Page 129 of The Wedding Engagement

He gave her his best catalog pout. “Is that because I looked so awesome in my kilt, you couldn’t help but want to marry me?”

She grabbed the front of his shirt to pull him into a kiss, taking his breath away. Then she broke off to whisper, “Yeah, pretty much.”

Arran smiled against her mouth. “So, the answer to my hypothetical proposal is…?”

“Yes,” she whispered, her eyes shining.

“Excellent,” he said softly. He took her hand to lead them down the corridor. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

She shook her head. “What?”

He grinned. “It means we’re engaged to be engaged.”

Liv laughed. “Pre-engaged.”

They reached the door of the breakfast room, and he gave her hand a squeeze. “Do you want to tell the others?”

“About us being a couple? Yes.” She broke into a smile. “But let’s keep the pre-engagement our special secret.”

“No problem, Aggie,” he said, giving her a wink.

The breakfast room was housed in the library, with all the bridal party already in place tucking into full Scottish breakfasts around tables of varying sizes.

Sam eyed the two of them as they took seats next to him at the main table. “Morning.”

Arran ran a hand over the top of his hair. “Good morning. How’s married life?”

Sam grinned, shifting his hand to hold Maya’s. “Awesome.”

Maya turned and leaned across Sam to give them each a kisson the cheek. “Hello there. You two are looking ratherrosythis morning.”

Arran felt heat rising in his face, and as he glanced at Liv, he saw pink was staining her cheeks. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, well. Being in love suits us.”

Maya’s mouth dropped open and she squealed. Everyone in the breakfast room turned to look at them. She waved her hand. “Never you mind, people. Back to your business.” There was a ripple of laughter and Maya shoved her chair closer to Sam’s, sliding an arm around his shoulders to lean over him and address the two of them. “It’s pretty clear that my husband and I weren’t the only ones getting some action on our wedding night.”

Liv laughed, shifting closer to Arran and bringing their entwined hands into her lap. He got the feeling she was reassuring him about the embarrassment of Maya’s teasing. But he didn’t feel embarrassed, simply happy. He looked at her and she gave him a little wink. The warmth of their special secret shone brightly in his heart.

“Well,Mrs.M,” Liv said. “As you once told me, I have to grab my Mr. Darcy by the waistcoat.”

Maya grinned. “Or perhaps, Miss O, by the kilt?”

“Indeed,” Liv replied, smiling up at Arran.

—

“Arran, I swear to God,if I fall and knock over a paint pot, then it’s totally your fault.”

“I won’t let you fall, Liv.”

She felt him guide her into the studio, his hands over her eyes. “Okay…here,” he said. “Ready?”

Her heart was beating hard with anticipation. “Yes.”

He dropped his hands from her eyes to circle her waist, holding her close as she took in the painting.

Her heart nearly stopped. “It’s so beautiful,” she breathed.

Arran kissed her neck. “That’s because it’s of you.”

---