Page 128 of That One Heartbreak

“Oh no,” Addy said, running in a circle around them. “We’re still doing Operation Woo, right?”

Marley laughed against her mouth before breaking the kiss, his hand still on her waist, like he couldn’t bear to let her go. “Of course we are,” he agreed. “Operation Woo is a lifelong thing.”

She looked at the yard. At the planter and the water feature and the tree and the pergola. “Isn’t the yard getting a little full?” she murmured.

He lifted a brow. “We’re gonna need a bigger yard.”

Yeah, they did. But they’d bring those woo tokens with them. The way you always brought the past and made it prettier with the present.

“I like the idea of that,” she murmured, as he pulled her against him, his lips soft as they kissed her brow.

“Me too.” He slid his hand down her side. “I love you so damn much.”

She lifted her face to look at him, her smile full of the kind of radiance you can only have when you truly feel happy.

“And I love you right back.”

“Mommy!” Addy shouted, pulling at Kate’s hand. “I’ll get to be a bridesmaid. I’ll get to wear a dress.”

“Yes, you will.” Kate grinned at her daughter’s excitement.

“You want me to go do the next thing?” James asked, his eyes meeting Marley’s.

“Yeah, you’d better.” Marley smiled at him.

“There’s another thing?” Kate asked. What on earth else could there be? She had a ring, she had a pergola, she had more metal yard décor than she could ever know what to do with.

But then James was walking around the corner of the house. “Okay, you all,” he was shouting. “You can come back now.”

And then a crowd of people started to file into their backyard. Shana was first, running over to Kate and demanding to see the ring. Followed by some of her friends from the library, and Marley’s family – his mom hugging her tight and telling her how happy she was for the two of them.

Before she knew it their yard was full of everybody she loved. Even her mom and Carlton had made the trip to celebrate. According to her mom, James had called them last week. They were staying with Marley’s parents, and she was loving staying the night with a rock star.

Everybody had brought food and drinks, and Addy was telling them where to put things, while James, and Marley, along with his brothers and cousins were carrying out chairs and tables for the makeshift party.

And every time he walked past her, he had to touch her, just the way she’d pictured it would be. The way she needed it to be.

“You two are disgustingly romantic,” Shana said, smiling approvingly. “Is it really a surprise? Didn’t you suspect a thing?”

“Nope.” Kate shook her head. It was a shock, truth be told, that they could all lie to her so convincingly. Addy and Ethan were definitely going to cause trouble when they hit the teenage years.

Before she could say anymore, the Stitch and Snitch brigade filed in, carrying homemade cakes and a quilt they’dembroidered for Kate and Marley. “To hide the honeymoon stains, dear,” Mary told her with a wink. “On the mattress.”

“Thank you,” Kate said solemnly. “I’ll treasure it always.”

It was another hour of congratulations and talking to friends and family before she found herself alone with Marley. He slid his arm around her waist as Pres started playing his guitar and Cassie started singing. Couples slowly started to dance around the pergola he’d made for her.

“You want to dance?” Marley asked her.

“In a minute,” she said. “But for now I just want to stand here with you. And marvel at how perfect a night can be.”

“You think it’s perfect?” A smile played at his lips. The man got so happy by making her happy.

“Yes I do.” She nodded. “I have one question for you, though.”

“What’s that?”

“What would you have done with them all if I’d said no?”

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