Page 14 of Faithless Vows

He shakes his head, a playful look in his eyes. “No hints, doll. You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Even though it isn’t an answer, I give in and slide into my seat. He shuts the door for me and goes around to his side. Soon, the Cadillac is cruising through the streets with the radio on low. Ronin hums along every so often, relaxed behind the wheel. I like watching him like this.

At a stoplight, he turns his head and catches me looking at him. A small smile tugs at his mouth. He reaches over, finds my hand in my lap, and lifts it to his lips, kissing the back of it. He lets go as the light changes and turns back to the road, but I can still feel the warmth of his mouth on my skin.

When he turns onto the street and the restaurant comes into view, my stomach gives an excited little flip. I recognize it before he even pulls to the curb. It’s the same place he took me on our first date, and I wonder if he remembers. If he chose it on purpose.

He parks and comes around to help me out of the car. As soon as my feet are on the sidewalk, he pulls me gently against him. His hand comes to my cheek, and I look up, caught in those green eyes of his, the ones that always make me think of home. He looks at me like I’m the only thing he sees, and when he does, I can almost forget this started as something our families planned for us. It doesn’t feel arranged anymore. Not when he looks at me like that.

Then he dips his head and kisses me, his lips soft on mine. It’s only a quick kiss, but I know he wouldn’t let it become anything more out here, not with people passing by and the restaurant right there. His arms come around me right after, holding me tight as he kisses the top of my head. When he loosens his hold, he tucks my hand into the crook of his arm and guides me to the door, pulling it open for me.

Inside, the restaurant is dim and too quiet, without any of the sounds I remember from the last time Ronin brought me here. No one is waiting near the front to seat us, and I almostthink the place is empty. Then a hushed murmur comes from the dining room, followed by a laugh I know at once.

Mam.

A sharp hush follows, and the laugh cuts off. My steps slow, but Ronin keeps us moving farther into the restaurant. When I look up at him, the corner of his mouth lifts like he’s trying not to smile.

As we step into the dining room, it doesn’t come together all at once. I look around and see familiar faces, too many of them, all turned toward us. Mam’s eyes are shining too brightly, her hand pressed over her mouth. Da stands a little taller than usual, pride written all over him. Eileen dabs at her eyes with a handkerchief, and Cormac stands beside her, watching us with a pleased look on his face.

Ronin doesn’t stop until we’re in the middle of the room. He turns to face me, the almost-smile gone now, and something about the way he looks at me makes the room seem to fall even quieter. “Ronin?” I start, but before I can say anything more, he lowers himself to one knee.

My breath catches as he looks up at me and takes my hand in his.

“Alannah,” he says quietly. “I’ve always cared about you. From the moment you came into my life. At first, it was the kind of care that comes from knowing someone belongs close to you. But over time, it changed. I found myself wanting to know you better. Wanting your company. Your laughter. Your thoughts.”

A faint smile touches his mouth. He reaches into his pocket and brings out a small velvet box, holding it between us.

“I know our marriage was arranged,” he says. “But it hasn’t felt like one for a long time now.”

His gaze holds mine. “You’re the woman I want to build my life with. You’re the one I choose.”

For a moment, I can only stare at him, helpless to look away. My mind is spinning, trying to catch up with what’s happening right in front of me.

“I don’t want our marriage to be something we simply get through,” he continues. “I want it to be something we share. Something we grow into together.”

Then he opens the box.

Inside is a simple gold Claddagh ring, delicate and bright against the dark velvet. He lifts it out, setting the box near his knee, and holds the ring out to me.

“For love, loyalty, and friendship,” he says. “Alannah, will you marry me?”

I’m already nodding before he even finishes the question. My throat feels too tight to speak at first. “Yes,” I manage. Then, because it still doesn’t feel like enough, I say it again, louder this time. “Yes.”

Applause breaks out around us, but it sounds far away. Ronin rises and slips the ring onto my finger, his hand shaking as he does it. Then he leans in and kisses me, and I feel his smile against mine. Everything else falls away until it’s only the two of us.

Then the room comes rushing back all at once, voices and movement pressing in as our families make their way toward us.

Cormac steps forward first and pulls me into a hug. “Congratulations,” he says, his voice full of pride. Then he turns to Ronin and claps him on the back. “You’ve done well, son.”

Mam comes over with Eileen right behind her, both of them crying. She wraps her arms around me tightly, her hands trembling against my back. Eileen takes my left hand and lifts it to look at the ring, smiling through her tears.

Glasses lift all around us. Then the first notes of “You Belong to Me” fill the room.

Ronin steps in. “I’m stealing my fiancée,” he says lightly. Both our mothers make a little fuss over the word, and Eileen lets me go with a tearful smile as he takes my hand.

He leads me toward the small makeshift dance floor and brings me close, one hand settling at my waist. As we begin tomove, my eyes catch on the ring on my left hand—the Claddagh heart turned inward where it belongs.

Now everyone can see what I already knew: my heart belongs to Ronin.