“Of course you can. This will make for a great experiment when you’re ready to shop a book.”

“Cool.”

“Does anyone else have questions?”

Students shook their heads and started packing up. She had to remember she didn’t necessarily dismiss them. Apparently students had an internal clock for when a class was dying down.

“Great, when we meet again, we’re going to look at real cover letter examples,” Antonia said loudly over the shuffle of papers.

As they filtered out of the room, some running to their next class, Antonia exhaled and sat down at her desk. As she sank into her chair, she rested her head against the old wooden surface. She had an actual first day under her belt.

“Has the herd finished stampeding?” asked a masculine voice from the doorway.

Antonia’s head shot up. Aiden leaned against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets. The late afternoon sun shone on the planes of his face, brightening his green eyes. He wore a pleasant smile as he gazed at her. “Hey.”

“How was your first day, my love?”

“Have you ever had a student named Abby Connors?”

Aiden gave a throaty laugh. “Oh Jaysus, you’re in for a hell of a semester.” He entered the room and sat in one of the student chairs. “She’s a brilliant student; just a little...intense.”

“Overall, I think it went really well,” she said. “I can’t wait to get home, though.”

“Ah yes, but before we go home, we have to talk.” He looked a little silly sitting in the small desk, but he wore a serious expression on his face. “I have to ask you something.”

Antonia frowned in confusion. After living with him for a year, he still had tricks up his sleeve. Moving her life to Ireland had its challenges, but living with him was easier than she thought it would be. She fit into his life without losing herself. She enjoyed waking up next to him and having breakfast together, before taking off by herself to walk along the banks of the River Corrib. Her quiet time was usually spent near the Spanish Arch, people watching and writing notes for her next novel. With Aiden, she finally had the freedom to create and the love she needed. She already felt like she was the luckiest woman in the world.

That was until he reached into his pocket.

“Aiden,” she breathed.

“Just so you know, my mother is on her way from Limerick. She’s already angry that I’m doing this without an audience.”

Antonia rigidly held her tears in check as she watched him pull out a small box. He stood up from his seat and walked to the front of her desk. “Oh my god...” Her voice sounded distant to her own ears.

He opened the box, displaying a gold Claddagh ring with a diamond set between two hands. “Professor Harper,” he started in a calm voice. “Will you roll the old chariot with me?”

Antonia froze, then a cry of relief broke from her lips. “Yes,” she whispered.