Epilogue
EPILOGUE
“You and Landon didn’t have to drive me home, lass.” Pop Pop walked into his room at her parents’ house and switched on the lamp. He’d moved in with her family over a decade earlier, when Sunnie was a teenager. She’d always loved her home, loved her family, but when Pop Pop moved in, it was as if all the magic and fun was amplified. She wasn’t sure how she would have made it through high school without him there in the house.
“Oh, I know, but we were ready to leave, and you and I both know Mom and Bubbles aren’t leaving that dance floor until they’re kicked out.”
Sunnie’s cousin Caitlyn had married her Prince Charming, Lucas Whiting, tonight in a beautiful September wedding. Landon had been her date for the event. Hell, he’d been her date for everything since June.
“Well, you certainly didn’t need to leave him waiting in the living room. I don’t need to be put to bed like a toddler,” Pop Pop insisted.
“I know that. I just wanted to steal a few minutes alone to tell you something.”
Pop Pop glanced at her curiously, then sat down in his favorite chair, patting the cushion of the one next to him. Dad and Finn had built an extension onto the house, creating a father-in-law suite, so to speak, before Pop Pop moved in. It was just one big bedroom with a nice-sized seating area, complete with his own big-screen TV.
Pop Pop called it his bachelor pad, claiming he liked having somewhere to charm his lady friends. The funny part was, Pop Pop had never entertained anyone here besides the family. He’d lost his heart to Sunday a million years ago, and he’d never looked at another woman since.
“Oh,” Pop Pop said, clearly excited. “A secret?”
“Sort of, but not really. I’ll be screaming this from the rafters tomorrow. Landon and I agreed to keep it quiet until then. Today was Caitlyn’s day. And maybe Fergus’s.”
Her cousin Fergus had returned from two tours in the military, making it back to Baltimore halfway through the reception. Sunnie was thrilled he was home to stay, and he’d been delighted to hear that she and Landon were a couple.
“It is nice to have that boy home for good.”
Sunnie knew Pop Pop had worried about Fergus the entire time he’d been stationed in the Middle East. “I’ve missed him too.”
“Caitlyn’s wedding was just beautiful.” Pop Pop wiped away a tear. “I never dreamed I’d have a chance to see so many of my dear grandchildren meet their soul mates and fall in love. I’ve lived a blessed life indeed.”
She took his hand and squeezed it affectionately, purposely ignoring that it felt thinner, frailer. Sunnie knew in her heart Pop Pop wouldn’t live forever, but damn if she wouldn’t try to will it so. There was no reason he couldn’t pull a Dumbledore and keep kicking until about a hundred and fifty or so.
“That’s actually my secret.” Sunnie lifted her other hand, revealing the engagement ring Landon had put on her finger only a couple hours earlier. He’d pulled her out onto the balcony of the hotel ballroom, gotten down on one knee and proposed. She’d been shocked and thrilled…but she’d playfully chastised him for moving so damn fast. Again.
She’d moved in with him in June, after making him promise he would be okay with simply shacking up together for a year or two. He’d broken that vow tonight. But the ring was gorgeous, so she forgave him instantly.
“Landon proposed, and I said yes! He’s promised it can be a long engagement, but you know him. Apparently a long time to him is two months.”
There was a knock at the door, and Landon peeked his head in. “Can I come in now?”
“You were listening outside the whole time, weren’t you?” she accused.
Landon shrugged, not bothering to deny it.
“Come in here, son. Sunnie was just telling me the big news.”
Sunnie looked at Pop Pop and rolled her eyes. “He’s incorrigible, Pop Pop. If he’d had his way, we would have announced the engagement at the wedding three seconds after I said yes.”
“I thought you were going to wait to propose,” Pop Pop said to Landon, who grinned sheepishly.
“Wait?” Sunnie looked at her grandfather. “You knew he was going to ask me to marry him?”
“He asked your father and me for our blessing last week. Said he was going to pop the question over Thanksgiving.”
“Weddings get to me,” Landon said unapologetically.
“He cried,” Sunnie said.
“I told you, Sunshine, I got something in my eye,” Landon insisted.
“Just as Caitlyn was walking down the aisle?” she persisted.
“I got something in my eye at that point too,” Pop Pop admitted.
“You really asked for their blessing?” Sunnie asked. “Isn’t that kind of old-fashioned?”
“Don’t give him a hard time for that, lass,” Pop Pop chastised. “That was for your father and me. A very respectful thing to do.”
She felt warm inside when Pop Pop looked at Landon with genuine fondness. Her grandfather’s blessing meant the world to her. And given Landon’s smile, it was clear he felt the same way.
“So, should I clear my schedule for a Christmas wedding?” Pop Pop joked.
“Only if I can’t convince her to marry me over Thanksgiving,” Landon said, the two men laughing as Sunnie rolled her eyes.
“That’s not a long engagement,” she said.
Landon wrapped his arm around her, kissing her on the cheek. “Thanksgiving is a lifetime away.”
“It was the same way with your father, lass. The second Riley let him know she was ready to settle down in marriage, he dragged her off to the Elvis Chapel and made it official.”
“Mom tells it a little differently. Says she was drunk and doesn’t remember the wedding at all.”
“Perhaps not the first one,” Pop Pop said with a chuckle. “But it only took him a few days to convince her to repeat those vows again…sober.”
Landon shook his head, even though he’d heard the story countless times before. “Only in your family, Sunnie.”
“Your family now too, Landon,” Pop Pop reminded him. “Looks like you managed to get your wish. Let me show you both something.”
Pop Pop had a wall of photographs, each frame holding a picture of one of his children or grandchildren. Every member of the family was represented. He pointed to Sunnie’s spot…and she laughed when she saw her new photo.
“How on earth?” she asked.
“Your friend Miguel helped me with that,” Pop Pop confessed. “Said he could take a picture from the video—I had no idea that was possible! Then he did some sort of trick with his computer where he brightened it up. Looks good, doesn’t it?”
Pop Pop had gotten Miguel to freeze-frame that perfect moment, right after their viral kiss, when Landon looked at her as if she hung the moon.
“Sunnie,” Landon said, studying it closely. “Your face.”
No one had ever mentioned the way she was looking at him before now. It was always his expression that was remarked on.
“That’s why I asked for the photo, son,” Pop Pop said. “See how she’s looking at you?”
Sunnie crossed her arms, pretending to be annoyed with her fiancé. “So what you’re saying is…even though you watched that video a thousand times, you were only looking at yourself? Typical,” she teased.
Landon wrapped his arm around her waist, kissing her on the cheek. “Couldn’t help it. My ass looks damn fine in that video.”
Pop Pop chuckled. “In those romantic movies, they always have to wait until the end for their happily ever after. It seems to me the two of you found it right at the beginning.”
Sunnie kissed her grandfather on the cheek. “You’re as mushy-gushy as Landon.”
“You kept your promise to me, lass. Found the man who loves you for the sunshine and happiness you bring. And, Landon,” Pop Pop said, “Sunnie found a way to give you your wish as well. You’re officially a Collins now. It’s the perfect ending.”
Have you read the entire Wilder Irish series? All the books are standalone, so they can be read in any order. Be sure to check out all of them!
Wild Passion
Wild Desire
Wild Devotion
Wild at Heart
Wild Temptation
Wild Kisses
Wild Fire
Wild Spirit
Wild Side
Wild Night
Wild Embrace
Wild Dreams
Wild Chance
There are also several “extra” short stories that feature other characters in the Wild Irish world.
Wild Angel (Rory from Wild Desire finds her happily ever after)
One Wild Night (Lucas makes a bet with his friend, Eric, that leads to one wild night!
Wild Encounter (the first day Emmy walked into Pat’s Pub and met Paddy!)
Midnight Wild (Darcy’s best friend…and her two hot bosses on New Year’s Eve! Need I say more?)