"Wait here." He said extricated himself from their embrace. "I need to get something."
Britt watched, curiosity piqued, as he disappeared down the hallway toward their bedroom. The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of adjustments—returning to the house, settling intoa rhythm as a family, reassuring Paloma that yes, Britt was indeed her mother, and yes, she was staying for good.
The decision to leave Quattro behind had been surprisingly easy in the end. Alejandro, Miquel, and Corey had accepted her decision with grace, understanding that her priorities had shifted. Hunter had insisted on moving to St. Felipe to be there for her, despite Lachlan’s protests. Luckily, the rest of the Stingray team were open to bringing Hunter into the fold, which Britt appreciated. She wanted him to find a new purpose in life away from Quattro.
Lachlan returned, something clutched in his palm. He sat beside her on the couch, a nervous energy radiating from him that she hadn't seen in years.
"I've been waiting for the right moment," he began, his voice uncharacteristically hesitant. "Which is ridiculous because I've had this for five years now."
Her heart stuttered as she realized what this might be.
He opened his palm, revealing a small velvet box, worn slightly at the edges—evidence of how many times it had been handled over the years.
He didn’t have to open the box for her to picture the ring inside. It was the same one he’d held in front of her the first, second, and third time he’d tried to make her his wife.
"I kept it all this time," Lachlan continued, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that took her breath away. "I thought someday I might give it to the man who wanted to marry our daughter." A self-deprecating smile curved his lips. "Never imagined I'd be trying once again to propose to you."
Britt's throat tightened as emotion threatened to overwhelm her. "Lachlan ..."
"I'm a bit fearful, to be honest," he admitted, his thumb rubbing over the velvet box. "You've turned me down quite a few times before."
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I have, haven't I?"
"Not giving me any hints this time?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You'll have to ask to find out," she replied, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Lachlan took a deep breath, then opened the box. Nestled inside was a platinum ring with an emerald-cut diamond, flanked by smaller sapphires that caught the light streaming through the windows. Simple yet stunning—exactly her taste.
He slid from the couch to one knee, taking her hand in his. "Britt," he said, his voice steadier now, resonating with certainty. "I've loved you from the first moment I met you. I've loved you through years of believing you were gone forever. And I love you now, even more, knowing everything we've survived to be here together."
Tears welled in her eyes as he continued.
"You are the strongest, most stubborn, most incredible woman I've ever known. We've faced cartels, crazed PISCOs, amnesia, and even death—and somehow found our way back to each other." His fingers tightened around hers. "I don't want to waste another moment. Marry me. Be my wife. Let's give Paloma the family she deserves, the one we've always wanted."
Britt felt a tear slip down her cheek as she gazed at the man before her—this beautiful, loyal, fierce protector who had never given up on her, even when she had given up on herself.
"I'd be stupid to say no again, wouldn't I?" she asked, a watery laugh escaping her lips.
"Incredibly stupid," he agreed, a grin breaking across his face.
"Then yes," Britt whispered, then louder, "Yes, Lachlan. I'll marry you."
He slipped the ring onto her finger—a perfect fit, like it had been waiting all these years just for this moment. Surging upward, he captured her lips in a kiss that made her dizzy.
"Took you long enough," he murmured, those amber eyes dancing with joy.
"Oh, shut up!" She laughed, then kissed him again.
The sound of splashing from outside reminded them they weren't alone. Lachlan pulled back, still holding her hands in his.
"Should we tell her now?" he asked, nodding toward the pool.
Britt's smile widened. "Absolutely."
Hand in hand, they walked out onto the veranda. The afternoon sun bathed the scene in golden light, glinting off the water where Paloma and her friends played. The infinity pool seemed to merge with the Caribbean Sea beyond, creating a vista of endless blue stretching to the horizon.
"Paloma," Lachlan called, his voice carrying across the water. "Come here, hen. We have something to tell you."
