Page 110 of Wild Scottish Beauty

“Ramsay.” I gulped, stepping forward.

Ramsay held up a hand and took a deep breath, still on a roll.

“When I saw you disappear into the burning building, I almost lost my mind. I was furious with you. Furious. Bloody hell, what were you thinking? You could have died, Willow. Died because of my brother. It would have been one more thing he tried to take from me. Do you know how angry I was? How scared I was?”

“It wasn’t easy watching you go into the burning building either,” I reminded him gently, feeling like I was approaching a big bristling bear. I laid a hand on his arm. “How do you think that made me feel?”

“I didn’t think about it. I wasn’t thinking. At all. And the next day, I let anger take over, and I just couldn’t think straight, so I hurt the most important person in the world to me. And for that, I’d like to spend the rest of my days making it up to you.”

“Oh, Ramsay.” Tears just flowed down my face.

“I love you, Willow. And I’m so sorry that I hurt you. Will you give me another chance to prove to you that I’m not a complete eejit?”

“Of course, I will. I would have ten minutes ago if you’d let me get a word in.” I laughed, wiping the tears from my eyes. “I love you too, you big grump. You hurt me, but I can understand now why you reacted the way you did.Emotions were high. But I just need you to know that you can rely on me, Ramsay. You don’t have to do it alone anymore, if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t. I really don’t. I can’t imagine building my shop back and not having you by my side.”

“I love you.” I looked up at him and then his lips were on mine, relief and joy flooding me. I wanted to stay here, forever locked in this moment with him, but a throat cleared behind us.

“I have one more surprise,” Ramsay said as he pulled back, holding my face in his hands. “And I hope this doesn’t make you angry.”

“Oh, no.”

Turning, I found Miles and my father standing a few feet away, both with those expressions men wear when they’re disgruntled about overseeing too much emotion, but were happy, nonetheless.

“Dad!” I shrieked, launching myself at my father.

“Threads, I’ve missed you.” Dad hugged me close, and my tears just continued to fall.

“Oh sure, I get nothing?” Miles complained and I turned, giving him a hug.

“I’m not sure you deserve anything, you jerk,” I said, even though I pulled him tighter against me. Stepping back, I wiped my tears as my grandparents came forward and joined them. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Ramsay flew us out,” Miles said. “Said he’d screwed up and wanted to grovel in front of an audience.”

“Good job, by the way.” My dad nodded his approval.

“Epic job.” I laughed, dashing tears with the back of my palm.

“There’s just one more thing to do,” Ramsay said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small box. My heart clenched. “Willow, this is for you.”

Oh my God, was he proposing? I wasn’t ready for that, but I wanted to be with him. My thoughts tumbled over each other, and my hand shook as I eased the box open.

Inside sat a simple brass key on a bed of velvet.

“What is this?” I asked, looking up at him.

“I’d like for you to be my partner. This is the key to the new door at the shop, and I’m asking if you’ll join me, as an equal partner, in my business. I think we can weave a beautiful future together.”

He knew. Ramsay knew I wasn’t ready for marriage, that I needed to have confidence in securing a future and a career for myself first. He’d known how upset I’d been with the way things had turned out with my last relationship, and how important it was for me to find my foundation in my design career. Just like I understood how difficult it was for him to trust someone as a partner again. For both of us, this was a huge, and deeply meaningful, step.

“I’d love nothing more,” I said, beaming up at him. “So long as we can mass produce those unicorn fanny packs.”

“Don’t say fanny in front of your gran.” Ramsay’s eyes widened, a horrified look on his face as he glanced at my grandparents.

“And why ever not, Ramsay? I’ve got a fanny, don’t I?”

Ramsay’s face flushed bright pink, and I threw my head back and laughed, while my brother looked between us.

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