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“And I love you, Annie. More than I ever imagined it was possible to love another human being. Before you came into my world, I was convinced that love wasn’t meant for me. I was half the man I am today, stumbling around in the dark and allowing the past to threaten my future. Our future.”

“Ours?” Annie squeaked. Her eyes went wide, and she began to blink fast and furiously.

“Open the book,” he urged. “I put a little something in there on the way over here.”

With trembling fingers, Annie opened the book and took out the note he had placed inside the front cover. She read it aloud. “Will you?” She swung her gaze up to look at him.

“Will I what?” she asked, her heart pounding as it dawned on her that her life was about to change in a monumental way.

* * *

Declan lowered himself to one knee. He dug inside his pocket and pulled out a wooden ring box. He flipped it open to reveal a sparkling ring. He looked up at Annie, and with his heart thumping wildly in his chest, said the four words he never imagined would ever come out of his mouth. “Will you marry me?” Annie covered her mouth with one hand while clutching the book in the other.

“Will I? Of course I will,” she said, throwing her arms around his neck and smothering him with kisses. When she finally let go of him, Declan held up the ring.

“Annie. This is a pretty old-fashioned ring. It’s been sitting in my sock drawer for years and years. It belonged to my mother. It has a lot of sentimental meaning, so I hope you love it as much as she always did.”

“You know I love vintage things, Declan.” He placed the ring on her finger as she let out a gasp of appreciation. “It’s stunning, Declan. And I’m honored to wear your mother’s ring.”

“Thank you for loving me, Annie,” Declan said, tears forming in his eyes. “This proposal might be a bit spur-of-the-moment, but the love I feel for you is anything but. It’s solid and grounded.”

“Loving you was my destiny,” Annie said. “I never thought you and I would be a match. But we are. As perfect a match as there ever could be,” she chirped.

“Right here, right now, I want to kiss you, Annie Murray. To celebrate our big news.”

“Oh, really,” she said in a sassy voice. “Is that a promise?”

“Without question,” he murmured as he placed his lips over hers and dipped her backward in a kiss that heralded their glorious future and the joy they had found in each other’s arms.

Epilogue

Annie stood on the front steps of the Free Library of Love and breathed in the crisp wintry air. It was a frigid December morning, but she was almost oblivious to the low temperature and the winter wonderland all around her. All she wanted to do was make her way inside the library so she could see Declan decked out in his Sunday best. She was getting married today. Her beautiful rhinestone-encrusted wedding dress with the lace at the cuffs had been a wonderful discovery at a vintage store in Anchorage. It was her dream dress for her fairy-tale wedding to the love of her life.

“Ready to go inside?” Zachariah asked. “If you want to make a run for it, I’ve got a getaway car.” Her grandfather was dressed in an old-fashioned gray topper. He had decorated his cane to match the cranberry accents of her wedding party.

Annie nodded. Although her throat felt clogged with emotion, there was something resting on her heart that she needed to share with her grandfather. Moisture was already gathering in her eyes as she turned toward him.

“Grampy. I just want to tell you that finding you has changed me. Knowing that I have family ties here in Love makes all the difference in the world to me. You’re one of the biggest reasons that I feel I belong here. And even though we haven’t known each other very long, I love you very much.”

Zachariah reached out and clasped her hand in his. He squeezed it tightly. “I wish I’d known you all your life, but I’m still grateful that you came looking for me. Any man would be proud to claim you. You’re an extraordinary woman, just like your Gram.”

Tears slid down Annie’s face. For so long, she had wanted to hear those words from a male figure in her life. Knowing that Zachariah had stepped up to claim her and to be a part of her life had allowed her to put to rest the shadows in her family tree. The cycle had been broken. And now, she could embrace her future with Declan with not a single reservation about the past. Her groom had also put a lid on his painful family history. By coming to terms with the tragedy of his mother’s death and his father’s downward spiral, Declan had opened a window for their glorious future. There wasn’t a single thing holding them back.

“I’m ready to become Mrs. Declan O’Rourke,” she announced as a calm feeling swept over her. Once they stepped inside the library, Sophie and Hazel were there waiting for them in the foyer. Both women were dressed in cranberry-colored bridesmaid’s dresses. Sophie’s dress stopped right below the knee, while Hazel’s swept all the way t

o her ankles. They each reached out and hugged Annie, murmuring words of encouragement and blessings.

“I hope Jasper gets some inspiration from all these weddings popping up around him,” Hazel cracked. “I’m not getting any younger.”

“You’d make a lovely bride at any age,” Sophie said, patting Hazel on the shoulder.

“Remember to tell Jasper that at the reception,” Hazel urged. “He needs all the encouragement he can get. The old coot is beginning to take me for granted.”

The doors of the grand room were flung wide open, signaling that it was time for the wedding to start. Side by side, Hazel and Sophie began to walk across the threshold and down the flower-strewn aisle.

A hush fell over the crowd as the wedding march rang out in the main hall. Zachariah held out his arm, and they began to slowly walk into the room. Annie smiled as she looked at all the books sitting proudly on the shelves. A feeling of pride swelled inside her. This place was a testament to the future of this town. Generations of townsfolk would benefit from the library’s extensive catalog. Encyclopedias. Travel books. Stories about kings and queens and faraway places. Books that would fuel imaginations and encourage thinking and dreaming and aspiring.

Annie sucked in a breath at the sight of her groom. Dressed in his midnight-blue tux, a crisp white shirt and a cranberry-colored bow tie, he looked spectacular. Swoon-worthy. Boone stood right by his side, while Finn, Cameron and Liam were behind them. She had to smile as Declan fidgeted impatiently with his collar. He had gotten dressed up for her. Knowing Declan, he would have cheerfully worn his leather aviator jacket and jeans to the ceremony.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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