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“There’s something you don’t know about me, Daise…”

I swallow roughly, waiting, sensing the importance of the conversation in the air.

“What’s that?” I ask, voice quiet.

“I’m selfish. And… And I don’t want you to leave.”

“What?” I ask tentatively, wondering if I heard him right, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.

“I want you to be with me, and I want you to stay here. In Whispers. With me.” He punctuates each sentence, ensuring there’s no confusion. Watching me carefully, he waits for my response, looking nervous. He clearly doesn’t understand how deeply I feel about him.

I wet my lips and take a breath before I say the only word that I know, down to my soul, is the right one.

“Yes,” I whisper. I don’t dare move; this bubble we’re in is so magical, I want to remember everything about this moment. The way he’s looking at me is how every woman wants their man to look at them. He’smyman, isn’t he?

“You want to stay in Whispers, or you want to stay with me?” he asks for clarity, eyes searching mine.

“With you. I love Whispers, and I…” I pause, my nerves calming, only solidifying my decision. Leaning in, I press my lips to his, then pull back and say, “And I love you.”

When his lips spread in a grin, my heart bursts wide open, and a big smile sweeps across my face.

“Oh, baby girl… I loved you the moment you told me to put my clothes back on. I’ve fallen completely and madly in love with you. Just being in your presence brings me so much peace and happiness. If I have you with me, then everything else just falls into place,” Connor says quickly, like he’s rushing to get all the words out, and I giggle at his excitement, the smile on my face one that can’t be wiped anytime soon, my eyes watering in both disbelief and an overwhelming sensation of pure love.

“My mom was right,” I tell him, thinking back to what my mother said to me months ago.

“How so?” Cupping my jaw, his thumb brushes against my cheek, wiping away a lone tear that’s fallen.

“She said that the universe will decide my life, and it went and put me right here in Whispers so I could find you.”

“Come here,” he growls, pulling my face to meet his once more. I grab him tight, and he holds my face like he never wants to let me go, kissing me breathless. We slowly pull away to look at each other.

“I love it here, and I meant what I said. I love you, Connor. You’ve changed my life. Glass house or no glass house, you’re an incredible man and I want to be with you. But…” With a steady inhale, I ask the question that’s been haunting me every time I think about staying. “But what would I do? I will need to work. Do something… I love what I do now, the work I did at my mom’s spa, and I don’t want to give up that part of me,” I say, but I’m smiling as I finish speaking, because he’s looking back at me with a shit-eating grin, clearly happy.

“I’ve been thinking about that too. How about you project manage the new accommodations? It entails managing all the same things as the spa. Suppliers, staff, booking systems… We’re breaking ground in a few weeks. You seem pretty good at managing new business units. I think you could also create that online yoga class you always wanted to do. Mix your teas and we can run them through our distribution channels to get you into retailers right around the country. Whatever your dreams are, let’s make them happen. You can do anything you want, Daisy. I just want you to do it here with me,” he says, and my body warms, heart full. He’s thought of everything.

“I’ve been daydreaming about that kind of thing for a long time,” I tell him, and his hold on me becomes firmer. This night has been perfect and is going to be ingrained in my mind for eternity.

“Those plans you saw today… of my house…” He takes a deep breath, and I look at him curiously. “I want them to be of our house.”

“What?” I ask, eyes wide as I still in his arms.

“That room you saw. You asked me what that room was on the plans. It’s a meditation and crystal room. Right in the middle of the house. In the heart chakra of what I hope to be our home. You told me the heart chakra is the center of our ability to love and be loved. So in our house, I want that room to be the heart of our home, one with all our crystals. A safe, quiet space for you to meditate, for me to meditate… maybe for us to meditate together… I know it’s a lot all at once. With you deciding to stay and starting a new job, us officially being together. I don’t want you to feel pressured, but I’m serious about us, and I need you to know that.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Connor Whiteman would be the last person to ever have a meditation room in his home. A place for crystals or anything like that. Yet here he is, wanting to talk about building a life together. A life that I never in a million years thought I’d ever get. A man who is kind, funny, generous, and handsome. A man who makes me feel like nothing else matters but the two of us. A man who flies me to see my parents at a moment’s notice because he knows that I miss them. I feel like a real-life Cinderella. I can’t help the tear that trails down my cheek, and he kisses it away.

“What do you say, baby girl? Want to build a future together?” he asks me, and I realize I haven’t responded yet. I want what he described more than anything. So, for the second time tonight, I say the words that feel right.

“Yes, Connor, let’s build a future. Here in Whispers. Together,” I tell him with a watery smile. And as he lowers his mouth to mine, we seal our fates, our chakras perfectly aligned.

40

DAISY

As I get out of the springs, my body feels good.

I wipe down quickly, having snuck out this morning while Connor was on his run. I probably should’ve told him, but all he does is worry when I come down here to the springs on my own. But I’m trying to practice my swimming, so I can surprise him with my skill when he offers to give me another lesson.

Throwing my clothes on over my wet swimwear, I walk up the path, taking in the silent surroundings and the beautiful landscape.