A Proposal at the Wedding (Bride Mountain 2)

She’d offered dessert to Paul after dinner, but they’d decided to take their walk first. He figured now that the private part of their evening was over. Dan gave Paul another contrite look. “Didn’t mean to crash your date, Paul,” he said quietly as Bonnie herded the others toward her apartment. “We were just excited to share our news.”

“I don’t blame you at all. Congratulations, Dan, I’m sure you and Kinley will be very happy together.”

“Thank you.”

“Paul? Dan? Are you guys coming?” Bonnie called over her shoulder.

Paul thought maybe he should go and let the family spend this evening together, but he couldn’t leave without saying goodnight to Bonnie and she was already rushing away. He fell into step behind them.

Bonnie headed straight for the kitchen to pull out the sparkling white wine Paul had brought with him that evening. They’d each had a glass with dinner, but still a little more than half remained in the bottle, enough for everyone to make a toast.

Paul motioned toward the door, murmuring to Bonnie, “Maybe I should—”

“Have a toast with us,” she said, pressing a flute into his hand. “Kinley enjoys a large audience.”

“Why, yes, I do,” her sister agreed with a grin and a toss of her head, making her brown bob swing at her chin. “I’ve never been shy about taking a bow.”

“She’s not kidding about that,” Logan said, bending to unsnap the leash from Ninja’s collar. “Why do you think we’ve made her the public face of the business? Bonnie and I prefer to do our jobs a bit more…quietly. Kinley likes being out there making presentations and hustling for business and taking credit.”

Kinley tilted her head and tapped her chin in a thoughtful gesture. “I’d get mad,” she said, then dropped her hand with a smi

le, “but I’m too happy right now. And besides, you’re probably right.”

Dan laughed and planted a smacking kiss on Kinley’s mouth. “That’s why I love her,” he said. “I’ve always admired her brutal honesty.”

“Ahem.” Bonnie held up her glass and motioned for the others to take theirs. “Perhaps we can stop sniping at each other long enough to get through this toast? Logan, do you want to make it?”

Paul was a little surprised when her brother shrugged and nodded. “Sure. I think I remember the words.”

Turning toward the happy couple, he lifted his glass. “To Kinley and Dan. I won’t try this in Gaelic, but here goes. May the best you’ve ever seen, be the worst you’ll ever see. May the mouse never leave your pantry with a teardrop in his eye. May you always keep healthy and hearty until you’re old enough to die. May you always be just as happy as we wish you now to be.”

“Sláinte,” Paul added, raising his glass at the conclusion of the translated, traditional Scottish toast. He had to admit he’d been startled to hear it coming from the usually stern lips of habitually gruff Logan Carmichael, but apparently when it came to his sisters, Logan had a soft side.

Kinley beamed at Paul, then hugged her brother. “Thank you, Logan.”

“I’m not saying it in Gaelic for the wedding,” he warned her brusquely, though he returned the hug warmly enough. “You know my Gaelic sucks.”

“Uncle Leo tried to teach us all some of the Scottish Gaelic he learned from his parents,” Bonnie explained to Paul with a little laugh. “He told us our Tennessee accents made it difficult.”

Paul remembered Kinley mentioning to Cassie during one of their early consultations that she and Bonnie had hosted a few Gaelic-themed weddings, with bagpipes and kilts and sashes, not such a surprise in this area settled by so many Scots-Irish immigrants. He, too, came from Scottish stock, though as far as he knew none of his more recent ancestors had spoken the language. He knew only a few words that he’d picked up here and there.

“I’m going to head home now,” he announced, setting his glass on the counter. “I know you have an early start tomorrow, Bonnie, so thank you for dinner and I’ll see you in class tomorrow night. Kinley, Dan—­congratulations and much happiness to you both. And it was good to see you again, Logan.”

Ninja bumped his leg, making that quirky sound again, tail still wagging. Paul looked down with a laugh. “Yes, Ninja, it was nice to meet you, too.”

Bonnie set down her glass hastily. “I’ll walk you to your car. Kinley, the dessert is on the counter if you want to serve. I’m sure Dan wants some,” she added with a teasing nod at her future brother-in-law, who apparently had a sweet tooth. “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” Kinley replied with a wink.

Chapter Nine

A few minutes later, Bonnie looked up at Paul beside the driver’s door of his car. Lights glowed in most of the windows of the inn now, bathing the gardens in amber light, but he didn’t see anyone else out and about at the moment. A breeze ruffled the leaves around them, carrying the faint scent of roses with it.

“I didn’t expect our evening together to end this way,” she said.

“It’s a happy occasion for your family. You wouldn’t have wanted them to delay telling you.”

“Thanks for understanding.” She wrinkled her nose and gave a little laugh. “She knew I was seeing you tonight. I think she might have texted me to make sure I was, um, receiving company.”