Page 129 of Last to Fall
Today, they played on the tiny board while the waterfall crashed around them. She employed her kissing strategy and won three games straight before Mo conceded and packed the game away.
The light was fading, and they would need to go back soon. Back to The Haven where nothing was the same, which was a good thing for the most part. She’d made several strategic promotions, hires, and fires in the weeks after the attacks. Her staff had never been happier. Her guests had never been as well cared for.
And she had never had so much free time.
It was still a work in progress, but it was coming along.
She hadn’t spoken to her parents in a month. Her dad lost his left eye, and somehow, her mom had blamed Bronwyn for it.
Her grandmother’s will had been altered in one significant point, and it probably would have made everyone angry, except that with her father’s injuries, William’s and Nathan’s arrests, and Ronald’s death, no one had the heart to argue.
Grandmother had left The Haven to her.
The board was no more.
The Haven was hers to do with as she chose, and the responsibility was a heady one. She felt honored, humbled, and a little bit panicky about it. Still, she was determined to give it her all and move The Haven into the future in a way that protected Gossamer Falls, the rest of the Pierce family, the Quinn family, and the guests who loved to visit.
Mo pulled her close. “You’re thinking deep thoughts. Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” And it was. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good.
“I’ve been thinking.” Mo ran his hands over her arms.
“About?”
“You.” He kissed her nose. “Us.” He kissed her chin. “Thefuture.” This time, his kiss stole her breath and left her a little dizzy. “Marry me, Bronwyn. Please.”
She looked down and saw a diamond glittering in his palm. “On one condition.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Let’s hear it.”
“I don’t want a big wedding. I don’t want anything fancy. And I do not want to wait.”
“Deal.”
Bronwyn practically crawled into his lap as he slid the ring on her finger. She kissed him with all the hope and joy and love in her heart, and there was a lot of it. When they came up for air, Mo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t want to wait either, but we can’t elope. Mom would strangle us.”
“I don’t want to elope. Uncle John can marry us. We need a license and we need family. That’s it. That’s all I want.” She grinned. “Well, that and a honeymoon. I want you all to myself. No phones. No computers. No distractions.”
“Give me two weeks.”
Two Weeks Later
Mo couldn’t believe this day was here. Bronwyn stood beside him. A vision in white. Their family stood loosely around them in Papa and Granny Quinn’s yard.
Uncle John, Cassie’s dad, had given them a pass on his usual six-month premarital counseling requirements. “Known you two would be getting married since you were ten. Never dreamed it would take you this long. Honored to be the one to make it official.”
The vows had been said.
The rings exchanged.
They faced each other and Bronwyn’s smile told him he’d gotten it right. He’d do anything to keep that smile on her face.
Uncle John stepped to the side and grinned as he said, “Mo, you may finally kiss your bride.”
And he did.
