Page 90 of Trapped with the Vicious Highlander
Ava leaned closer and kissed him, tightening her fingers around his.
For the first time, their kiss was soft, gentle, and calm. Like waves lapping at the sand. Like crickets chirping among the soft, rustling leaves under a full moon.
They broke apart, and Brodrick stared into her eyes, at the deepening flecks of green.
“I love ye, Ava,” he whispered.
“And I love you, Brodrick,” she whispered back.
“Well, I said it first.”
“I mean it more.”
“Do ye, though?”
“Yes.”
“How do I ken? I only have yer word to go on.”
“We are not arguing about who loves the other more. I’d say we both love each other equally.”
“Definitely nae equally.”
Ava laughed, tugging the sheets up to her neck.
At that moment, she knew that this was all she had ever wanted. A man who could match her sharp wit. A man who loved her for who she was. A man who got cross with her if she ever hid any part of her body. A man who would kill and, most importantly, die for her.
A man like Brodrick Culloch.
They both got dressed and walked out of the room, breaking the news to everyone. Margaret, who had her mouth filled with bannocks, jumped up and down with joy, while Flora drew Ava into a tight hug. Darach stood by the corner, a warm smile on his face.
“I would’ve beaten some sense into him meself if it was any other person, Ava,” Flora gushed.
Ava broke the hug and laughed.
As she reached for Margaret, whose hands were smeared with fresh honey, she could see Flora and Darach exchanging knowing smirks.
EPILOGUE
ONE MONTH LATER
Flora raised the embroidery,staring at it with all the love and care in the world. She then moved it closer to Ava, a look of anticipation on her face.
“So, what do ye think?”
Ava took the embroidery, a flower made with several fabrics, her eyes scrutinizing the petals as if she had something terrible to say. But she didn’t. Not today, not ever.
“And Margaret made this?” she asked, still staring at the flower in disbelief.
Sometimes it was hard for her to understand that the little girl she had once rescued would grow into the kind of woman who harnessed her creativity.
“She did. Stayed up all night workin’ on the thing. Had to visit her in her room twice to see if she slept. She didnae.”
Ava looked around, studying her room. Over the night, it had become an utter disaster, and every misplaced piece of clothing, every unstrung pearl and every broken mirror strewn across her floor only added to her joy. This was one of the happiest days of her life.
The day she would get married to the man of her dreams. The man she loved with all her being.
“It’s quite beautiful,” she murmured as she handed the embroidery to Flora, who began to affix it to the top of her dress.
