Page 76 of One Hot Chase

I snort at that. "And let our families plan this elaborate double wedding for years? That sounds like torture."

"Fair point. The alternative is that we...go along with it and see where this new adventure takes us. Just imagine our honeymoon in Tahiti..."

"That does sound sublime. But still---"

He holds my face with both hands, urging me to stare into his eyes. "This could be our wildest adventure yet. Why not jump in headfirst, like we did on the night we met? Let's see how the future unfolds. I love you with all my heart and soul, and no amount of waiting will change that. What do you say, Sabrina?"

I gaze deeply into Declan's eyes, my pulse accelerating by the second. His proposal is crazy, impulsive, and absolutely terrifying. It's also thrilling in a way I can't quite explain. For a moment, I let myself imagine it---waking up next to Declan every morning, building a life together, facing whatever challenges come our way as a team, having children.

"You're insane," I whisper, but there's no force behind the words. "This is completely bonkers."

"Perhaps. But isn't that what makes life interesting?"

Laughter snorts out of me, and I shake my head. "You're impossible."

"And yet, you love me anyway." He nuzzles my cheek. "Just say yes. You know you want to."

"God help me, I must be as insane as you are, but..." I grasp his face with both hands and kiss him passionately. "Yes, Declan, yes. I want a double wedding."

He sweeps me up in his arms and leaps off the bench, spinning us round and round while whooping. I laugh and whoop too, clinging to Declan, my heart soaring with a mixture of excitement and sheer terror until we finally come to a stop.

"You won't regret this, Bree."

"I better not," I tease, my fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. "Otherwise, my hippie family will have to shoot you. We're all crack shots, you know. Or maybe Spencer's crazy friends will neutralize you."

Our families burst out of the drawing room, shouting various exclamations of joy. They clearly heard me shrieking and Declan whooping.

"Oh, sweetie!" my mother exclaims, rushing over to envelop us both in a suffocating hug. "We heard the commotion. Does this mean what I think it means?"

I exchange a glance with Declan, and he shrugs. I decide to torture them a little. "Well..."

Our families wait with rapt attention for our announcement.

I take a deep breath and say, "We're in. Double wedding it is."

The room erupts in more cheers and squeals of delight. Tabitha practically launches herself at me, nearly knocking me over in her enthusiasm. "Oh, Bree! This is going to be amazing!"

As our families swarm us, offering congratulations and already beginning to chatter about wedding plans, I feel a moment of panic. Declan must sense my unease because he pulls me close.

"Don't worry, Bree. We've got this."

His words, and the tickling of his breath on my skin, make the hairs on my arms lift. I lean into him, drawing strength from his solid presence.

"All right, All right!" Constance's voice rises above the excited chatter. "This calls for a celebration. Champagne for everyone!"

As if by magic, the butler appears with a tray of champagne flutes. The glasses and the bottles get passed around, and I find myself clinking glasses with my sister, her fiancé, my parents, and the entire Wilde clan.

"To the happy couples!" Julian toasts, raising his glass high.

"To love and adventure!" my mother chimes in, her eyes misty with happy tears.

As everyone sips and laughs, I smile at Declan over the rim of my glass. He winks at me with that familiar mischievous glint in his eye. The butterflies fluttering in my stomach prove to me I've made the right choice---with Declan and with our wedding plans---and I smile right back at him.

"So, when's the big day?" Darcy inquires, throwing an arm around Tabitha.

"As soon as we can arrange everything. Spencer and I already have the venue booked, though we'll need to move the date up."

Constance scrunches her brows. "How can you change the date so quickly? Wedding planners require---"

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