Page 69 of When You Got a Good Thing (Misfit Inn 1)

“Feeling a little claustrophobic?” she asked.

“Little bit. I just wanted some one-on-one time with you.”

“Couldn’t wait until tonight?” Her lips curved into a teasing smile.

“Not why I pulled you away, but I’ll never say no to that.” A mental image of making love to her outside, in the daylight, her golden hair tumbled, those green eyes full of passion and secrets had him going hard.

“Well, they probably won’t miss me for half an hour or so.”

“Temptress. Maybe later.”

The trail began to rise and the trees began to thin, opening up to a wide vista of mountain, covered in gorgeous swaths of color. Purples and whites and happy golds highlighted rich, verdant slopes. Pulling her to a stop at the edge of their overlook, he wrapped his arms around her and took in the view.

Sighing, she relaxed back against him. “It’s beautiful here. Of all the places I went, all the sights I saw, nowhere was ever quite like this.”

Heart drumming, Xander pressed a kiss to the shoulder bared by her sundress. “Do you know why I nicknamed you Lark all those years ago?”

She tipped her head back to look at him, curiosity flickering over her face. “I assumed because I was spontaneous and always game to go on one. Or maybe because of the singing.”

He smiled. “There’s that, but no. It was because of this.” Xander bent to pluck one of the deep purple flowers. “This is purple larkspur.”

Her nose wrinkled in a way that made him want to kiss it. “You nicknamed me after a flower? That seems like something more suited to Pru.”

“It’s a wildflower that grows here in the Smokies. Wildflowers are pretty amazing things, actually. They look all soft and delicate, but they’re actually surprisingly tough. They grow and bloom where they’re planted, no matter the conditions. You’ve done that all your life, wherever you landed. And I picked this one because it symbolizes an open heart, because it grows here, where you gave me yours.”

He’d stunned her. Kennedy’s pretty, painted mouth opened and closed a little like a fish, her eyes taking on a bit of a sheen.

“Xander.”

Reaching out, he stroked her cheek, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “I never expected to get it back. Never expected to stand here with you again, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be wrong.”

“You’re going to make me cry.”

His lips curved. “Hold off on that a minute. I’m not done.”

“I had no idea there was going to be a speech.”

“Not a speech. Just a question.” Skimming a hand down her arm, Xander laced his fingers with hers and brought them to his lips. “I love you—more than anything—and I want to know, Kennedy Elaine Reynolds, if you’ll stay here with me and put down the forever kind of roots.” He pulled the ring from his pocket and sank to one knee. “Will you marry me?”

Kennedy gave a hiccupping sort of noise, somewhere between a sob and a laugh, and dropped to her knees, throwing her arms around his shoulders and raining kisses over his face.

Laughing, he did the same. “Can I take that as a yes?”

“Yes! Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes.”

He captured her hand and slid the ring on, watching the diamond wink in the May sunshine.

Tipping her head to his, she gave a happy sigh. “How do you feel about a June wedding?”

“Beautiful time of year up here,” he said. He didn’t care when they got married, so long as she was his in the end.

“It’s not a lot of time, but I’ll put Maggie on it. She can plan anything fast.”

“Wait, like next month?”

/>

Kennedy pulled back. “Too soon?”

---