Laughter surrounded them while Ford continued. “Welcome to the family, Babs. You two are perfect together. Whatever you need, you know we’ve got your back, the family here at the farm and the one on the screen. Congratulations.”
Mara leaned into Seth. Everyone held up their glasses while echoes of Congratulations filled the air.
They chatted for a few more minutes, and then her family signed off with congratulations and best wishes. Her dad was the last to leave. “Well done, Seth. You’ve got the best girl in the world. You take care of each other now. Love you both, talk soon.”
Blinking back happy tears, her dad signed off. Mara squeezed Seth again. “I can’t believe you did all this.”
He chuckled. “Anything for you. I knew they’d all get a kick out of it. They helped me choose the movie.”
She laughed. “You all know me so well. This was better than I could have imagined.”
“And it’s only going to get better from here.”
Seth couldn’t contain his grin throughout the rest of the movie. Mara snuggled close to his side, and he couldn’t stop touching her. His fiancée.
Not everyone would be up for such a public proposal, but he knew she wouldn’t think of it as public. Other than the incident with Anson back in New York, he knew she told her family everything. Despite the age range and the distance, they were an incredibly close family.
He kissed her hair as the singing festival happened on the screen. Throughout the movie, he recognized several songs as ones Mara sang or hummed while she worked. Edelweiss was a particular favorite of hers. When the captain sang it to the audience, he felt the poignancy deep down to his toes.
He chuckled as the nuns showed how they’d disabled the Nazi’s cars and breathed a sigh of relief when the family made it to the mountains unscathed. Von Trapps one, Nazis nothing. Just as it should be.
After the movie, they received another round of hugs from Nash, Olivia, Lawson, and Dani, who lived at the rear of the property.
They headed home, leaving most of the group at the farmhouse with more hugs and congratulations.
In the inn, Gray reset the alarm behind them. “Congratulations again. Remember, we have no guests in the morning, so no need to be up with the sun.”
His buddy’s eyes twinkled with fun as he and Amber hugged them again.
Finally, they were alone in their rooms. Fritter leapt from the chair to twine himself around their legs. Mara scooped him up, and Seth pulled them both into his arms.
Mara stroked the cat. “Guess what, Fritter? We’re engaged. See the gorgeous ring?”
Then she described the evening to the cat. Her obvious joy in how he’d set the scene had him grinning along.
Then she ruffled the cat’s head. “Now, you go find a place to snooze. I’m going to seduce my fiancé.”
The cat leapt and moved to the chair he preferred at night.
Seth ran his hands up and down Mara’s curves. “That sounds remarkably similar to my plan. Seducing my fiancée. I love you, Mara.”
Her hands came up to cup his face. Her eyes sparkled. “I love you, too, Seth. So much. Thanks for having my family be a part of tonight.”
He chuckled. “I figured you’d enjoy the whole plan.”
Her smile widened. “It was amazing. Perfect. They’ll be talking about it for years.”
Seth swooped her up into his arms. It might not be their wedding night, but he thought carrying her over the bedroom threshold on their engagement night set the right tone. He couldn’t wait to do it after their wedding. “How soon can I talk you into marrying me?”
She laughed and traced her fingers along his jaw. “As soon as we can arrange for my family to be here.”
That sounded perfect to him. “Now, let’s stop thinking about your family and get busy with the seduction part of the evening.”
An idea struck him, and he turned around, leaving their suite and closing the door behind him so Fritter wouldn’t escape.
Mara’s eyes widened. “Where are we going?”
Her hushed voice made him grin. “They’re on the third floor; we have the whole place to ourselves.”
