Stolen Kiss (The Turners of Copper Island #2)

Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jason

T wo hours later, Jason was in the kitchen of Archer and Erica’s cottage, reaching for the box at the back of the cupboard. While Heidi was getting a shower, he raced over to his brother and sister-in-law’s place and whipped up frosting and placed it on the cupcake. He peeled a lemon and curled it to sit onto the frosting. Satisfied with his work he hid it away. Archer and Erica knew what he was up to but no one else.

“Hey, what you doing in here. I know it’s a British thing to congregate in the kitchen but everyone is out there,” Keith said coming to his side.

Heidi came in as well as Archer and Erica. Archer gave him a grimace, it was only supposed to be Heidi.

“I just needed to grab something,” Jason said and looked down at the lone cupcake on the plate.

“Is this one of your creations?” Keith asked.

Jason was over the fucking moon that Keith had come for Christmas drinks but if touched the cupcake he would lose his shit.

“Can I have a taste?” Keith asked reaching for the edge of the icing with his finger.

“No, it’s for Heidi,” Jason said like a petulant child.

“Aww, did you make me a lemon cake?” Heidi said. “I wondered why you kept asking which flavour I wanted.

“Yeah,” Jason said and sighed.

He’s made a dozen different flavours hedging his bets on what she would go for. The rest were back in the kitchen. If she hadn’t confessed to her favourite flavour that afternoon he would’ve picked one and gone with it.

Keith’s finger was getting dangerously close.

“Back the fuck off, it’s for Heidi,” Jason hissed with no malice.

Keith let out a laugh and didn’t stop his trajectory.

“It’s all right, let Keith have it. I’m sure you can make another one.”

“No,” Jason snapped and pulled the plate away from Keith to his other side.

Archer and Erica we standing by Heidi on the other side of the island looking highly amused as Jason’s discomfort with Keith. Keith seemed to be alight with mischief.

“Thanks, Sis,” Keith said and attempted to reach in front of Jason.

“I said no,” Jason barked.

“Honestly, it’s just cake,” she said.

Jason pushed the cake to Heidi. “I made this for you.”

“That’s really sweet, Jason.” Then she turned to Keith. “We can go halves, how about that?”

“But I thought you like frosting,” Jason said on a whine.

“I do,” she said, an octave lower making a noise in the back of her throat that went straight to his dick.

Erica moved silently to the door to the outside area and closed it, leaning against it, giving Jason an encouraging look nodding to Heidi.

Jason turned back to the woman he loved beyond all measure and sighed. She was dragging her finger through the frosting and when she did, she hooked her finger into a ring. When she pulled it up, she looked at Jason and gasped.

Jason threw a glare at Keith who laughed and then rounded the island. Archer had joined his wife to guard the door and Keith moved the settle with his arse to the sink, his arms folded across his chest wearing a shit-eating grin.

He knew. If he wasn’t about to ask an important question, he’d call his friend out.

Jason stood in front of Heidi, who was smiling. He felt better that this was a good sign. Bending down on one knee, he took Heidi’s hand and looked up at her.

“Yes,” she said. “Put it on.”

“Heidi, I had a speech planned.”

“You can tell me later, when we’re alone.”

He instantly realised that she liked privacy in all things, no outward displays of affection, touching or words of love, unless they were behind closed doors. Now he felt like an ass.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I want you to be my wife so badly.”

“I’ll be your wife, Jason.”

Jason slid the ring on her finger wiping away most of the frosting. He wanted to take her finger into his mouth but was afraid he’d embarrass her in front of Keith, Archer and Erica.

Heidi twisted at the waist while Jason stood, waggling her ring at the others. Erica was sobbing into her hanky and Keith still had a grin on his face.

“You knew?” Jason asked.

“Yeah, dad told me. I had to be here for it. I need the closure. I hope you don’t mind.”

Jason looked to Heidi, but she was already on her way to give her brother a hug. Jason hugged his brother and Erica and then shook hands with Keith that ended up in a shoulder bump.

“Congratulations mate,” Keith said.

“Come on, there’s champagne outside cooling. Time we celebrated,” Erica said.

“We’ll be there in a minute,” Jason said looking at Heidi.

The door softly closed and Jason checked they had gone, then he led her into the darkened living room and kissed her softly.

“It was supposed to be me and you. I’m sorry you had an audience,” Jason said over her lips.

“If I was going to have witnesses, then those three were perfect but I want to hear your speech privately.”

“Okay,” Jason said and kissed her again.

He led her out the back door and to the waiting friends and family. Heidi’s parents were over in the corner already holding champagne flutes.

“We got engaged,” Heidi said and lifted her hand to show the ring.

“There is another ring, if you don’t like it,” Jason whispered into her ear.

“I don’t want another ring. I want this one.”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

Jason relaxed. She liked the ring, she’d said yes, and she’d told everyone they cared about.