Page 54 of Quinn

“I’m so happy for you little brother, I’m sure she’ll say yes. Mum is gonna be ecstatic when she finds out she’s about to have three daughters joining the family.”

“Arabella hasn’t said yes yet. It’s only been a few days; do you think it’s too soon?”

“No I don’t, when you know, you know. I have no doubt she’ll say yes, I see the love she has for you in her eyes.”

With another slap to my shoulder, Connor headed to the door. “I won’t tell Jake, I’ll let you do that.”

“I’ll call him later after I speak with mum and dad.”

Connor slipped from the house and I resumed my mission to get grandma’s ring from the bedroom. I spun the combination lock on the safe to the correct numbers and the safe opened. Reaching in, I removed the antique green velvet box and flipped the lid. Inside sat a ring with a sparkling square cut emerald flanked by two small diamonds set on a shiny gold band. It was small, delicate, and perfect for Arabella’s tiny hand. Snapping the lid closed, I locked the safe and made my way back to the guest bedroom.

“I heard Connor’s voice, is everything all right?”

“Yes, but I’ll tell you about that later. Right now, I have a question to ask.”

I settled on the bed. Reaching into the pocket of my jeans, I pulled the box free but kept it engulfed in my hand.

“I know we have only known each other a very, very short time, Bella, but…”

I watched her swallow, she was nervous and knowing her past, she probably expected me to be the bearer of bad news.

“But…”

“I love you.” I shook my head. “I know falling in love at first sight is a fucking fallacy, and I have no idea how it happened to me, but it did. So, Arabella, will you be my wife and allow me to give you my surname?”

Arabella flung herself into my arms and whimpered when she caused herself pain, but she didn’t appear to care. Her arms wrapped around my neck and she fixed her eyes intently on mine.

“Yes. Yes. Yes. I would love to be your wife and would be honoured to take your name as my own.” She peppered my face with kisses before my lips crashed onto hers.

Tongues thrust back and forth, tangled in their own dance of love. When she flinched in pain, I broke the kiss and laid her back against the pillows.

When I flipped the lid of the box, her eyes widened and filled with tears.

“Oh, Quinn, it’s so beautiful. It looks old.”

I removed the ring, dropped the box onto the bed and slid the ring onto her finger. It fitted perfectly. She twisted it back and forth, tears falling as she examined the beauty of my great grandmother’s most prized possession.

“It belonged to my father’s, father’s mother—my great grandmother whose name was Ethel. I didn’t know her well because she died when I was five. She gave the ring to my father and said because I was the youngest of the family as she was, I should be the one to have it for my wife.

“Oh, that’s wonderful. You didn’t want Tania or Nat to have it?”

I raised my eyebrows. “Why would I want them to have it, I don’t want either of them to be my wife. Fuck knows what my brothers would say if I suggested taking one of them.”

Arabella laughed, grabbing at her ribs. “I can just imagine what those two would do to you if you attempted to steal one of their women. It would no doubt involve some very creative treatment.”

“It certainly would. Being serious, the ring is yours sweetheart.” I lifted her hand and kissed the emerald. “Granny Ethel would have loved you. She would have loved all you girls. She only had one child, a boy, my grandfather. Dad was also an only child as was mum and as you know, they had three boys so girls in our family are a bit of a novelty. Mum will want us to return to Australia especially when kids start making an appearance.”

Something sad passed through Arabella’s eyes. “You want children?”

“Of course.” I studied her face. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“I don’t know if I can have any after…after…”

I squeezed her hand. “Then we’ll adopt. You’ll be a wonderful mother and I don’t give a fuck how we do it as long as you get the opportunity to have children around.”

The dam burst. Tears rolled down her cheeks. I had no doubt they were tears of happiness. This woman had been through hell, I was gonna make fucking sure she now experienced heaven.

EPILOGUE