“Oh, Niall.Why didn’t you voice your thoughts then?Tell me you loved me?I would’ve come back.”
Niall grunted, uncomfortable with the truth.He had to explain why he’d said the wrong thing and caused her to leave under such a black cloud.“I panicked,” he said, finding the tightness of his chest easing now that he was telling the truth.“In that moment, it resembled rejection, bringing back a flood of family memories.I was a broken man when I arrived in Scotland.It took me a long time to trust the laird and Angus.”
Suzie patted his arm.“Don’t you see?Angus and the laird became your family.You had a family that mistreated you, but when you left, you found another family who loved and supported you.A found family, and you’ll have an even bigger one after we marry.”
Hope rose in him.“After we’re married?”
“Yes, Niall.I love you.Don’t you know me well enough to understand that I wouldn’t have slept with you if I didn’t care for you?You’re my mate.When we’re together, I feel whole and like to think you feel the same way.”
“I didn’t come to New Zealand intending to leave again without you,” he murmured.
When he glanced at her this time, the deep emotion he saw shook him.Her features were softer, and her beautiful green eyes glowed with happiness, with contentment, with love.Niall slid along the bench seat and took her hand in his.“I brought a ring with me.It belonged to the laird’s mother, and he gave it to me to give to the woman I fell in love with.”His mind drifted to the elderly man.Suzie was right.He’d become Niall’s family, and Angus was still his family.He loved and respected the elderly shifter.“If you don’t like it, we can have it redesigned, or I could buy you another.”
Suzie grinned.“Show me.”
He retrieved a ring box from his pocket and opened it to reveal the antique golden ring featuring diamonds and rubies.The ring had held significant meaning for the laird, symbolizing the elderly Scotsman’s love for his wife and for Niall.He’d absorbed more than he’d thought but never considered himself part of a family.Until today.
A sense of gratefulness assailed him as he replayed Suzie’s fervent words.He had a family who loved him.They might not be blood relations, but that didn’t matter.They loved and respected him, and he knew without asking that he could call on them, and they’d come.He briefly thought of the two brothers who’d traveled to Scotland with mischief in mind and substantial gambling debts.They’d seen him as an easy way out of their problems.
Niall shifted his attention to Suzie, who remained fixated on the ring.“Do you like it?”
“Yes.”She glanced at him, her eyes green pools of awe and amazement.“So much.I’d be honored to wear it.”
Thankful again, Niall tugged the ring free and slid it onto Suzie’s finger.They studied it for a beat longer before their gazes connected.
“Suzie, I love you.Marry me soon?”
Instead of agreeing, she said, “How long can you stay?Could you do two weeks?”
Alarm slammed through him.A trace of panic.Was she changing her mind already?
“Niall?”
Her utter calmness allowed him to breathe.She said yes, he reminded himself, but it told him how off-balance he was with love and family.He’d programmed himself to fear the worst.He had to improve because Suzie needed the best version of him.She deserved nothing less.
“After you left and we discovered Michael was behind everything, the honey didn’t seem important.Angus and I discussed it and we’ve put back the release date.With all the upheaval, we decided it would be best to wait.Besides, I couldn’t focus.The excitement had gone because you weren’t there to share it with me.I missed you.You’re more critical to me than the honey.”
Suzie laughed then and squeezed his hand.“I have a suggestion.Why don’t we plan to get married before we return to Scotland?Set the date in two weeks.Angus might not make it, but we could have another ceremony in Scotland.What do you think?”
Niall didn’t hesitate.“I’d like that very much.We’ll have a party when we get home, but we could also set up a link for Angus to watch the ceremony.”
“Is it safe to come out?”Scott called.
“No,” Suzie said.“He hasn’t kissed me yet.”
Niall rose with alacrity and scooped her off the bench.He hauled her into his arms and breathed in her scent.He playfully smooched the tip of her nose before grinning at her.“Would you like a kiss to celebrate our engagement?”
“Yes, please.”Her prim tone contrasted with her mirthful eyes.
“Your wish is my command,” he said.
She was still rolling her eyes when he claimed her mouth, and he settled in to kiss the stuffing out of her.Passion flared between them.A sense of rightness and happiness filled Niall as Suzie’s arms surrounded him.
“Everything seems peaceful,” Scott said in a loud voice.
Suzie laughed against Niall’s lips, and he lifted his head to grin at their friend.“She said yes.We’re getting married in two weeks before we return to Scotland.”
Scott let out a whoop, and Niall’s grin widened.
