Chapter 29 #2
“I’m prosecuting a warlord from South Sudan for war crimes against women.
It’s taking a while to build a case since any woman who comes forward tends to disappear.
You should see the threats leveled against me.
” Helena did look tired, but she was determined.
Quinn had told him she’d never backed down from a hard case.
“Are you safe?”
Helena nodded. “Oh, yeah. Threats are just mailed or emailed to me. Whoever is sending them don’t ever leave South Sudan.
Now, if I went there? Well, that would be a suicide mission.
But it’s getting worse. An aid worker who gathers evidence for me is missing.
It’s just a lot, so this bit of good news reminds me there’s happiness in the world worth fighting for. ”
“You let us know if you need help.”
“I will,” Helena told him. “Ariana is helping through the UN as much as she can. Okay, enough about this. Go get yourself engaged. I never had a brother before. Might be nice. You’ll beat up douchebag finance guys, right?”
“Anytime,” Knox said with a smile before hugging her one more time. “Annaleigh is waiting for you. Just go straight across the hall and a staff member will let you out at a staff exit. We’ll see you in Keeneston soon.”
Helena opened the door and then darted across the hall.
Knox looked down at the little blue bag and smiled.
He had to sneak just one peek. He reached in and took out the box.
When he opened it, a little light shone down on the engagement ring, sending out rainbows from the brilliant diamond. It was perfect.
Quinn couldn’t stop talking about the game on the drive to Keeneston. Most of the players had been driven by Keeneston High Schoolers, very eager Belles, Pam, and some of the moms from the PTA. But Knox had insisted on driving with Quinn.
“This was so nice of Mo to do. What will he do if you win it all?” Quinn asked as they drove the country roads.
Knox chuckled at the thought. “I’m not sure. I think my mom would faint though. But my dad is a big believer in celebrating the big wins. So, tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow we relax. And then we dive in harder than ever.”
Knox pulled into his driveway and Quinn frowned. “Aren’t we going to Mo’s?”
“We are. I just wanted a moment to decompress with you before we head over. I think Maeve’s rubbing off on me.”
Quinn smiled at that as Knox parked. “You should have heard her talking about Zack in the suite. I’m worried that the party might be too much stimulation, though.”
“Well, I dropped the bread crumbs and Zack is following them. If I know him, he’ll find a way to make her comfortable, yet feel as if she’s involved with the party.”
The night was perfect. The stars were shining, the moon was only a small sliver, so it was quite dark outside. “I know it’s cold, but can we sit by the fire pit for a moment before we head to the party?” Knox asked her.
“Sure. I’ll just grab a blanket and we can snuggle.”
Quinn couldn’t be more perfect. Knox looked outside and made sure all the lights were off.
He held the door open for her and Quinn stepped onto the back patio.
Knox pressed a button and not only the main firepit, but four smaller ones surrounding the area came to life.
Fairy lights lit up overhead and flowers overflowed their large standing vases in between the firepits.
Quinn gasped turning slowly to take it all in. When she turned to him, Knox was already on one knee. Quinn dropped the blanket, her hands going to her mouth in surprise.
“Quinn Kennedy, I have loved you for years. Your intelligence, kindness, and determination are what first drew me to you. But is nothing compared to how deeply you love. I can’t wait to be the man always by your side, cheering you on.
I’m so proud of you and love you with all my heart.
Quinn, will you let me be your biggest cheerleader, your lover, and your husband? Will you marry me?”
Quinn was already nodding. “Yes! I love you so much, Knox.”
Knox’s fingers were shaking as he took the ring from the box and slid it on her finger. He didn’t know how he was going to wait to call her his wife, but it was such an honor to call her his.
Quinn threw her arms around his neck the second he finished putting her ring on. Knox stumbled back, landing on his back with Quinn on his chest. They were laughing as they kissed, and then the laughter faded as their kissing was only the beginning.
Quinn couldn’t stop staring at her ring as they arrived at the party almost two hours late. However, it didn’t appear that anyone noticed. They could hear the music from the driveway as one of the Rahmi guards took their car to park in a nearby pasture.
Quinn laced her fingers with her fiancé’s. She couldn’t stop saying that word to herself, yet that wasn’t the word she really wanted to call him. “When do you want to get married?” Quinn asked as they walked down the hall and up to the stairs leading to the giant ballroom.
“As soon as possible,” Knox told her with a smile that left her heart swooning.
Yet it caused her to frown as she thought about it. “I guess it’ll need to be a large wedding with the town and the team. I just need Juniper, Helena, Elisha, and Chantel.”
Knox stopped in the middle of the wide staircase. “Do you want to get married soon or do you want to plan a big wedding? Don’t tell me what you think I want. Just tell me what you want.”
“I want a big wedding, but I want it now. It’s like we waited years to get together and I’m done waiting. Which is silly since we’re living together and practically married now.”
Knox leaned down and kissed her. “Your wish is my command. Plus, I can’t wait to call you my wife.”
Quinn was still smiling when the loud country music stopped as soon as they reached the doors and the wedding march began. Everyone turned to them and began to cheer. “How did—?” Quinn didn’t get to finish her question when Helena shot from the crowd and tackled her with a hug. “Hel!”
“You’re getting married!” Helena screamed as they were locked in their hug. People began to congratulate them.
“And my maid of honor better give me all the dates she’s free.”
Helena smirked. “You bet your fine ass I’m your maid of honor.”
Taylor couldn’t stay away any longer and she joined them. “Another daughter! I am so happy,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“Want something else to make you happy?” Knox asked his mother as his father gave Quinn a hug. “We want to get married as soon as possible.”
His mother shrieked—not with anger, but with joy—as his father, Holt, and Annaleigh joined them to offer their congratulations.
“No problem! The faster you’re married the faster one of you will make me a grandmother.
” Taylor looked around and then her eyes locked on a group of women.
“Ladies! Activate the Keeneston Wedding Tree!” Marcy Davies’s head snapped up and she immediately pulled out her phone.
Miss Lily pulled a thick binder from her purse, and Miss Daisy was already calling Father Ben over to see when the church was available.
Miss Violet was too busy with Jaylen’s head in her bosom as she hugged him and congratulated him on his relationship with Elisha.
Before Quinn could even ask, they were all around her and Knox. “How’s the weekend after the championship?” Marcy asked.
Knox looked to Quinn who just shook her head in disbelief. “That’s just three weeks away.”
“Plenty of time,” Taylor reassured her.
“Hel?” Quinn asked her best friend.
Helena pulled out her phone and nodded. “Yeah, I can do that. I can come in for the game and just stay. That way we can have a bachelorette party.”
“I can help plan everything,” Maeve said, stepping forward from where she and Zack had been talking in a nearby alcove.
Quinn felt excitement begin to bubble up inside. Could they really pull it off? Everyone around her seemed to think they could. She looked to Knox to see what he thought. He knew instantly she was seeing what he thought. “I’d marry you tonight, Q. But I guess I can wait three weeks.”
“A championship and a wedding!” Zack called out and his team responded. Quinn found herself wrapped up in a bear hug by Zack as Maeve smiled at him. Elisha and Chantel were next up to grab her for hugs.
The music picked up again and Knox slid his hand into hers. “Excuse me ladies, I’d like to steal my fiancée away for a dance.”
“Is this real?” Quinn asked as Knox wrapped his arms around her and began to move with the music.
“It is and I can’t wait to see what else we do together.” Knox stopped dancing and kissed her. Quinn didn’t know how the night could be any more perfect.