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FORD

I guide Harper into Gram’s house, her hand wrapped tightly in mine.

I’m fucking thrilled at what we accomplished today, including shopping for rings.

I’m fucking giddy with excitement that the woman I’ve always loved will soon be my wife.

“Hey, Gram,” I smirk in Connor’s direction before my eyes return to hers. “Heard you won some money today.”

Connor immediately groans. “Fucking asshole. I wish I wouldn’t have told you that,” he grumbles.

Gram looks like the cat who ate the canary.

“He should know better than to bet against me.” She holds up a monogrammed towel. “What do you think?”

Harper moves forward, tugging me along with her.

She leans over, peering intently at it. “I love it, Gram. You did an incredible job.”

When she straightens, I pull her against me, admiring Gram’s work. “You have mad skills, Gram. I love it.”

“I can’t believe you caved,” Connor sulks from his position on the couch, folding his arms over his chest. “The way you fought him. Hell, I thought you were gonna bash him over the head with that lamp the other night. Yet, here you are, looking at him with stars in your eyes.”

He shakes his head, a long, mournful sigh coming from him. “He made you cock drunk, didn’t he?”

“Byrns, I swear to God?—”

Harper cracks up laughing, holding her side. “Yes. Yes, he did.”

She winks at me over her shoulder, surprising me.

Connor puts his head in his hands, shaking his head, before he lifts it. “I should’ve known.”

“I’m glad to see you stepped up your game. I never thought you’d resort to kidnapping, but I can’t argue with the results.” Gram continues working on finalizing the towel.

With an exaggerated sigh, Connor slumps back against the cushions. “I need to up my game. I thought I’d marry way before this asshole.”

He shoots me a shit-eating grin before winking at Harper. “Maybe I need to find a woman to kidnap.”

“It may not end as well,” Harper says. “I dated Ford before he kidnapped me. That helped.”

I pull her tighter against me. “Threatening her with marriage so she couldn’t testify was really just a ruse to get her to marry me.”

She giggles, her eyes sparkling. “Does this mean we should delay our wedding until after the hockey season ends?”

“Not a fucking chance. I’ll drag you down the aisle, handcuffed to me, if I have to.”

“Who says romance is dead.” Connor grins. “The guys are blowing up my phone. They want to know the color scheme and flowers you picked.” He shakes his head. “Bunch of women blowing up my phone, demanding answers.”

“We have a color scheme and flowers now.” Harper gives him a big grin. “I’ll share once the gang is here.”

“You showed her the texts? Damn, you must be in love.” Connor shakes his head, smirking.

“You must be slow if you’re just now realizing how much he loves her,” Gram says as she continues sewing.

Connor’s head falls back against the couch. “I need to go find and kidnap a wife before the hockey season begins.”

Ford smirks. “I’m not bailing your ass outta jail.”

Connor looks at him in disbelief. “You started this when you kidnapped her.”

I sit on the couch, pulling Harper on my lap. “Yeah, but I didn’t go out and kidnap a random stranger, asshole.”

He shrugs. “Whatever. I’ll just have to get her drunk and drag her to Vegas so she can’t file charges.” He gives me a shit-eating grin. “Problem solved.”

“Oh, dear. I didn’t expect to get married again.” Gram winks at him, earning a laugh from Connor.

“Don’t even say it,” I bark. “You’re not marrying my Gram!”