Page 110 of An Enchanted Spring

“There’s a storm coming,” he noted, looking over his shoulder at the dark clouds gathering in the distance.

“I know just what we could do until it passes,” Emma shouted over the wind.

“I thought you would want to talk?” Aidan replied, a grin spreading over his face.

She threw her head back and laughed. “You’re really here!” She stifled another sob. “I thought I’d lost you forever.”

“You will never lose me, love.” He kissed her nose as the first fat raindrop landed on her shirt. “I’m yours forever.”

“About that…it seems we’re married in this time, too,” Emma managed to get out. She drew a deep breath, trying to control her emotions.

His eyes twinkled. “Ah. You received my letter.”

She nodded, and when he opened his mouth to speak, she placed her fingers over his lips, silencing him.

“It’s all in the past, Aidan. You showed me that I’m finally ready for a future.” Emma gazed at him. “I let myself fall, Aidan. You’re ready to catch me, right?”

He swept her into his arms and rested his forehead against hers. His green eyes blazed as he stared into hers. “I’ve been ready since I met you, Emmaline. Don’t you see? I’d wait an eternity for you.”

“You don’t have to,” Emma whispered against his lips. “I’m yours. Then, now, and forever, Aidan. I love you.”

His lips captured hers, and he carried her home.

Epilogue

From the doorway, Colin O’Rourke watched his cousin-in-law, many times removed, absently roll a pencil between his fingers. They were still closer than brothers. They would die for each other, and that vow was not made in jest. Over the last few months, Colin witnessed Aidan’s countenance rapidly change from aloof back to easygoing.

Sitting at the desk, with Aidan leaning over her shoulder, Emma pointed to something on the screen in front of her. She was deep into her marketing plan for a UK launch of Celtic Connections, and her face was all business until Aidan leaned slightly closer and whispered something in her ear. She blushed and turned her head, capturing his lips.

Allowing himself a very small, very triumphant smile, Colin watched as the pencil dropped to the floor.

Make sure you mention we have a 100% success rate, he thought wryly. Glancing down at the large envelope in his hand, he wiped the smile from his face and knocked on the doorjamb.

“Go away,” Aidan growled, not bothering to look up.

Emma laughed and pushed him back. “Aidan! What’s up, Col?”

Colin handed her the manila envelope. “I thought you might want this.”

Her eyes widened at the red CONFIDENTIAL stamp. “I don’t like envelopes with this kind of a stamp,” she muttered.

“I thought you’d like to see some of the science behind how we match people. This is one of our most successful matches in the company’s history.”

“Really?” Emma eyed it with more curiosity. “I thought we had a 100% success rate?”

“We do. But this one was a difficult match. The gentleman was in a dark place and he needed a special woman to brighten his world, to give him something to live for, though he didn’t know it.”

Emma blinked. “Did he say that?”

“Oh, absolutely not,” Colin chuckled. “He didn’t even know he was looking. That’s what makes it so successful. We recognized the problem and set about finding the most clever, strongest, sweetest woman in our database.”

Emma chuckled. “Bywe, you meanyou. No one in this company has the skill you have in matching people. It’s a true gift, Colin.”

He shrugged noncommittally. “Even if it was only one of us who did the matching, we’re all a team here. But that file contains the details as to how the system we implemented last year matched him with potential partners. All of our research into each candidate is in there as well. Just something to keep in mind while you’re preparing the marketing plan.”

He turned to leave.

“Did I ever meet the bloke?” Aidan asked, his own curiosity obviously piqued.

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