“If Teddy loves Sophie and vice versa, then it’s the most natural thing in the world for her to help him while he’s healing,” explains Catbeam.
Nash pouts, considers, and then asks me point blank. “What are your intentions toward my daughter?”
Sophie rolls her eyes. “Daddy! You’re embarrassing me; this isn’t Victorian England!”
“I don’t care what century it is; I’m your father, and I want Teddy to answer my question.”
As Sophie folds her arms with a huff, all eyes turn to me, even Olivia’s, who must realize something big is happening because she’s stopped playing with her pie.
“My intentions are entirely honorable, sir,” I say to Nash. “I love your daughter.”
Then I turn my attention to Sophie, who’s glanced up at those words. “I’ve been looking for you all my life, Sophie,” I say quietly. “Only I didn’t realize it was you I was seeking until I showed up at the bakery.”
“Right after I broke the wall.” She smiles.
I move our plates out of the way, reach across thetable, and grip her hands, which are trembling. “You fill me up, keep me sane, and hold me together when I’m flying apart. You’re a symphony, a sonnet, a never-ending story that I will carry in my heart all my days. I want to marry you, if you’ll have me… and if not, I will ask you every day until you take pity on me and finally relent.”
Sophie’s cheeks are damp, and she laughs softly. I hear sniffling noises; I think both Phoebe and Cassia are tearing up.
Why isn’t Sophie saying anything?
“Please tell me the answer is yes,” I whisper hoarsely, prickles of dread piercing my core. Have I misread Sophie’s true feelings for me?
“Of course the answer is yes!” cries Sophie, who hurries around the table toward me, smiling through her tears. I slide my chair back so she can sit in my lap, wincing slightly at the gentle pressure on my injured thighs, but then her lips are on mine, and I’m lost in her kisses until Oliva asks, “Aunt Sophie, can I be a flower girl? Please?”
Sophie and I both chuckle, and my fiancée says, “Yes, Olivia.”
“Yay!” shouts Olivia, adding, “And can I wear a pretty dress too?”
Cassia shushes her daughter. “Do you have a date in mind?”
“Don’t you need a job before you start planning weddings and honeymoons?” grumps Nash.
“Oh, Nash, give it a rest,” says Phoebe. “You were an unemployed chef when we got married.”
“And you had to pawn your gold watch to pay for your wedding suit,” quips Catbeam. “Good thing I knew the pawnbroker, a beady-eyed troll who demanded an incantation from me in exchange for your watch.”
“And our honeymoon was a weekend in the Wisconsin Dells,” says Phoebe. She reaches out for her husband’s hand and curls her fingers over his meaty fist. “And it was quite lovely; I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
Nash gives Phoebe a knowing smile, and then he lets out a low, growly breath. Looking at me, he grunts, “Are you really sure you want all this?”
“Absolutely positive.”
Nash lets out a hearty belly laugh, his eyes crinkling in the corners like a jolly, brown-bearded Santa; when he’s finished, he wipes his eyes. “Welcome to the family, Teddy.”
Chapter 34
Mate Bond Thingy
SOPHIE
Evening, July 16
Teddy’s marriage proposal far surpassed anything my younger self could have imagined when I was a lovesick teen crushing over one boy after another. His words literally stole my breath away; I’ve never felt so cherished in all my life. Even if I live to be as old and wrinkly as Granny Catbeam, I’ll never forget how my wounded werewolf poured out his heart and soul in front of my entire family.
I was so caught up in the moment that I neglected to give him my answer straightaway; Teddy’s brow furrowed, his posture stiffening as he waited for my reply. How could he have any doubts about my feelings for him?
Then I was crying and laughing as I told himyes!I scrambled around the table and carefully climbed into Teddy’s lap, ensuring I kissed away any concerns on hispart. I was oblivious to the fact everyone was watching our drama play out until Olivia’s sweet voice grounded me once more.
