Page 70 of Christmas at the Scottish Lodge
‘I didn’t want—’ Mairi started, but Jed pressed a kiss to her mouth.
‘They don’t mean anything to me without you,’ he said softly. ‘Whether I can or can’t get back to professional skiing isn’t important. What matters is being with you. I don’t want anything standing in the way of that.’
Mairi’s insides expanded and Effie let out a lowahhhhh. ‘Well done, lad,’ she said.
‘Aye, looks like your new husband has lots of romantic gestures in him,’ Kenna said. ‘You might have to use him for inspiration for your next book.’
‘I will,’ Mairi said, laughing.
‘I think this calls for a celebration,’ Douglas suddenly boomed. ‘How about you all come outside so you can see what I’ve been working on these last few days?’
‘Are you sure this is a good time, Douggie?’ Effie asked, sounding worried.
‘Never better.’ Douglas leaned down and gave Jed’s aunt a peck on the cheek. Then he hefted up his tool belt. ‘Why don’t you put on something warm while I get ready?’ He winked. ‘I’ll see you outside.’
Adam, Scott, Quinn, Kenna, Rhona, Effie, Mairi and Jed all stood outside the entrance to Holly Berry Lodge watching as Douglas fiddled with the switch he’d put on the wall.
‘Are you sure it’s going to be okay?’ Effie asked anxiously as he took a couple of tools out of his belt and made some adjustments.
‘Aye, of course, lassie.’ He turned to smile at her. ‘Are you ready?’
‘We’re ready,’ Mairi cheered, grabbing Jed’s hand and squeezing.
‘After three then! One, two?—’
‘Three!’ Scott finished as Douglas flicked the switch, making the outside of the lodge sparkle in an array of gorgeous colours.
‘That’s spectacular.’ Effie’s voice was filled with wonder.
‘You really know how to put on a good show,’ Rhona agreed. ‘Well done.’ She patted Douglas’s arm.
‘Wait until you see mypièce de resistance,’Douglas declared, flicking another switch as the words ‘Happy New Year’ and ‘Congratulations to Mairi & Jed’ appeared in more glittering green, white and red fairy lights.
‘Wow,’ Jed said, leaning down to kiss Mairi on the cheek.
‘Amazing,’ Mairi agreed, turning so she could press her mouth to Jed’s. He pulled her into an embrace and deepened the kiss, dipping her, ignoring the oohs and ahhhhs from the crowd as she wrapped her arms around his neck, just as she heard an ear-splitting bang and a loud hiss.
Jed pulled away just for a moment to whisper. ‘Was that us?’
‘Could have been,’ she chuckled before kissing him again, knowing that whatever happened from this day forward, she’d finally found the place she was supposed to be: living her very own happily ever after. With Jed.
* * *
