Emily’s watch buzzed with a text, and she glanced down to check it. It was from Hattie.
Theater almost full. Saved you seats in front row.
When she dismissed the text, Emily noticed the time and quickened her steps. “Yikes! We’re late.”
Grant matched her pace, and they hurried to the ticket window.
“You’re lucky.” Loretta took Grant’s money and gave him the tickets. “Last two seats.”
They rushed through into the already dim room. The last preview finished just as they settled into their seats at the front of a packed house. Emily would have to rib Grant about that. Sure, he could sell out big theaters with his action movies, but she wasn’t the only one who was a sucker for a good Regency romance.
She settled in next to Grant, snuggling into his arm. Her heart responded to the perfect combination of his aftershave, the heat of his body, and the calm of his breathing next to her. Even after seven months of being together, every time she nestled against him, she felt like the luckiest woman in the world. Grant Robbins might be famous and beyond rich, but to her, he was her everything else. He was kind and sweet, protective and playful, smart and witty, encouraging and attractive. He was the one who knew she loved a big event but secretly got stressed out about it. He dressed like a zombie for the parade just to spend time with her and had a blast doing it. He played dominoes with her dad every week he was in town, even when he had a deadline.
The movie was cute and funny and over too soon. As her favorite scene began, and Mr. Knightley’s famous line was coming up, the camera went from focusing on Emma back to Mr. Knightley, only . . .
Emily squinted at the screen, blinking to focus. She’d already seen this version, and this was not the way it was supposed to end. Was that . . . Grant?
Eyes wide, she turned to stare at him, who watched the screen intently. Was he purposefully ignoring her look? The exposed dimple on his cheek said he was trying hard not to smile. She turned back to the screen. It was definitely Grant in the movie.
“If I loved you any less—”
The movie stuttered and the picture rolled, scrolling until it stopped—as if it weren’t digital and the film had slipped from the reel. The crowd behind her groaned their disapproval.
Grant stood, back to the screen and facing her, and the audience noise died down. He reached for her hand. “If I loved you any less,” he repeated, “I’d be able to talk about it more.” He finished the Jane Austen quote word for word.
Her heart pounded in her chest and she pressed her free hand there to quiet it. How had he done this? She turned to look over her shoulder. Behind her were her father, Miss Bates and her mother, Jaden, and Finn. Emily shook her head, letting her eyes float over the rest of the audience. She recognized every single face in the theater. Her throat tightened with emotion.
Grant squeezed her fingertips gently. “I want the world to know I love you, Emily Wood. We have a history together, one I will always cherish, but I also hope we have a future—a grand adventure together.”
He dropped to one knee and pulled a ring box from his jacket pocket. He flipped it open, but Emily couldn’t look away from the hazel eyes that held her heart. “Emily, will you be my co-star, my party planner, my beta reader? Will you be my sparring partner, my sidekick, the love of my life? Emily Claire Wood, will you marry me?”
Heart pounding in her throat, Emily dove from her chair into his arms. “Yes,” she breathed into his neck. The tears wet her cheeks, but she didn’t care, even if the two of them had an audience. “Yes, Grant.” She pulled back enough to look him in the eyes. “I will marry you.” She sealed the promise with an historic, fairy-tale kiss, one that could possibly end up in his next novel, if she was lucky.
* * *
Thank you for reading The Matchmaker’s Billionaire. We hope you loved Eureka Springs and Grant and Emily’s story!
If you enjoyed the book, please consider posting a review on Amazon so other readers will take a chance on it too.
Don’t leave the Mountain Cove just yet!
Pick up the next Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove sweet romance by clicking here.
For updates on new releases and a free copy of the novella New Year’s Resolutions, sign up for Maria’s newsletter on her website.
Now Available from Bestselling Author Maria Hoagland
Other Billionaire Classics
Beauty and the Billionaire Beast
Her App, a Match, and the Billionaire
Falling for Her Billionaire Best Friend
Or get these three Billionaire Classics at a great price and FREE on KU
Billionaire Classics Boxed Set
Cobble Creek Series
Set in beautiful Small-town Cobble Creek, Wyoming
The Inventive Bride
The Practically Romantic Groom
The Combustible Engagement
Or get all three Cobble Creek novels at a great price and FREE on KU
Cobble Creek Collection
Romance Renovations Series
Home for the Holidays
Kayaks & Kisses
Keeping Romance
Sweet interconnected soccer romances
Love for Keeps
Santa Cam
Family Medical Fiction
Still Time
The ReModel Marriage
In Case You Missed It in Billionaire Classics Series
If you haven’t read them already, continue your journey into rewrites of favorite classic novels. They will have you falling in love again and again. Maria Hoagland’s Billionaire Classics are three interconnected contemporary sweet romances inspired by classic literature that can be read alone.
* * *
Read about Theo and Emma at Indigo Pointe Plantation in . . .
Beauty and the Billionaire Beast
A fairy-tale setting at an old Louisiana plantation with a touch of a Romeo & Juliet-type family feud.
Read about Lizzie, Dawson, and Austen in . . .
Her App, a Match, and the Billionaire
Seattle’s Billionaire Bachelor Cove takes on unexpected twist inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Falling for Her Billionaire Best Friend
Seattle’s Cove takes on unexpected twist inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
About the Author
When Maria Hoagland is not working at her computer, she can be found combing used furniture stores and remodeling houses with her husband. She loves crunching leaves in the fall, stealing cookie dough from the mixing bowl, and listening to musicals on her phone.
Maria has several published works in the sweet romance and women’s fiction genres. She enjoys hearing from readers and book clubs and can be found online at mariahoagland.com.
The Matchmaker's Billionaire (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 2) Page 18