CHRISTMAS HAD BEEN spent in Montreal with his family, going to midnight mass, eating tourtière and wrapping presents for Eric’s nieces and nephews. Molly had never had a Christmas like it in her life, and seeing Eric laughing with his brothers warmed her heart. His family had been welcoming, the sisters-in-law teasing her good-naturedly about her poor French, and welcoming her into the fold as if they’d known her for years. She’d never had grown siblings, so it was an overwhelming but lovely experience.
Now it was New Year’s Eve, and they were spending it in Boston, with Molly’s parents. There’d be a New Year’s Day brunch, but for right now, they were at First Night, stomping their feet to stay warm, enjoying live music at Boston Common and, in a few moments, the fireworks after the countdown.
It had been a year for change, and the year ahead was looking even brighter. Most of all, for Molly, was the fact that she was fulfilled in a way she’d never been before. She had no regrets about her career change, and she was so deeply in love that some days she thought she might burst with it.
Eric looked down at her as the crowd started counting from ten. He held her hands in his and bestowed her with a gaze so full of love she nearly melted with it. How had she got so lucky?
When the cheers of “Happy New Year!” rose in the air, he wrapped his arms around her, thick coats and all, and kissed her soundly on the mouth. His lips and the tip of his nose were cold, but his mouth was not, and she opened herself up to the kiss, caring little about the fact that they were in public.
The first boom sounded: the fireworks had started.
But instead of turning toward them, Eric reached into his pocket and withdrew a small box. And when she met his gaze, she saw nerves there, and fear. Dear God, did he really think she could say no? And yet this was a man who’d thought for many years that his worth was based on his balance sheet, and his insecurity reached in and touched her right in the heart.
He opened the jeweler’s box, where an enormous diamond winked up at her.
“Molly? Will you marry me?”
She took off her gloves and shoved them into her coat pocket. “Just try to stop me,” she replied and held out her hand. “Put it on me, Eric, and make it official. Because I love you more than words can say.”
He chuckled, an emotional sound as the sky exploded around them, then took the ring from the box and slid it over her knuckle, folding her hand and tucking it inside his palm. “Don’t ever change, Moll,” he murmured, kissing her knuckles. “I want you to keep telling me how it is for at least fifty years.”
“At least,” she agreed, and then with a huge smile, they turned to watch the rest of the fireworks as they ushered in a brand-new year.
Welcome to the Destination Brides quartet!
If you enjoyed this story, look out for the next book
Swept Away by the Venetian Millionaire by Nina Singh
Coming soon!
And check out these other great reads from Donna Alward
Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate
and
Best Man for the Wedding Planner
Both available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Claiming the Drakos Heir by Jennifer Faye.
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