Page 61 of Cut The Cake

A collective gasp sounded in the room when Nick went down on bended knee. As for her, Jenny was certain her heart had stopped beating.

Taking her hand in his, Nick stared up at her while everyone went utterly still and silent. “Jennifer Longley, will you marry me and let me love you forever?”

He loves me.

The torn and tattered pieces of her heart stitched themselves back together. An incredible sense of well-being radiated outward from her center. Despite it all, she shook her head. Tears pooling in her eyes, she pointed out the one reason they could never be together. “I lied. I haven’t earned your trust.”

“I trust you with my heart,” came Nick’s instant response. His signature grin spread across his face. “One day, this will make a great story to tell when our grandchildren ask how we met.”

“Our grandchildren,” she whispered. “And our children.”

In the blink of an eye, she saw the future Nick held out to her. The house with the white picket fence. Little League games and dance recitals. Best of all, she’d spend the rest of her days in the arms of the man she loved. She and Nick would build a life together. They’d grow old together. They’d spend their twilight years sitting in matching rockers on the front porch of a quaint little cottage, surrounded by their children and grandchildren … and love.

“Yes,” she whispered. More than anything, she wanted to spend her life, her future, with him.

“I didn’t have time to shop.” Undaunted, Nick took something from his jeans pocket and slipped it on her finger. “This’ll have to do until I can get you a real one.”

“I don’t need a ring as long as we’re together,” she said, glancing at the plastic trinket he must have pulled from the one of the bins in the bakery. Designed as decoration for a cake, the oversized bauble winked in the glow from the overhead lights. “Oh!” She pressed the toy to her heart. “I’ll treasure it always.”

Rising, Nick closed the distance between them. Her heart stalled again at the tender brush of his fingers. He cupped her jaw, nestling her chin in the palm of his hands. She met him halfway as he leaned forward. At last their lips met, and she knew, once and for all, she’d come home.

She could have gone on kissing Nick forever, would have, if she’d had her way. But moments later, applause rang out around them. His eyes filled with the promise of more kisses to come soon, Nick smiled down at her. He slipped his arm around her waist and, together, they turned to face the sea of happy faces.

Congratulations and well-wishes flowed for a while before someone declared that the situation called for a toast.

“Here’s to a Heart’s Landing love for the ages!” Matt lifted his paper cup while he hugged Marybeth.

“The best is yet to be,” added Roy.

“To the marriage of one of our favorite sons and a true Heart’s Landing Bride,” Jason said, holding his cup high.

Jenny looked to Nick. One day, she’d ask him to explain Jason’s comment. For now, she wanted nothing more than to have Nick’s arms around her and more of his delicious kisses.

“Have you set a date?” Ashley wanted to know.

Nick chuckled. “Give us a minute, will you? We haven’t exactly had time for that conversation. But soon.” He snugged Jenny closer to his side. “I don’t want a long engagement. Do you?”

Looking up into the gray-blue eyes of the man she loved, she knew one thing—she didn’t want to wait a minute longer than necessary to walk down the aisle and marry the man of her dreams. “I hear the Captain’s Cottage is available tomorrow.”

Nick’s eyes flared while his famous grin widened. “Alicia,” he called without lifting his gaze from hers. “What do you think? Can we do this?”

“Why not? The place is yours for the entire weekend.”

One by one, the others chimed in.

“We have the flowers.”

“And the perfect gown.”

“We’re all set for the reception.”

“Gift bags. Check!”

“Photographer. Check! Check!” JoJo snapped a picture.

“But no guests.” A frown niggled Nick’s brow. “Don’t you want your family here?”

Jenny looked into the face of the man she adored. There were truths she still needed to share with her friends, her new neighbors, but she was certain of one thing. “You are my family,” she whispered. “Now and forever.”

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