Page 75 of Wild Irish

“It did, love. And I meant every word. Maybe I should have written it on a different piece of paper, but I thought it was fitting considering it’s what yer sister wanted for ye. To find yer own happiness.”

She blinks up at me. “I thought…”

I brush my lips over hers. “I know what ye thought. Ye made it very clear in yer message. I’ve been trying to get a hold of ye all day, but ye turned yer damn phone off.”

Her breath comes out in a shaky sigh.

I lean forward and brush my mouth against hers, and I feel the rest of her uncertainties fall away.

“Yer my happiness, Delaney. I’ve spent the last four months more miserable than I ever thought possible. And that’s quite the feat considering.”

A small smile pulls at her lips.

“I should have fought for ye. I know that. And I’m sorry it took me this long to get my head straight. But I’m fighting for ye now.”

She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and glances down. “I don’t know.”

It’s not the three words I was wanting to hear, and my heart does a little skip.

“I love ye, Delaney.”

She blinks up at me, and her eyes glisten with unshed tears.

“And I know ye love me, too. No matter how hard ye’re trying to fight it.”

“I do, but–”

“Then marry me.”

“What?”

I pull out the ring box, and get down on one knee. “Be my wife, love.”

Her hands go to her mouth, and I can see she’s shaking, but for the first time since I’ve known her I can’t read what she’s thinking and it scares the hell out of me.

A small crowd has gathered around us, and a few of the bystanders have taken their phones out. I know this is going to be uploaded all over social media, but that’s not why I want her to say yes.

Ineedher to say yes, because she is my happiness.

“You’re serious?”

“More serious than I’ve ever been.” I take her hand. It’s trembling, but so is mine. “I didn’t know what I wanted until I met ye. And when I realized what it was, it scared the bloody hell out of me.”

She gives me a small smile, but there’s still uncertainty in her eyes.

“Do ye love me?”

“Yes.” She swallows hard.

“And do ye want to spend yer life with me?”

She nods, and a tear slips over her cheek.

I stand, cupping her jaw, and whisper, “Then you’ll marry me?”

She nods.

“Say the word, love.” My heart pulses, wild and frenzied, needing to hear her say it. To say she’ll be mine.

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