I stop dead in my tracks, my heart lodging itself firmly in my throat. “What is this?”
He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he turns to face me fully, his dark eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that steals my breath. “Come here,” he says, holding out his hand.
I take a hesitant step forward, then another, until I’m standing right in front of him. His hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin, and I lean into his touch instinctively.
“I’ve been working on something,” he says, nodding toward the telescope. “Thought you might want to see.”
Curiosity bubbles up, and I let him guide me to the telescope. He adjusts the lens, his movements deft and sure, before stepping back. “Take a look.”
I crouch down, pressing my eye to the lens. At first, all I see is a cluster of stars, their light sharp and brilliant. But then I notice the shape—delicate, intricate, and unmistakable. It’s a constellation, one I’ve never seen before.
“Ridge,” I breathe, my voice barely a whisper. “What is this?”
“It’s yours,” he says simply. “I mapped it out. Named it after you.”
My heart stutters, and I pull back to look at him. “You… you named a constellation after me?”
He shrugs, but there’s nothing casual about the way his eyes search mine. “You deserved something permanent. Something that’ll outlast both of us.”
I’m not a crier. I’m not. But damn it, the tears are right there, threatening to spill. “Ridge, I?—”
“Wait,” he interrupts, taking my hands in his. His palms are rough, calloused, but his touch is so gentle it undoes me completely. He takes a deep breath, like he’s bracing himself for something monumental.
Then he drops to one knee.
Oh. My. God.
“Quinn Stevens,” he begins, his voice steady but thick with emotion, “you walked into my life like a damn hurricane. I didn’t see you coming, and I sure as hell didn’t think I needed you. But now? Now I can’t imagine a single day without you in it.”
I press a trembling hand to my mouth, trying—and failing—to keep it together.
“You’re brilliant, stubborn, and way too good for me,” he continues, his lips quirking into the faintest smile. “But if you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that I’m good enough for you. I’ll protect you, laugh with you, and probably drive you insane with my grumpiness. But most of all, I’ll love you. Always.”
He pulls a small box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a ring. It’s simple, elegant, and utterly perfect—just like him.
“Quinn, will you marry me?”
The tears spill over now, hot and unrelenting. I nod, unable to speak, and then force the words past the lump in my throat. “Yes,” I whisper. “Yes, Ridge, I’ll marry you.”
His smile is blinding as he slides the ring onto my finger, and then he’s standing, pulling me into his arms and kissing me like his life depends on it. His lips are firm, demanding, and I givemyself over to him completely, my fingers tangling in his hair as I press closer.
When we finally break apart, both of us breathless, I can’t help but laugh. “You named a constellation after me,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief.
“I told you,” he says, his tone teasing but warm. “You’re my whole universe, Quinn.”
And in that moment, beneath the stars that bear my name, I know I’ve found my forever.
Epilogue
Ridge–one month later
The cabin buzzes with the low hum of laughter and conversation, the smell of pine and warm cider mingling in the crisp mountain air. The ceremony was exactly how I wanted it—quiet, intimate, and set against the backdrop of Devil’s Peak, where Quinn and I found each other in every way that mattered. Now, as the sun sets behind the mountains, the clearing outside my cabin is transformed into a glowing celebration.
“Ridge Warner, officially off the market.” Zane claps me on the back, grinning like he’s just won the lottery. “Never thought I’d see the day. Hell, I thought you’d marry your telescope before you found a woman who could put up with you.”
“Careful,” I warn, grabbing a beer from the table. “Keep talking, and you’ll be in charge of cleaning up.”
Zane smirks. “Worth it.”
