Page 86 of A Hellion for the Highland Hawk
A hushed gasp of awe rippled through the congregation, while Hunter’s heart beat a little bit faster.
“Mercy, that’s a fine woman,” Jack whispered.
Hunter chuckled. “Keep yer eyes down if ye want to keep them. Elsie will pluck ‘em out, and I willnae stop her.”
“I’m just sayin’,” Jack replied defensively. “Can a man nae compliment his new Lady?”
Hunter paused. “When ye put it like that, nay.”
With no father to give her away, Nancy walked alone down the aisle. She had barely made it halfway when Hunter decided he’d had quite enough of being apart from her. Nor did he want her to have to walk anywhere alone again.
He strode toward her and offered his arm, enchanted by her radiant smile as she weaved her arm through his.
“I don’t think this is traditional,” she whispered.
“Then it’s fortunate that I daenae care for tradition,” Hunter replied with a grin.
She beamed up at him. “I love you.”
“I love ye more,” he told her, leading her toward the priest and his disapproving frown. “Ye look beautiful, love.”
“I think this is more my color,” Nancy murmured. “And I happen to be quite fond of it, so don’t get any notions of ruining it later.”
He smirked. “I wouldnae dream of it,” he said, leaning in close to her ear, “but Imighthave to crawl to ye later, and worship at the altar of yer body.”
“Don’t tempt me,” she giggled.
“I cannae stop. Nor will I.”
She leaned into him as they came to a stop in front of the priest. “Is that your solemn vow?”
“One of ‘em, aye,” he purred. “But the first and most important, love, is that I mean to cherish ye every day for the rest of me life, as we continue rewriting history together.”
Her breath hitched as she gazed deeply into his eyes, herown shining with happy tears. “I can’t wait.” She paused. “But how do you think our story ends?”
“When we’re old and gray, with enough bairns and grandbairns to ensure we’re never forgotten,” he replied, lifting his hand tocradle her face, not caring about the priest’s impatience. “Aye, love, I think our story will end like this… with a kiss.”
He dipped his head and kissed her, the rest of the chapel falling away for a moment as she kissed him back, her palm resting on his heart, where he hoped she could feel just how much he loved her, and always would.
“Will ye marry me, Lady Lochlann?” he whispered, pulling back.
She grinned at him. “I think I will, Laird Lochlann. In fact, not even fate could stop me.”
The End?
