Tease (Cloverleigh Farms #8)(88)

“They were very eager to help me make this special for you.”

“Awww. That’s so nice of them.”

The carriage pulled up to Abelard’s entrance, and Hutton helped me down. “We might have to invite them to our wedding.”

My heart thumped hard as my feet hit the ground. “Our what?”

He pointed to the sky, and I followed the line of his finger.

And gasped—there in the sky was a small airplane with a banner behind it that read Felicity, will you marry me?

Stunned, I looked at Hutton, who’d gone down on one knee.

“This is the real thing,” he said, taking my left hand in both of his. His mouth hooked into a boyish grin. “I already got you the ring, and you’re already wearing the dress, so I thought maybe I should ask you the real question.”

“Oh my God.” I touched my heart with my free hand. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Felicity MacAllister, I’ve loved you longer than you know, and there will never be another human on this earth that matters more to me. I may not have magic powers, but you understand me, you accept me, you make me happy. I know this is probably a shock to you, and if you don’t want to say yes today, that’s okay too, but you are the only one for me, today and always.”

“Yes,” I said, tears slipping down my cheeks. “Of course yes! A thousand times yes!”

He stood up and embraced me, our lips meeting in the sweetest, realest kiss we’d ever shared. Behind him the Prancin’ Grannies cheered, and even the horses whinnied their approval.

I smiled up at Hutton. “You do have magic powers—you turned this thing into a real engagement party!”

He held a finger to his lips.

I laughed, happier than I’d ever been. “I’ll never tell.”

“What do you say, ladies? Alfred?” Hutton turned to our audience. “Would you like to join us?”

“We thought you’d never ask,” said a granny with thick penciled-in eyebrows.

Hutton turned to me. “Felicity, this is Jackie. Her grandson is flying the plane up there.”

“It’s so nice to meet you, Jackie.” I smiled at all the grannies. “And thank you all for being here.”

“You’re very welcome.” Jackie patted Hutton’s back. “Lead the way.”

They pranced behind us all the way to the patio, where our families greeted us with a loud, exuberant, “Surprise!” As we caught our breath, the Clipper Cuts launched into “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

“Guess this is our song,” I whispered to Hutton.

He pulled me in front of him and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Their repertoire is limited,” he whispered back. “But it works for me.”

I wasn’t sure whether it was the old-fashioned harmonies, or the simple sentiment of the lyrics, or being surrounded by everyone we loved that made me so emotional, but I couldn’t help weeping as the song ended.

“Awww,” Mrs. French said as she embraced me. “I’m so happy, I could cry too!”

Frannie, also misty-eyed, hugged me next, followed by my dad—who held me so tight, I choked up again—then Millie, Winnie, Audrey and Emmeline, Allie, and Dex’s girls.

“We passed you on the road!” Luna told me. “But we weren’t allowed to yell out the windows.”

“Or honk the horn,” added Hallie.

“Thank you so much for coming,” I said to them. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“We love engagement parties,” said Hallie. “Last time we went to one was the day we met Winnie!”

“We’re hoping our dad will ask Winnie to marry him, but he says to stop bugging him about it,” said Luna.

Hallie shook her head. “We’ll never stop bugging him about it.”

“Never,” agreed Luna.

“But there’s one thing I don’t understand,” Hallie said, pointing at the plane, which was still flying overhead. “Why does that sign say ‘Felicity, will you marry me?’ Weren’t you already engaged?”

Hutton and I looked at each other, and he smiled.

“Yes and no,” I said, taking his hand. “Both things can be true.”





The party was still in full swing when I saw Hutton standing alone beyond the edge of the patio, his back to me, his hands in his pockets as he studied the rolling hills of the vineyard in the light of the setting sun.

I excused myself from the conversation I was listening to and made my way over to him. “Hey,” I said, tucking my arm inside his. “How are you? Sorry we got separated.”

“I’m fine.” He smiled at me. “Just needed a minute or two to catch my breath.”

“You’ve been amazing tonight. Thank you for this.” I tipped my head onto his shoulder. “For everything.”

“You’re welcome.”

I inhaled the sweet summer evening and let my gaze wander over the neat rows of grapevines and fruit trees. “It’s so beautiful here, isn’t it?”

“Would you like to live here?”

“At Abelard?” I laughed. “Who wouldn’t?”

“Maybe not this exact spot, but maybe we could find something nearby. Or something on the water. Or something with some acreage and you could have your own small farm.” He chuckled. “I might like being a farmer. Seems like a job with a lot of solitude.”