Page 165 of The Highlander's Kilted Bride
She sniffed. “Kade you simplymuststop trying to make me cry.”
He suddenly slipped off the couch and went down on one knee before her.
“This looks rather serious,” she said. “Are you going to propose to me?”
“I am, and I’m doing it properly. When I took your brooch to the jeweler, I happened to come across something else.”
He reached into his vest pocket. “Give me your hand, love.”
When she did, he slid a ring onto her finger.
She gasped. “It looks just like my brooch!”
The silver thistle ring was slender but sturdily made, with a brilliant amethyst as the center stone. The similarity in design to her brooch was uncanny.
Kade smiled. “Yes, I was quite struck by it. One might almost think I was destined to find it.”
Charlie held up her hand, admiring the flash of silver and purple. “And it was because you set out to discover if my brooch was a fake. It’s quite unbelievable, Kade.”
“That’s the Highlands for ye, lassie. Surprises around every corner.”
She took his face in her hands—his dear, wonderful face—and kissed him, taking her time as she nuzzled his mouth. He gently cupped the back of her head, murmuring his regret when she drew back.
“Thank you,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful ring. Mamma will be thrilled, I know.”
He got up and resumed his seat, pulling her into the shelter of his arms. “I hope your father will like it, too. He’s definitelynotthrilled with me, at the moment.”
“I think he just needs to get used to the idea of us being together. It was rather unexpected, you must admit.”
“I know.”
She hesitated. “It . . . it might not always be easy, Kade. We’ve led very different lives, ye ken.”
He tilted his head, so he could look her in the eye. “Can you guess why I picked a thistle ring?”
“You mean other than the similarity to my brooch?”
“Yes. I also picked it because of what the thistle represents. It’s a symbol of resilience, along with courage and strength.” He suddenly grinned. “And luck. We might need a little luck as we figure things out, but you have enough strength and courage for the both of us. Whatever challenges we encounter, we’ll face them together and overcome. After all, we’re Highlanders, Charlotte Stewart. Nothing can hold us back if we’re together, ye ken.”
Certainty rang in his voice, and her heart echoed it with equal clarity.
“Aye, that,” she simply said.
“Then are you ready to leave the Highlands, my beautiful lass, at least for a little while?”
She patted his cheek. “As long as we come back for visits now and again.”
“I don’t think we’ll have any other choice,” he wryly replied. “Angus would hunt us down and drag us back if we didn’t.”
“As would my father.” A sudden and rather hideous thought occurred to her. “Oh, Lord. Speaking of our families, I suppose we should go and separate the combatants before they trigger a clan feud.”
Kade shook his head. “Not a chance, love.”
Then he rose and strode to the door.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He locked the door. “I’m ensuring that we have no interruptions.”
