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“What an ugly web of lies.”
“I’m done with that and I only want the truth from now and forever. Look, Juniper.” He gathered her hands in his. “I know I haven’t done everything right and I haven’t said the right things all the time, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my father and you in a very short time, it is that love is a gift. And we create our own magic, our own moments and that is what I am doing today.” He leaned in closer. “I meant what I said our first time on the plane. I claimed you. You’re mine. And I’m yours.”
Marshall took a knee and she stared into his eyes, unable to blink. The air in her lungs froze, and her face rushed with heat. Goosebumps flushed from head to toe, and ocean wind kicked up and sent a flurry of cool, salty air to dance along the fringes of her dress.
“Marshall,” she said shakily.
He silently pulled a deep blue velvet box from his pant pocket and the lid creaked as he opened the lid. Everything played in slow motion.
She gasped and with shaking hands took the ring box. Her gaze darted between the ring and Marshall’s hopeful gaze. “How did you know about the ring?”
She’d designed it herself and had tucked it away in her planner. He didn’t have time to pull off getting this made. Did he? Obviously somehow he had.
“Remember the day at the café? The day you dropped your planner? I didn’t know how important it would come to be, but I pocketed the sheet of paper that dropped out, thinking it would be a nice gesture to surprise you with. I didn’t realize at the time how much that sketch would come to mean.”
He took her left hand and pressed his forehead to the back of her knuckles, obviously gathering his thoughts.
He pulled away to hold her gaze with his. “Juniper, I don’t want anything fake or make-believe with you. I want the real you, the real us, and a real forever. I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone. Will you please do me the honor of marrying me? I know this is not anything close to what you had planned or the pictures in your planners, but I promise to make every day of the rest of our lives like a fairy tale if you only say yes.”
“Marshall,” she pulled him to stand by her, “you are my fairy tale, from the first day I met you. You’re proof wishes do come true.”
The hope that stared back at her mirrored the same soul-deep feelings that fluttered inside. His smile blurred behind her teary eyes.
“Shh…don’t cry, sweetheart. You tear out my heart when you’re sad.”
He caressed her cheek with a thumb.
“I’m not sad, Marshall. I’m so happy I can’t contain it.”
She fell into his arms as he swooped and twirled her around. Her grip tightened, and she knew everything would be okay.
He slowed and planted her on the wooden planks of the gazebo. “Was that a yes, darlin’? Please tell me that was a yes.”
“Yes. Yes, Marshall Blackwood, I’ll marry you. But wait a minute.”
He paused, her hand in his. “What is it?”
“What about our businesses? I’m here, you’re there. Long-distance marriages fail from the start. I don’t want that.”
“Good. Nor do I. I’ve always wanted to move closer to the beach. With a few vacations back to Houston a couple of times a year to see the family. Now that I’m not tied down to board meetings, I can do anything BlackCo may need of me via the internet. I am part of the company and I’ll work as a consultant. What would you say to that? Think we can share an office for a while?”
A naughty smile pulled across her face. “I know what happens when we share office space.”
“My plans all along.”
She laughed until every cell and drop of blood in her body vibrated with happiness and love. “I’d say it sounds perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
He took her hand in his and gently slipped the white gold band with a large oval sapphire rimmed with diamonds over her finger and a band fitted firmly around her heart that very second.
He cupped her face until all she could see was him. “Sweetheart, there’s no pressure, I know there’s no wedding cake, no dress, and no fancy resort with blue-tipped roses, but I can’t wait another minute without you as my bride.”
A beach wedding to her cowboy. “I can’t think of anything more magical.”
He leaned back and cupped his hands over his mouth. “She said yes, everybody. You can come out now.”
“Dad, Mom.” Wrapped in Marshall’s arms she smiled, surprised as her entire family stepped out from the trees. People from the community huddled around them and hugs came in from left and right.
“Dad, thank you,” she whispered in his ear. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
