Fire Maidens Scotland (Billionaires & Bodyguards #6) - Anna Lowe Page 0,87
except for Trevor’s final message.
“‘I hope I have lived and loved well, and I hope I will be remembered kindly. Thank you, dearest friends and family, for all you have enriched me with. May your lives be marked with great blessings and happy chances.’”
When the solicitor finished and folded the document, a hush settled over the room as everyone chewed over that message.
I hope I have lived and loved well.
Lachlan took a deep breath. If ever a man were in search of a guiding principle in life, that would be it.
So that’s what we do, his dragon said simply. We live and love well.
His eyes met Holly’s, and his heart swelled.
Things were a bit of a blur after that, filled with sympathetic handshakes and whisky poured in Trevor’s memory. Lachlan took the first seemly opportunity at an early exit, and soon after, he and Holly were cruising down the road in the Austin-Healey. Neither said a word, because where would they begin?
It was only when they turned the final corner toward the townhouse in Edinburgh that Holly murmured, “Wow. Lots to process.”
Lachlan took her hand. “But no time pressure. Not a bad combination.”
“True.” She thought that over, then chuckled, looking at him. “Like you and me.”
He tilted his head. “Say again?”
“Like you and me. Not the worst combination.”
He laughed.
She pointed to a group of young men meandering down the street, singing and joking. “Stag party.” She studied him closely. “Does it give you any second thoughts? I mean, I’d hate for you to regret what you’re getting into.”
He laughed so loudly, the men in the stag party stared.
He kissed her knuckles. “No regrets. Just living and loving well.” Then he winked. “I think I know where to start too.”
Holly must have caught his gist, because she grinned, sending a slew of steamy images into his mind. “I think I do too. With the loving part.”
Lachlan set a new speed record for parking, and in no time, they were power-walking toward the townhouse, holding hands. No political protesters to dodge, no enemy dragons. Just a pair of freshly mated dragons on their way home on a late summer afternoon.
On our way to bed, his dragon corrected.
Holly grinned back. On our way to a wonderful future, and I can’t wait.
Epilogue
“Watch out!” a chorus of voices broke out, along with the clang of bells.
Holly ducked at the shower of confetti.
Lachlan held her hand tightly, and when she looked over… Man, oh man. She’d never seen him break out in a smile so joyful.
Of course, a man could be expected to smile on his wedding day. But Lachlan’s XXL-version made her heart warm. Mr. Cool and Logical had finally opened the gates to his heart.
“Congratulations!” everyone called as they descended the steps of the chapel.
Yes — the chapel. Bells. Wedding guests. A real wedding, human-style. Why had they bothered getting married six weeks after exchanging mating bites?
Why not had been on the top of her list, and even Lachlan didn’t have an issue with that. Which meant she didn’t have to convince him with any other reasons — because it felt right, because she loved the idea, and because introducing Lachlan to human friends as her boyfriend or fiancé just didn’t cut it. But Lachlan hadn’t even asked.
After the meeting in Edinburgh, they’d returned to Gleninnis, where Lachlan oversaw the closing of Guardians’ operations, returning the island to its former calm. Gemma and Liam had stayed on for most of that time, balancing the military-style operations with a thoroughly enjoyable social side. After that, Holly had helped PossAbility, the nonprofit group, lead special-needs groups on two different outdoor trips in the Highlands, and Lachlan had pitched in with both. She had already put out feelers to find mentors or internships for several of the kids.
She had lots more planned, but now, both she and Lachlan were taking a break. Starting with their own wedding.
The bells clanged away, and the guests all cheered. Among them, Penelope dabbed at her joyous tears.
“So beautiful. I love weddings.”
Yes, that had been abundantly clear in the poem she’d read as part of the ceremony.
Holly hid a smile as Duncan handed Penelope another tissue. Duncan had recovered sufficiently from his injuries to attend, but not enough to have regained full range of motion in his right arm. Sadly, that meant he couldn’t play the bagpipes for the occasion.
“Such a pity,” Tony had murmured when he’d heard the news.
The lion shifter stood to one side, looking fiendishly handsome in an Armani