To Win Her Smile

by Mackenzie Crowne

  Piper ignored the men’s laughter and blinked at Wyatt’s declaration. Her heart slammed against her ribs. He loved her?

  As if she’d posed the question aloud, he grinned. “Yeah, I love you. Which is the reason I’m wearing a skirt.” He ignored Angus’s affronted snort. “The reason I’m here, in a kilt.”

  She had to swallow before she could speak. He was here, and he loved her. “I noticed that but, the question is why?”

  “You told me once a kilt made a guy look manly and sexy. I wanted to impress you.”

  “You can impress me anytime,” a woman offered from somewhere in the crowd and set off a chorus of laughter.

  Wyatt chuckled, then spoke without looking away from Piper. “I appreciate the offer, sweetheart, but there is only one woman in the world I’m interested in impressing, and she’s sitting right in front of me.”

  Several feminine sighs could be heard, along with a couple male grunts. Wyatt ignored them all.

  “I’m here in front of,” he glanced around, “a shitload of strangers, begging you to give me one more chance. Begging you to give us one more chance.” He lowered his head and his voice, speaking low enough only she and those closest could hear. “I won’t screw us up again, duchess. You have my word on that.”

  Tears stung at the back of her nose as he lifted his head.

  “In addition to the fans here today, millions of others will see me making a fool of myself later when they watch the tape. Would I subject myself to that humiliation if I didn’t love you?” He shook his head. “If I didn’t love you, I’d be downstairs preparing for the most important game of my career.”

  “Yet,” she said softly.

  A wrinkle of confusion creased his brow, and she turned her hand over to grasp his.

  “As your lucky charm, I can say with utmost certainty, the most important game of your career comes after you win today. It comes in two weeks.”

  He grinned as the crowd around them voiced their agreement with whoops and whistles and hell yeahs.

  “Duchess, before I head downstairs to exchange my sexy kilt for shoulder pads and a helmet, I need to ask you a question.”

  He dropped one knee to the floor and slid his hand inside the sash at his waist. An excited murmur of startled gasps rippled through the crowd. One of the Gridiron Girls actually squeaked behind Piper. Wyatt’s face wavered through the tears welling in her eyes, and she struggled to draw enough breath.

  He held out his hand. A small, pale blue box tied in a white bow rested on his palm. “Piper Darrow, eighth baroness of Delaney, will you put me out of my misery and become my wife?”

  “Auntie Pipah!” Mandy announced and Wyatt grinned.

  A fat tear plopped onto Piper’s cheek. Angus sighed and drew her attention.

  His chest lifted on a scoffing snort. “Both Moira and Tilly said to tell ye the lad behaved like a horse’s arse, but he seems to have learned his lesson.”

  Wyatt arched his neck to shoot Angus a pointed stare.

  He grinned, winked, then turned back to Piper. “Go on, lass. Put the lad out of his misery already.”

  A round of yeahs and do it, alreadys filled the air as Piper met Megan’s gaze through the crowd. With a dip of her chin, his sister gave her silent approval. They shared a smile and, plucking the box from Wyatt’s palm, Piper rose from her seat. Sliding an arm around his shoulders, she lowered to sit on his knee and looked into his hopeful, beautiful eyes, then repeated the same answer she’d given him that day on the cliffs.

  “Why, you lovely man. I thought you’d never ask.”

  Epilogue

  “You’re looking quite dapper, Angus.”

  “Aye, that I am.” Resplendent in traditional highland dress of kilt and tartan pinned at the shoulder by his prized, antique clan badge, Angus grinned. “And yer lookin’ quite lovely yerself. Ye make a bonnie bride, Cousin.”

  Piper smiled, her gaze dropping to the envelope he held out. “What is it?”

  “’Tis from himself. He said to tell ye, there’s been a change of plans.”

  Piper blinked and accepted the thick packet. She tugged the sheaf of official looking documents from inside and unfolded them. The breath stalled in her throat as she read the included note written in Wyatt’s bold hand. Stunned, she lifted her gaze to stare at her cousin.

  Approval flashed in his eyes. “Aye. The lad’ll do. I’m thinkin’ yer Da would agree.”

  Helpless tears sprung in her eyes, and she shook her head. “How did he do this?”

  A snort flared Angus’s nostrils. “Love is a strong incentive, lass, and the lad obviously knows yer heart.” He turned and snatched the white woolen cape from the hook on her bedroom door. Turning back, he shook out the cloak and held it open for her. “Come on with ye, now. Tilly and Moira have already left with yer friends. The parson is waitin’, and the lad’ll be wonderin’ what’s keepin’ ye.”

  With a last glance at the shocking papers, Piper set them on her vanity and picked up the small bouquet of rose blooms. Rising to her feet, she turned so Angus could wrap the cape around her shoulders, left bare by the off-the-shoulder cut of her wedding gown. Dipping her knees, she gathered the lacy material of the dress’s sweeping train in one hand and followed her cousin from her bedroom.

  They reached the manor’s foyer and she cast a quick glance into the lounge where the small service was supposed to be taking place. The room was empty. Angus rested his hand on the small of her back and urged her out the front door. A hiccupped laugh broke free as she spotted the enclosed golf cart decorated in blood red roses and greenery.

  Angus grinned at her side. “Wyatt had the cart delivered from Glasgow first thing this mornin’ along with a half dozen others just like it. His mates caused a stir drivin’ the women up the trail after Tuck challenged them to a race.”

  She jerked her gaze to Angus. “Oh, Lord. Please tell me no one was hurt.”

  He chuckled. “The lads didn’t get the chance to take up Tuck’s offer, not with their wives givin’ them all the stink eye.”

  Relieved, Piper laughed, then eyed the tiny vehicle. To cut costs, she’d traded in the manor’s roomy SUV for a compact sedan. Tilly hadn’t been pleased by the downgrade. She’d claimed a vehicle that small was nothing but a deathtrap. Refusing to drive it, she’d taken to using the manor’s ancient “Woodie” instead. Compared to the golf cart, the sedan was practically a stretch-limo.

  “Tilly actually got into one of these?”

  Angus laughed and wheeled the cart about toward the path leading into the woods. “Aye. She said it was darlin’.” He shot her a sidelong grin. “She shooed Moira to the passenger seat and took the wheel herself.”

  Piper grinned and shook her head as they climbed toward the newly drawn line of the manor’s property. At the top of the rise not far from the cliffs, she blinked. Shortly after they had made their deal, Broderick Faulkner had installed a discreet fence along the new border of the golf resort’s land. A week ago, his fence line had cut straight across the forest path she’d walked her entire life. This morning, the wooden rails had been adjusted to run parallel with the last hundred meters of the trail leading to her special place.

  She pressed a hand to her chest and fought against the tears stinging her nose and eyes. Selling off a portion of the property had not only been necessary, it had been the right thing to do. The sale had allowed her, Moira, Tilly, and Angus to remain on the land they loved, but the loss of her cliffs had left her heart wounded.

  Wyatt had somehow managed to find a way to heal that wound by convincing Broderick Faulkner to return the acre of land surrounding Piper’s cliffs. She had no idea how Wyatt had done it, but his wedding gift was the sweetest gesture she could ever have imagined and one more reason why she loved the man to distraction.

  A breathy sigh escaped her lips. If someone had told her she
’d be this happy five months ago—Lord, three weeks ago—she would have called them a nutter. A weepy laugh gurgled in her throat. Then again, she shouldn’t be surprised. It wasn’t every day a woman fell in love with her very own larger-than-life hero.

  That wasn’t to say there wouldn’t be challenges in their future. If the past three weeks were any indication, living in the glare of the spotlight aimed on Wyatt and his family wouldn’t be easy. As predicted, the public nature of his kilted proposal had whipped the press into a frenzy. The team’s divisional title win, followed by their historic Super Bowl victory, only increased the oppressive press interest dogging Wyatt and Piper at every turn.

  Meeting Richard Hunter had been a tense experience, for both her and Wyatt, especially with Walter Crowley looking on. Wyatt insisted contact with his father would be a rare occurrence, and she hoped that was the case. She hated the edgy nerves Wyatt had shown during the half hour they’d spent in his father’s presence. From what she could tell, V was right. The relationship between father and son was barely civil.

  Megan, on the other hand, had been wonderful. Her future sister-in-law had taken it upon herself to face the press and welcome Piper to the family. She’d also given some invaluable pointers on how to handle the constant attention.

  Still, for Piper, having Wyatt back in her life was worth any discomfort she might have to face. She’d missed him so much, and not just the way he could heat her body to the melting point with a simple look. In those months they’d been apart, she’d desperately missed the way he could make her laugh seemingly without trying. Since that Sunday he’d found her in the stands to tell her he loved her, she’d found her smile once again.

  “We’re almost there, lass.”

  Piper turned her head at Angus’s softly spoken observation and glanced around. He slowed the cart and turned onto a newly widened path leading to the cliffs. Her heartbeat raced as they reached a small clearing. Off to the right sat the carts that had delivered their wedding guests up the trail. To the left, a path disappeared into the trees.

  Angus pulled the cart to a stop and exited to round the hood. He held out his hand. She placed her fingers in his and slid to her feet.

  He clucked his tongue and studied her face. “Ye look so much like yer mum. It’s as if I’m seein’ her pretty face again.” His smile wavered beneath the tears flooding her eyes, and he cleared his throat. “Both yer lovely mum and yer da would be proud of ye this day. I’m honored to stand in their stead.”

  Fearing she would choke on the lump crowding her airway, she squeezed his fingers in lieu of speaking. He turned, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm, and led her toward the muted sound of the Atlantic crashing against the rocky coast.

  He chuckled as she sniffled and tugged a folded cloth from the sporran at his waist. She accepted the handkerchief and dabbed her nose, then clutched his arm with frantic fingers as the cliff clearing came into view. He brought them to a stop at the edge of the silk runner leading to a linen-covered pillared archway framing the view of the ocean beyond.

  Two rows of stark white chairs sat to each side of the temporary aisle. Her gaze paused briefly on CC and the Gridiron Girls and their spouses, then moved on to Megan. Piper returned her warm smile, then arched a brow, surprised to find Broderick Faulkner sitting in the chair on the other side of Mandy. He dipped his head in a greeting nod before turning to face the arch once more.

  Piper followed his gaze and promptly forgot all about why the real estate mogul was in attendance. The butterflies returned as her gaze landed on her groom.

  With Tuck at his side, Wyatt turned his head. His familiar gray-green eyes gleamed in the sunlight and held her captive. The butterflies rioted violently as his lips curved in a smile edged with…relief?

  She swallowed. Had he been concerned she would change her mind? Silly man.

  In keeping with what he apparently considered a new tradition, he wore another kilt. She ran her gaze over his handsome face and form and was struck by the familiar pin holding the tartan in place at his shoulder. Having been worn by her father for as long as Piper could remember, the badge held a special place in her heart. She’d given it to Angus upon Da’s death.

  Her cousin spoke softly at her side. “Ye were yer da’s pride, but second was that badge. I’m thinkin’ he would want yer new husband to have it.”

  She swallowed past the lump in her throat.

  “Let me take your cape.”

  Piper was slow to drag her gaze from her groom. When she did, she found Moira standing at her side wearing a wide grin. Behind her, Tilly’s smile wobbled. I love you, she mouthed.

  The prickling at the back of Piper’s nose intensified as she mouthed the sentiment back.

  Moira laughed softly and unsnapped the clasp at Piper’s throat, sliding the cloak from her shoulders. “I know Wyatt Hunter is devilishly handsome, but you’ve got to pull yourself together, luv. You don’t want him thinking you’re too easy, do you?”

  “There’s no chance of that happening.” Tilly snorted. “Look at him. He’s sweating, wondering if you’ve changed your mind.”

  Piper jerked her gaze back to Wyatt’s. The day was unusually mild for late February but, from what she could tell, he wasn’t sweating. However, his brow was furrowed, and he looked as if he was about to stalk forward and take her hand instead of waiting for her to come to him. His obvious nerves somehow eased hers.

  Tilly took the cloak from Moira’s hand. “Go on with you now. Moira, start walking so Piper can put the poor man’s mind to rest.”

  Moira laughed over her shoulder, then strolled down the runner to the archway. Clinging to Angus’s arm, Piper followed, and the rush of excitement flowing through her veins increased with each step.

  Less than three weeks ago, she’d despaired of ever smiling again. Yet, here she was, about to marry Wyatt. About to exchange vows with the man she loved here in this place where she’d woven her childhood dreams. She couldn’t contain the helpless smile stretching her lips as she passed by CC and the girls and their husbands. Megan scrambled to her feet, but wasn’t quick enough to stop Mandy from bolting into the aisle to throw her arms around Piper’s hips to greet her Auntie Pipah.

  Amid the laughter, Piper disengaged her arm from Angus’s to stoop and give her new niece a hug and kiss her cheek. Once Megan had convinced the excited child to return to her seat, Piper took Angus’s arm again, and they joined Wyatt, Tuck, and Moira where they waited with the vicar.

  Taking her duties as chief bridesmaid to heart, Moira stepped forward to take the small bouquet Piper carried and adjust her train, then slid back into place as Angus kissed Piper’s brow. Turning, he placed her fingers into Wyatt’s waiting hand. Her cousin didn’t release her other hand, however, and pinned Wyatt with a narrow-eyed stare.

  “I’m trustin’ ye with the daughter of me heart. Do right by her, lad.”

  Mutually touched and amused, Piper grinned, but Wyatt took the warning seriously. He dipped his head in a solemn nod.

  “You have my word, sir.”

  Angus backed away, and Wyatt met her gaze. His nerves seemed to fade as the appreciative glow in his eyes grew. He lowered his voice to a rumbling purr. “You’re beautiful.”

  She smiled and cocked her head, then couldn’t help a teasing once-over of his very sexy wedding attire. She met his gaze once more. “So are you.”

  “It’s the kilt. They do things to a woman.” He matched her grin, but then sobered. “I love you.”

  The simple declaration sent a shiver through her system. “I love you, too.”

  Tuck cleared his throat. “Uh, folks. You ain’t married yet. You’re supposed to say I do first, then you can get to the mushy stuff.”

  “Oh, Tuck,” CC moaned from behind to the sound of laughter.

  “What?” Tuck glanced his wife’s way with an innocent look. “The parson’s
waiting. Ain’t that right, Parson?”

  The elderly vicar, who had been making monthly trips to the village to say mass for the locals since before Piper was born, looked as if he weren’t sure how to answer. Piper took mercy on him.

  “We’ll get to the I do’s in just a moment, Vicar.” She turned back to Wyatt. “But first, I want to thank you for my wedding present and ask how you managed to convince Broderick to sell you the cliffs?”

  Wyatt glanced over his shoulder at the real estate mogul before answering. “Broderick didn’t technically sell me the cliffs. We made a deal.” Wyatt shot a quick glance at Tuck, who smirked.

  She squinted between them. “What kind of deal?”

  “A good one, I think.” Wyatt took her arm and turned her to face the vicar. “I agreed to give Broderick access to the spot for certain occasions, with the proper notification, of course.”

  She blinked and found Broderick in the crowd. “You gave up the cliffs on the promise that you can borrow them occasionally?”

  He grinned. “The view blew me away. I’d planned to use the space for outdoor parties for VIPs and the occasional wedding, which I can still do thanks to our deal.” He tossed Wyatt a sharp grin before turning to Megan. “Your future husband and his sister are a very persuasive pair.”

  Piper arched a brow at the blush coloring Megan’s cheeks and, shaking her head, looked at her groom. His smile was keen, but something wasn’t adding up. “That’s it? Broderick gets to throw a party here and you get the land?”

  Wyatt squeezed her fingers. “You get the land. The acreage will be turned back over to you with the stipulation you grant the golf resort access a couple times a year.” He turned to the vicar. “Parson?”

  The vicar cleared his throat. “Dearly belov...”

  “And?” she demanded. “What else aren’t you saying?”

  Tuck grinned, and Wyatt rolled his eyes. “And I’ll be hosting a tournament to raise funds for Broderick’s favorite charity.”

  Confused, she glanced over her shoulder, then back. “A tournament?”