Page 55 of A Convenient Ring to Claim Her

“Same.” He gathered her closer and touched his unsteady smile to hers. “But now I know it looks like red hair and freckles.”

“And sounds like sarcasm,” she tacked on.

“I’m not being sarcastic.” He drew back from his almost-kiss and gave her a disgruntled frown.

“No, I was saying that I’m sarcastic and I belong with—oh, never mind. If it takes too long to explain, it’s not a clever joke. Will you kiss me? Please? You promised that no matter how badly we fought, I could always ask you for what I need.”

“Yes, but you have to come all the way into my lap because that’s whatIneed right now. And promise me that if you ever do leave, I’ll be the thing you wreck a bedroom looking for, so you can take me with you.”

“Or I could stay and wreck a bedroom with you,” she suggested as she nestled close, one arm behind his back and the other twining around his neck.

“Wrecking a bedroom together will always be my preference. Now stop talking. I have a kiss to deliver.”

“I really do love you, though. You know that, don’t you?” she asked anxiously.

“I do know that. Now tell me you know I love you. That the knowledge and belief is all the way in here where it can never be doubted or get misplaced.” He touched the middle of her chest.

His touch seemed to light a glow inside her, one that grew hot and bright under the fierce light in his eyes. It dispelled old shadows of doubts and warmed all her cold corners of loneliness. There was no hesitation in her as she accepted it. She deserved this, deserved him. She deserved love.

And she hadhislove, which was extra special for its rarity and strength.

“I do,” she vowed.

EPILOGUE

THEYMARRIEDANhour later at the registrar’s office.

Micah left the decision to Quinn whether they would go through with it or simply live together for the rest of their lives.

Quinn chose to marry him. She wanted the commitment, not because she doubted either of their steadfastness, but because it cemented where they belonged—with each other. Also, she really, really didn’t want to put Lucille through watching another of her children cancel a wedding.

Micah assured her that his mother would understand, but he also leaped on calling the registrar’s office to ask if they had an opening today.

“We have that many dinners and socials to get through, you might change your mind again,” he joked, holding the phone to his chest. “What do you say?”

“I say ‘yes.’” She rose from the bed and put on her engagement ring from the dish where she’d left it. “But I won’t have time to do that dress justice.”

She wore her blue hoodie. Micah left off his tie and didn’t bother shaving so he had a hint of shadow around his jaw.

It was short and sweet and when they were pronounced husband and wife, he kissed her reverently. Then he held on to her for a long time. His heart crashed against hers and his mouth rested against her hair.

“This is genuinely the happiest day of my life,” he told her in a quiet rasp.

When they finally drew back, she smiled her biggest smile at him. He cupped her face, and his eyes were wet with happy tears.

They spent the evening making appearances with their guests, the only hiccup when Quinn had to head off Eden as she bore down on her brother, ready to take a strip off him.

“Look. Shh... We have a secret of our own.” Quinn showed her the second ring she wore.

Eden cried, of course, and hugged her hard.

The rest of the celebrations went ahead as scheduled. It was like a fairy tale, one that Quinn would look back on and marvel at, partly because it was so movie-perfect, but more because her husband made her feel so loved. He didn’t make any grand gestures. No, it was in the quiet touch on her back and the meeting of her gaze that told her she was precious. It was the way he looked for her when she returned to a room and the way he absently centered her rings when he held her hand. It was in the way they made love that night, with their whole hearts open, sealing their love for all time.

It was frightening to believe she was wanted and needed and loved this much, but hour by hour and day by day, her trust in what they had grew. Month by month, she turned each of their houses into a home. They were building a lift together that was solid and secure, everything she had ever needed.

Then, one day, shortly after their second anniversary, Quinn came home to tell him with soft solemnity, “I think I met our daughter today.”

Micah pushed away from his desk. “Tell me.”

They had already begun the process of becoming foster parents. Quinn had dropped some certified documents at the agency and had glimpsed a five-year-old girl holding a brand-new teddy bear. There’d been a half-stuffed garbage bag at her feet.

“Her foster mother had a family emergency. It was Abigail’s third house in two years.”

Abigail came into their home a few weeks later. She was shy and polite and didn’t mention that her shoes were too tight. Micah noticed when he was helping her struggle to get them on. He immediately took her to buy new ones, which made her cry, because she didn’t want to give up her old ones. She loved them too much.

A special trunk was procured for items that meant a lot to her. She flourished, and soon Abigail was offering her items from the trunk to other children, secure that she had all she needed in the vast, enduring love of her parents.

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