He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful tonight. I hope you and Nash have a long, healthy life together. And now, I’m going to take my wife for a spin around the dance floor.” He held out his arm to Daphne. “Beloved?”
Daphne giggled and let Fate sweep her off to the middle of the rec room, where the seniors had set up a dance floor for her surprise engagement party, her long gold dress gracefully sweeping out as she moved her feet.
“Where’s Marlboro Man?” Flora asked, her eyes twinkling, her smile bright.
Calla smiled and squeezed Flora’s hand. “You look beautiful tonight, Miss Flora. I can’t believe you guys pulled this off without me finding out.”
Clive stuck his head between them. “We’re like ninja party planners.”
Flora wrinkled her nose. “There’s nothing like a little tapioca pudding to inspire some motivation round these golden-oldies parts. I promised Clive a week’s worth if he’d help me hang the lanterns.”
The rec room looked incredible—they’d gone all out. White lantern lights hung from one end of the room to the other, an ice sculpture sat in the middle of a long buffet table full of food from everyone in town. Snowflakes glittered from all the windows and champagne flowed from a fountain in golden, bubbly waves.
When she’d first arrived, totally believing they were meeting Ben and Winnie to go to dinner at the fanciest restaurant in Paris, she’d been flabbergasted.
And Nash had been in the middle of it all, on bended knee, his hat in one hand and a small gold box in the other. When he’d rumbled the words, “Wanna make cupcakes with me forever, Cupcake Lady?” she’d burst into tears and could only manage a nod.
He’d scooped her up to the sound of cheering, and laughter, and glasses clinking together, and had kissed her senseless.
The last three months had been some of the best of her life, and every day they worked to move past what happened that night with Kirby. They’d discovered Kirby had stolen the appropriation box from one of the witches she’d done time with in prison and it was now safely in the hands of Baba Yaga.
Denny left town shortly after he found out exactly why the Council didn’t give a tinker’s damn about who she mated with—proving to her that he was as superficial on the inside as he was on the outside.
And then there was Nash.
Calla had finally confided what made her leave Boston while Nash held her and reminded her that if Reed hadn’t been such a scumbag, she wouldn’t be in his arms now, and that made them luckier than most.
And she had to agree; Reed’s cruelty had led her to some of the best things to ever happen to her. Nash. Paris, Texas. Winnie and the girls. And the center—her pride and joy.
Just when she thought her heart was as full as it could get, it managed to hold just a little bit more. “You guys are amazing, Flora. Everything is so beautiful. Thank you.”
“Ya look real purty tonight there, Calla. You sure you wanna marry a roughneck like our Cowboy?” Gus asked, tugging on his polka dot bowtie.
“Hey, you hornin’ in on my woman, Gus?” Nash asked from behind her, winding his arms around her waist and pulling her to the shelter of his chest.
“I’m just givin’ her options, big guy. A girl should always have options.”
Calla reached forward and straightened Gus’ tie. “I’ll keep that in mind. But until then, why don’t you go see if Greta wants to dance? I hear she does a mean Charleston.”
“Oh my God!” Winnie yelled from across the room, moving through the crowd of people, her husband Ben behind her. She latched onto Calla and jumped up and down. Look who’s getting married!” She grabbed her hand and inspected the ring, the sparkle of it almost a glare. “I’m blind from the glow. Nice job, Nash.”
Nash tipped his Stetson at her, leaning in to kiss Winnie’s cheek. “I aim to please, ma’am.”
“Next time you aim, maybe you shouldn’t aim so high,” Ben said. “You’re makin’ us all look cheap, Ryder. Congrats, buddy.” He shook Nash’s hand before pointing to the buffet table with a grin. “I’m out. Rumor has it Agnes made her famous fried chicken, and my cholesterol count’s really low today. Need to keep up my strength.”
Calla laughed and tucked her arm into Nash’s, loving the feel of his hard body beside her own. “This is beautiful, Winnie. I feel like a princess tonight, and I know you had a hand in that.”
She squeezed two fingers together, the soft glow of her blue cocktail dress making her eyes stand out. “Maybe just a little.”
“Hah!” Nash barked a laugh. “How about, if not for her, we’d be eating a foot-long and drinking a six-pack.”
Winnie rolled her eyes and grinned. “Oh, c’mon now. You picked out the flatware and the matching tablecloth and napkins. You earned your keep.”