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Everyone laughed. After everyone settled back down, Jake talked again. “I want to go ahead and give Sandy her birthday-slash-Valentine’s present now.”
“Oh shit,” Harmony whispered. “He is so going to get bitched at. He knows better than to try and combine the two.”
Smiling, I waited for Jake to make his move. Sandy had a smile on her face, but I wasn’t sure how happy she looked. But the moment Jake got down on one knee and Sandy realized what he was doing, her hands came up to her mouth as she began crying. Harmony pulled forward and said, “Oh my God! He’s asking her to marry him!” Jumping, Harmony slammed her hands against her mouth to keep from crying.
“Sandy, you are my only reason for living each day with a smile on my face. I want to seal the deal so that I know I’ll be waking up every morning to your beautiful face. Will you marry me?”
Laughing, I rolled my eyes and shook my head at his mention of sealing the deal. Sandy laughed too as she dropped to her knees and threw her arms around Jake.
Turning, Harmony threw herself into my arms as she cried happy tears for once. Pulling back, she let out a giggle. “He said ‘seal the deal.’?”
Laughing, I leaned over and brushed my lips against hers. “Are you happy, Harmony?”
Nodding, she said, “Yes! I’m so glad we were here for this. Thank you.”
Placing my hand on the side of her face, I brushed my thumb across her wet cheek. “I hope that from now on your tears are nothing but happy tears.”
As Harmony’s eyes lit up with desire, my heart felt like it had skipped a beat. “I have a feeling they will be.”
—
“Preston, when are you going to take this off?” Harmony asked with a giggle.
The taxi was pulling up outside the pub and I was having a hell of a time keeping my excitement down. My heart was beating out of control and my hands were sweating like a son of a bitch.
“Almost there.”
Jumping in her seat, Harmony clapped her hands together. “I don’t get one hint?”
Laughing, I said, “No. Be patient, baby.”
Letting out a frustrated groan, she flopped back against the seat. Once the taxi stopped, she sprang forward. “Are we here?”
Handing the taxi driver money, I thanked him while I opened the door and took Harmony’s hand. We slid across the seat and I helped her out of the taxi. Standing outside the pub was my entire family, along with Jake and Sandy.
Looking up at the sign, I’d never felt so happy in my life. Fighting back the tears, I smiled as I silently read the new name of the pub: FLANAGAN’S IRISH PUB.
Placing my lips against Harmony’s ear, I whispered, “Ready?”
Nodding, she said, “Yes!”
I took the blindfold off, and Harmony laughed when she saw everyone standing outside the pub wearing New York Yankees T-shirts. Placing her hands over her mouth, she laughed until she shed tears.
“W-what are you guys doing here?” Harmony asked as she walked up to my parents and hugged them first. Making her way down the line, she kept asking why everyone was wearing Yankees T-shirts.
Uncle John shrugged and said, “The new owner is making us wear them.”
Harmony’s smile faded some as she shook her head. “New owner?” I saw fear move across her face as she looked between Uncle John and me. “Oh, John, you didn’t sell the pub, did you?”
He pulled Aunt Sue into his arms and smiled. “I did. Sue and I want to travel some, and I’m too old to run this pub. It’s on the shoulders of the young pup now.”
Harmony turned and walked toward me before stopping. Turning, she glanced up at the sign and let out a gasp as she read it. Snapping her head back to me, the most glorious smile spread across her face. “Preston?”
I let out a chuckle. “I am indeed the proud new owner of Flanagan’s Irish Pub.”
Dropping her mouth open, Harmony ran into my arms and frantically kissed me as everyone erupted in cheers. Wrapping her legs around me, she held onto me tightly as she said, “You told me you were going to be managing a new store opening in Boston!”
Smiling, I said, “I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
Harmony’s eyes lit up as she said, “I’m so proud of you, Preston James Ward. I’m so very proud of you!”
“I would never have done this if it hadn’t been for you, Harmony.”
She pulled her head back and with a stunned expression, she asked, “Me? What in the world did I have to do with this?”
Brushing a piece of her blond hair back, I said, “You showed me how to live in the moment. To never take anything for granted.” Sliding down my body, Harmony kissed me gently while I still held her.
