Page 78 of Niall

We had put the trip off for two more weeks, wanting Anna healed and to make sure everything was covered here. I had been counting the days.

I searched my brain. “What is making you so nervous, then?”

She sighed, and I held her tighter. “Tell me. Let me fix it.”

She met my eyes in the glass. “You always want to fix it.”

“Yes.”

“What if, once she meets me, your mum doesn’t like me?”

I barked out a laugh. “Impossible. She was so happy about Finn and Una. When I told her about you, she was beside herself. You’ve talked to her. Several times. FaceTimed her. She is crazy about you already.” I bent and kissed her neck. “You love her son. You make him so happy, she couldn’t help but love you.”

“It’s so fast. What if she…” Anna shrugged. “Once she meets me, she might change her mind.”

“Impossible,” I repeated. “She will love you even more. She is so excited. Finn and Una married, me bringing home the woman I love—” I stopped speaking. “No, wait.”

“What?” she murmured.

“Let’s change up the dialogue.”

She frowned, her reflection confused. “What?” she said again.

I slipped the box from my pocket where I had it hidden and held it in front of her. “I think with Finn married, I should bring home my fiancée.”

She stared down at the box, not touching it. I turned her in my arms and held the box out again. “Please. Marry me.”

She looked up, tears glistening. “Niall,” she murmured. “Are you sure?”

I tipped up her chin and kissed her, a gentle press of my mouth to hers. “I am more certain of marrying you than I have ever been of any decision in my life. I was meant to be the one who rescued you. You were meant to be mine. I want to take you to Ireland and introduce you to Mum as my intended.” I kissed her again. “I’d like to marry you there, but they have a strict three-month waiting period.”

She gazed up at me, love shining in her eyes. She clutched the intricately carved box in her hands, cradling it as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

“Really?”

I smiled. “You have to say yes first. And look at your ring.”

“Yes.”

“Open your ring, mo mhuirnín,” I instructed gently.

She paused, biting her lip, then opened the lid and gasped. I grinned at her reaction. I took the box from her hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. “Perfect.”

I had chosen a flawless two-carat diamond set in white gold with rose gold accents. The band was intricate and dotted with tiny diamonds set among leaves and tiny flowers. The wedding band I would add soon went around the ring, encasing it on both sides with more elaborate work and completing a Celtic knot on either side of the center diamond. It was unique, beautiful, and one of a kind—just like the woman I was going to marry.

“It’s the most beautiful ring I have ever seen,” she whispered.

“Una helped me. She said you wouldn’t like one like hers. I thought this one would suit you.”

“It’s so…” She looked up. “Niall, I love it. It’s perfect. I love you.”

“So, that would still be a yes?” I teased.

“Oh! Yes! Yes!” She flung her arms around me, and I held her close, thrilled with her reaction, her answer, and the fact that my mum would be beyond ecstatic.

I pressed a kiss to Anna’s head. “It’s gonna be an amazing trip,” I promised. “Mum is going to love you even more than she already does. I’ll show you Ireland. I get you all to myself for ten days.” I grinned. “That is the best part.”

She snuggled close. “Yes, it is.”