daphne and Fred to set The Mystery Machine a-rockin’.”

I laughed and led us both outside. “I think I prefer the comfort of your bedroom over a van.”

“Just like a princess to demand the finest.” Beckett threaded his fingers with mine and we meandered along toward his house.

“Well, if I’m going to have the finest partner, I should have the finest accommodations as well.” I squeezed his hand.

“Sweet talk like that will get you whatever you want,” he said.

“I think I want a way to work off all the pie I just ate.” I groaned and rubbed my belly.

“We can jog with Sylvie and Joshua tomorrow.”

“Or . . .” I stopped walking, making Beckett have to stop as well. I brushed my lips against his. Just light sweeps at first, but it didn’t take long for that not to be enough. The kiss deepened and soon we were both one step away from ripping off our costumes right then and there.

Then something crackled in the woods behind Beckett.

“What was that?” I couldn’t see anything in the shadows.

Beckett looked over his shoulder. “It’s either a family member or a forest creature.” He took my hand again and pulled me along beside him. “Let’s get to my house.”

We nearly ran the rest of the way there—which was also good for working off the pie feasting—and once we were inside, Beckett scooped me up into his arms and bolted for his bedroom, dropping me on the mattress once we arrived.

“I might be full on pie,” he began as he untied his neckerchief and let it flutter to the floor, “but I will always have room for you, Princess.” He ripped off the blond wig he’d donned to play Fred, raked his hands through his messy hair, and dove onto the bed with me.

It didn’t take us long to be naked, wrapped around one another, and swimming in a sea of absolute ecstasy. When I thought about how close we’d come to never being together like this again, I tightened my arms around Beckett. What we had was a true gift. Something more valuable than any royal jewel.

“I love you so much,” I said as we remained tangled up in bed together, my fingers running through Beckett’s hair.

He lifted his head from where it had been resting on my chest. “And I love you so much.” He kissed me then coaxed me off the bed and guided me over to the mirror above his dresser. He turned me to face it and stepped up behind me. “Take a look at these auras.”