Much Ado About You

First a proposal.

Then Alnster’s own Beatrice and Benedick.

“Let’s go.” Roane held his hand out to me and nodded to Caro and Shadow. She grabbed her laptop as I took Roane’s hand, his thumbs sweeping over the engagement ring sitting on my fourth finger.

“Thanks,” Milly murmured as we passed. “Sorry we ruined your proposal.”

“Nothing got ruined, Milly,” Roane assured her. “Call if you need me.”

I gave her a small smile, my eyes shooting over to Lucas, Vi, and Dex, who were standing in pained silence together.

All three of us let out an exhalation as we stepped outside and Shadow trotted ahead of us.

“You must be feeling pretty pleased with yourself.” Roane shot me a wicked smile.

“Because I just bagged myself a hot farmer or because I was right all along about Vi and Lucas?”

Caro giggled at my side as Roane pulled me closer. “Both I suppose,” he said.

“Well, of course I’m ecstatic about the former.” I studied my engagement ring and felt another wild flutter of excitement in my belly. Dropping my hand, I sighed. “As for Vi and Lucas, I wish it hadn’t gone down like that. Not just because they kind of stole our moment,” I teased, “but because I think they should have been up-front about what was going on. They were obviously sneaking around. Lying about their relationship only makes it look like they have something to be ashamed of, and it’ll make it harder for Milly and Dex to trust them when they say it’s love. I know that’s how I’d feel.”

Hopefully, however, Milly and Dex would come around. I loved Viola. I loved them all and just wanted them to be as happy as I was.

After Caro had gotten in her car and driven home to Beadnell, Roane and I disappeared into my apartment, where I murmured my plans for the future between each of his kisses. “I’ll need to call Greer and then book flights to Chicago to clear out my apartment. And I’ll need to drive to Indianapolis to talk to my mom and Phil.” I kissed Roane harder, crushing my breasts against his chest to let him know I was ready to shut up and have celebration sex. However, as we stumbled toward the bedroom, discarding clothes as we went, I remembered something. “Hey,” I reluctantly avoided his searching mouth to say, “you wanted to tell me something.”

Roane hesitated for a second and then whispered, “I love you. I wanted to tell you that I love you so much . . .” He let out a shaky breath, something desperate in his gaze. “So much, Evie, I’m terrified you’ll disappear. I didn’t know this much happiness went hand in hand with fear.”

Clasping his face in my hands, I looked him straight in the eye and announced, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to stay, mister. For you, for me, for us.” My grin was shaky with excitement and hope. “And I’m going to see if I can buy the bookstore.”

Twenty-Four

It was fair to say that Lucas and Viola’s love story eclipsed Roane’s proposal and our consequent engagement. Of course people congratulated us when they saw us, and we’d gotten a few free drinks during the past week, but the whole village was abuzz with the young couple who defied a thirty-year-old feud.

West Elliot found out after the scene at the pub. Viola told me tearfully a few nights ago that West had forced Lucas to choose between family and her. He’d chosen Viola, and to no one’s surprise, the Taits had taken him in.

“His room is on the other side of the flat to Vi,” Milly had told me. “Otherwise Dex would kill him. Funny thing is, I can tell Dex likes the boy. Would probably learn to love him if he wasn’t trying to defile his only child.”

Unfortunately, I imagined it was difficult for Dex to wipe the imagery of walking in on his daughter having sex.

Viola was mortified and claimed she would never get over it, but then, as I told her, they probably shouldn’t have tried to get away with having sex in her bedroom!

“I thought everyone was downstairs working,” she’d whined.

Still, I thought it was pretty big of Dex to let Lucas stay with them because he had nowhere else to go, and it confirmed to me that West Elliot was an immature asshole, even though I’d yet to meet the man. I had seen him from afar. He was very much like his son, and it surprised me that age hadn’t dulled his handsomeness, considering how bitter he obviously was.

I’d gone out to run errands and found myself standing in the small cookie aisle in the convenience store, trying to decide if I should succumb to the temptation of the rich tea biscuits I liked to dunk into my cup of tea while I watched the store.