Page 122 of Till There Was You

“Dee Gallagher, you are the strongest, smartest, most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.” I had my heart in my eyes, and I could see that she now knew what was coming. “You’ve challenged me, fought me, and made me a better man just by being you. I didn’t know what I was looking for when I came to Ballybeg, but you took my heart when you told Liam Murphy, may he rest in peace, that you could pick out his gnarly fingers in a butt-pinching lineup.”

Her eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise as the color in her cheeks deepened.

“Liam had some wanderin’ hands. God, bless his soul.” Geraldine patted Poppy’s head, who let out a short bark as if in agreement.

The room erupted into laughter, and Dee let out a small, shaky laugh, and her eyes filled with tears.

Happy ones.

I could tell the difference now.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring box that had the emerald ring I’d bought all those months ago in Cork.

In the past year and a half, I’d given her the earrings and, most recently, the bracelet for her birthday.

I was saving the necklace for when she had our baby.

We’d just stopped using protection, so I knew that day was going to be here soon; after all, none of us wasgetting younger, and I desperately wanted a family with Dee.

“Darlin’ Dee, I want to spend the rest of my life making sure I never ruin a single day in your life.”

I dropped to one knee, the noise in the room fading into nothing as I held the ring up to her.

“Dee Gallagher. Will you marry me?”

The room held its collective breath. Dee looked at me, her green eyes wide, shimmering with tears. Then she let out a soft laugh, shaking her head as she reached down and grabbed my face with both hands.

“Why the hell not,” she said, her voice breaking.

“And that’s how a woman accepts a proposal,” Mrs. O’Leary said proudly. “Why the hell not? It’s feckin’ perfect.”

Like I said, the entire village was feckin’ whacked!

Dee wiggled her ring finger at me. “Now, put that ring on me, Yank.”

“First, say yes, nicely.” I closed my fist with the ring in it.

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll marry you, Jax Caldwell.”

“Why?” I pushed.

“Because I love you!” she shouted.

The room erupted into cheers and applause as she pulled me to my feet, wrapping her arms around my neck, and kissing me like it was the only thing that mattered.

I slipped the ring onto her finger, grinninglike an idiot as everyone crowded around us, clapping us on the back and shouting their congratulations.

“You’re stuck with me now, Wildcat,” I whispered.

“Damn right, I am.” Her smile was brighter than I’d ever seen it.

“Thank you for giving me everything,” I murmured.

And, as I held her close, surrounded by the chaotic, beautiful madness of Ballybeg, I knew I’d never been happier.