Page 88 of Solid Ground

He nods. “I can see. And I see how you dote on Zoe. Keep that up, and you’ll always have our support.”

“Thank you.”

He holds up his bottle. “To Daisy. You two have done well.”

I clink my bottle with his. “Thank you again.”

Brian points me toward the outdoor chairs. “Why don’t we sit and talk? Get to know each other properly this time.”

“That sounds great to me.”

In the evening,when Daisy’s asleep and Zoe’s parents are watching TV, I walk into Zoe’s bedroom where she’s already in bed.

She looks up as I enter. “Are you okay?”

After stripping off, I slip into bed beside her, spooning her from behind. I kiss her neck and nuzzle behind her ear. “I am better than okay.”

“Being here agrees with you too, huh?”

“Your father gave me his blessing,” I whisper.

She rolls over, one eyebrow arched. “His blessing?”

I take her hand in mine. “I know this isn’t the most romantic of places, but I can’t wait any longer. I love you. I’minlove with you. You changed my life in the most amazing of ways, and I want to spend every moment I have left on this planet with you.”

She stares at me as if I’m some kind of alien. “Declan?”

“Marry me, Zoe. I don’t care where as long as it’s as soon as possible. I want you to be my wife, and I want to give you more babies.”

Her eyes widen.

“After Daisy actually sleeps through the night.” I grin.

“Yes.”

“Really?”

She nods, a smile spreading across her lips. “I want to marry you, Declan O’Leary. I want to have more babies. After Daisy sleeps through the night.”

I kiss her. I can’t help it. This beautiful woman just said yes to marrying me, and all is right with the world.

“Besides …” She licks her lips. “Third time lucky?”

I roll my eyes. “Shhhh.”

And then I kiss her again.

TWENTY-EIGHT

DECLAN

After my divorce from Annabelle,if anyone had asked me if I’d ever be married again, I’d have said no.

I would have done Zoe the elaborate wedding of her dreams, but in the end she just wanted a simple ceremony with her parents, Caitlin and Brandon, and our village of people. So that’s what I gave her.

We waited until Zoe was ready. I would have married her at her parents’ place in Taupo if she’d been ready, but she wanted to marry in the backyard of our home.

And it is a home now.

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