Bean sat in the middle of the living room floor, chewing a velvet Christmas ribbon and giggling while Goldie kept dutiful watch.
Penny knelt beside him, cheeks lit so prettily from the fireplace glow. Wrapping paper had somehow gotten in her hair, and she’d never looked more beautiful. Maisy sat there too, with Everett toddling around. The two Bellamy cousins, close enough in age that I hoped they’d grow up good friends, as Brooks and I were.
I set down my mug of cocoa—a doctor-approved occasional treat although there were times I missed a good espresso. I crossed the room to my lovely Penny and our little boy.
“He’s going to eat that bow,” I warned with a wink.
“He’s exploring textures,” Maisy explained in her very scientific way.
“Here, Bean, play with the building block instead.” I handed him a large-sized baby-approved block, and he took it.
“Architectural curiosity. Must be hereditary,” Penny teased.
I took a photo of them on the floor and it hit me how full my life was. How last year, I’d found Penny, fired her a lot, and then almost lost her between my heart attack and the space I needed to recover from it—and my past.
Now everything that mattered fit perfectly together under the roof of this beautiful brownstone mansion I had bought for us, big enough for our family to grow in. I chose it because of the square footage, historical significance, and balustrades. She chose it for the exclusive neighborhood and dentil moulding.
I had a crew here all year, remodeling it, modernizing it with everything Penny wanted, and they finished just in time before Christmas so we could move in. That was about the only passion project I chased since leaving Bellamy Architects. Unless you counted chasing my future wife around in a Zombie mask on occasion.
Yeah, time to make her my wife. I reached into my pocket, my heart pounding with exhilarating pressure—only this time it was joy, not panic. Not a reason to call 9-1-1.
“Penny.” I let the name flow from my lips, recalling the first time I saw her on that matchmaking app.
She looked up, grinning brighter than ever. “Hmm?”
I took a deep breath and sank to one knee beside the baby toys and our son. The entire party hushed, no one with a clue I’d planned to do this tonight.
“I’ve designed hotel towers and museums and mansions,” I started, voice catching. Not once when I practiced did it do that, but here in front of her, control of my emotions flew out the window. “Nothing has ever felt as solidly built as this. What we have. You and me, and baby Bean.”
Her eyes shimmered, already certain, knowing the question I was about to ask. I could be a jerk and ask something like,Can I get you a piece of pie?But I wouldn’t dare.
I held out the ring. “I was once a very broken man. But it turned out I had to go through that in order to find you, my perfect match. Your love fixed me and put me back together. So now, Penny Fair, be my forever. Build a family and a lifetime with me. Marry me.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Yes. Of course, I’ll marry you, my love. My Archer.”
Bean gurgled as I slid the platinum ring on her finger, like our tiny foreman approved the plan. The room erupted in cheers. Brier and Westley whooped with their baby girl Aurora on Brier’s hip. Brooks clapped. Rex, Richard, Keaton, and their wives and all the kids and all our friends shouted,Kiss her! Kiss her!
I drew her into my arms, claiming her warm red lips, confident that our future was built on a strong foundation—of love, trust, and happiness.
Thankyou for reading It Happened to Us.
What to read next:
Read: It Happened After Hours
The final book in the It Happened Series features Griffin West and Jessa, in a Billionaire and Nanny Steamy Romance.
Also Read: Mr. Snowman, Holden West’s romance - turn the page for an excerpt of chapter 1.
A Frosty, Flirty, Snowed-In, Almost-Enemies-to-Lovers Christmas Romance.
Read through the entire It Happened Series here:
See what happens when worlds collide: Wealthy CEOs meet Small Town women. Also Available in foreign languages.
Book 1: It Happened (Rex & Chelsea)
Book 2: It Happened in Paris (Richard & Vivian)
