Second Chance Girl (Happily Inc. #2)

He smiled. “This is sass, isn’t it?”

“It might be.” She drew in a breath. This was the moment to do and say the right thing. She wasn’t going to be selfish—she was going to say what he needed to hear. “Ulrich, I understand. You’re more than a man.”

One corner of his mouth turned up. “Especially in bed.”

She smiled, kissed him, then straightened. “This time together has been wonderful. I wish it would never end. But the truth is you can’t stay. You do have responsibilities. You have a heritage and people who depend on you. It’s a big deal. Whatever happens, know that I’ve had a wonderful time. I’ve fallen for the amazing man who danced with me all those years ago. Whatever happens, I’ll have that forever.”

His eyes darkened. “About that dance, it pains me that I can’t remember.”

“I’ll remember for both of us.”

“You know I won’t forget you now.”

“Yes. And I’ll come visit and maybe you can come back here.”

His mouth straightened. “I don’t think so.”

She blinked. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m not going to visit you here, Violet, and I hope you won’t be visiting me in England.” He shook his head. “Damn, I’m saying this all wrong. What I mean is I have a legacy and I want you to be a part of that. I won’t want to visit you because I want you to come with me to England. I love you, Violet. Please say you love me back and that you’re willing to marry me.”

She stared at him and her brain desperately struggled to understand what he’d just said. Had he... Was that...

“Did you just—”

“Ask you to marry me? Yes.”

She flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes,” she whispered as he hugged her back. “Yes. I love you and I want to marry you and just yes.”

He kissed her, his mouth claiming hers.

“Thank God,” he whispered. “I didn’t know how I was going to convince you if you said no.”

“Were you genuinely worried?”

“A little. My grandmother said you were very sensible and unlikely to fall for the likes of me.”

“She did not.”

He smiled. “She did not. She wished me luck and hoped you would say yes.” He reached for the velvet box. “Now there’s a bit of a surprise in here.”

“With the buttons?”

He opened the box and took out the largest of the five buttons. As he pulled it free of the satin lining, she realized it wasn’t a button at all, but a ring.

“The bit about Queen Victoria was the truth,” he told her as he slid the ring on her finger. “And I do know which aunt it was and who she married. In fact it’s rather an interesting tale, if you’d like to hear it.”

She stared at the ring on her finger, then at the man who had placed it there. She slid down onto her back and pulled him with her. “Maybe later,” she murmured.

“My thoughts exactly.”





CHAPTER TWENTY

CAROL WATCHED MATHIAS hoist Millie’s breakfast up the pole. The leaf-covered branches looked especially green and tasty this morning, but maybe that was the result of the previous night.

He hadn’t left. She’d thought that he might, but Mathias had stayed the night. Sometime around dawn, he’d gone home for a shower and a change of clothes, but he’d returned in time to go with her to work. When she’d asked about him heading to the studio, he’d told her work could wait.

She didn’t want to read too much into his words. They’d had a great time, they were both still recovering from the aftershocks. While she wanted to believe he was all in, her head warned her to be careful. Mathias didn’t believe in long-term relationships—not the romantic kind. She knew all the reasons and while she could dispute them, what she thought didn’t matter. He was the one who had to be willing to change his mind.

Her phone chirped. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the text from her sister.

Got a second?

Sure. What’s up?

Ulrich proposed. Just now. Okay, an hour ago. He loves me and wants to marry me and I said yes! I’m happy. So happy.

Carol stared at the message. Her heart neatly split in two with one half thrilled for her sister and the other half already missing her. She began typing before the disparate sides could reconcile.

OMG! Seriously? That’s fantastic. I’m so happy for you. I hope he knows how lucky he is to have you.

He does. I’m a little worried about moving so far away. Tell me it’s going to be okay.

Baby sister, it’s going to be magical. We’ll all come visit and you’re going to be like the queen!

LOL. Not exactly the queen, but the woman Ulrich loves, which is even better. Talk soon?

Yes. Spend the day with your hunky, English fiancé. I’ll see you tomorrow at the wedding.

You know it. Love you.

Love you, too.

Mathias checked the chain, then walked over to her. “Do you ring a bell or something? How does she know the buffet is open?”

“It’s a timing thing. The animals all get fed about the same time every day.”

She pointed and he turned. Millie walked around the trees, moving toward the pole with her leaves.

“She’s something,” he said, taking her hand.

“She is.” She waved her phone. “I heard from Violet. Ulrich proposed and she said yes. She’s moving to England.”

Mathias looked at her. “You okay? I know you’re close to your sister. You’re going to miss her.”

“I am, but she sounds really happy and with Skype and email, we’ll still stay in touch.”

It wouldn’t be exactly the same, but it would be close.

Mathias put his arm around Carol. “I’m happy for her,” he said. “Maybe you’ll get to wear a tiara at the wedding.”

“I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right. I’d look good in a tiara.”

He chuckled. “Yes, you would.”

He kissed her and they walked back to her golf cart. She supposed he could have been freaked out by the news. Would she expect the same of him or something like that? But he’d taken it in stride. What she couldn’t figure out was why that was. Because he was comfortable with her? Or because he knew taking things that far was never going to happen to him?

*

“BUT I DON’T want to,” Mathias grumbled. He knew he sounded like a toddler being told to eat his vegetables, but he didn’t care. There was no amount of broccoli in the world that compared with having dinner with his family.

Carol’s expression was kind but firm. “It’s the rehearsal dinner. You have to be there. What will Del think if you don’t show up?”

“Logic is for men.”

She raised her eyebrows. “I know you’re dealing with a lot right now, so I’m not going to punish you for saying that.”

“Thank you.”

He sat next to her on the sofa, tugged her close and kissed her. “I know a better way to spend the evening.”

She kissed him back before easing away. “No.”

“But there wasn’t a wedding rehearsal. We don’t need a dinner.” Del and Maya weren’t having any attendants, unless he counted Sophie.

“Are you always like this when you don’t get your way?” Carol asked.