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“I have a surprise,” he says, meeting me at the front of the truck.

“Surprise? Don't you think I’ve had enough surprises so far this year?” I ask him, my hand moving automatically to the small scar on my neck, the reminder of what I’ve endured.

It’s been a few months, and we’re doing well. I had to give a lot of police interviews, I’m going to therapy regularly, and I’ve been meditating and doing yoga daily. I still love it, and I now know that yoga is the thing I want to concentrate on, along with our herbal teas. My parents and I have spent a lot of time together, here in Whispers, thanks to Connor, who constantly flies them or me anywhere we want to go as we process and talk through everything. It took a while, but my dad is still my dad, whether or not we share the same blood type.

My bio dad is in jail. He had a slew of charges laid against him and not any interest in hiring any legal representation. He remained tight-lipped, not confirming or denying any of the allegations, so it was an open-and-shut case. The media hasn’t been as simple. Due to Connor’s name and our connection, we have had to increase both our security and our PR team. But I thank God for this town called Whispers. They say it’s a town where the billionaires come to hide, but it’s also the perfect hiding spot for me. The townsfolk keep our secrets. They’re often the first to spot a paparazzi or an outsider, and the calls we get to inform us are sometimes hilarious, but I know they all care. It has all started to die down a little now. Life is feeling more and more normal.

“This is a good one. I promise.” He grabs my hand and leads me down the sidewalk and we stop outside the old florist shop. Newspapers still cover the windows.

“Connor?” I ask him, confused.

“Daisy, welcome to Yoga by Daisy. Your own yoga studio. I know you love it, and I know the people in town will love it too. I want you to have something of your own, and working at the distillery full-time isn’t it. So, this is all yours…” he says as he opens the door and pulls me inside, where I spot Sawyer standing there with paperwork and a box in his hand. Excitement swirls in my belly, but I feel frozen in place for a second.

“What?” Looking at him before I look around the space, I’m thoroughly shocked. It needs a total fit-out, but it’s huge, with rooms out the back, and from memory, I’m pretty sure the garden is amazing too.

“I’m signing this place over to you. This is entirely yours. Not a penny of it goes to the distillery or to me. This is your baby. Make your teas, do your yoga, grow an herb garden. Whatever you want to do, baby girl.” He grabs the keys and paperwork and the box from Sawyer, leaving me staring wide-eyed, making Sawyer grin.

“Enjoy, you two,” he says with a chuckle as he starts to walk out.

“Thanks, Sawyer. Where are you off to?” Connor asks him.

“I’ve got to go see Victoria’s goat milk soap partner,” he says before looking at his cell to confirm her details. “Annabelle something or other.”

“Sounds like you’re becoming the town’s lawyer?” Connor teases him, and I grin, knowing that Connor and his dad want Sawyer to take over the law firm here in Whispers when Jerry, the current local lawyer, retires.

“Not in your lifetime,” Sawyer says quickly, but I look at Connor, who just smirks. He’s told me that Annabelle and her sons are a handful, so they’ll give Sawyer the runaround this afternoon.

“That city boy doesn’t know what’s about to hit him,” Connor says to me as Sawyer exits the shop, leaving the two of us alone.

“So what do you think?” he asks me as he glances around, smiling.

“I think it’s too much,” I tell him, not sure how to feel other than overwhelmed and loved.

“You lost your sparkle for a while, baby girl, but with each day, I see it coming back. The distillery is my baby, and I get so much joy from it and I know you do too. But you’re too brilliant to live in anyone’s shadow. You need to sparkle bright like a diamond yourself. So I bought this property for you to enjoy, however you please. Your name is on the title. I want you to do whatever it is that’ll bring you joy. I may still get you to consult for the distillery from time to time, though, because your brain is one of the many things I love about you.”

My heart swells at the pride in his voice. “Thank you. For everything. You’re amazing, you know that?” I tell him, grinning, the reality of all this not sinking in.

“Let’s look around.” He grabs my hand and we walk out the back, where there’s plenty of room for my tea supplies and, as I remembered, a great garden where I can plant some herbs.

“Oh look, daisies!” I say with a little hop. My namesake flowers are now almost everywhere we go in Whispers, always bringing a smile to my face. I walk over to the large bush, seeing it full of flowers that bring me so much happiness. When I turn to look at Connor, he isn’t there.

“Connor?” I ask, turning around fully, and there he is. Down on a bended knee, holding a box the size of a football, one way too big to be what you need to be on bended knee for.

“Daisy…” he says, clearing his throat, acting nervous.

“What? What’s going on?” I ask, glancing around as I step back toward him, and he takes my hand.

“Daisy, I knew the moment we met that you were special. The only woman to ever talk back to me, push me, challenge me. The only woman I’ve ever met who’s the most beautiful, caring, genuine, funny, intelligent, sarcastic, and amazing person, one I’m so grateful to have in my life.”

A lone tear falls as I try to breathe, the simple requirement harder and harder with every word he speaks.

“So Daisy, my baby girl. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?” he asks before he spins around the box, and I almost faint.

“What?” I gasp in total disbelief.

“I have looked for the biggest diamond I could find that I felt was representative of the love and commitment I have for you. The ones that go on your finger were not big enough, although I got you one of those too,” he explains as my widened gaze falls from his face to the box and back again.

It is a black velvet box, with a clear glass front and inside is a crystal that looks similar to a clear quartz.

“Is that a…” I start to ask tentatively, because I think I’m having a heart attack.

“A raw diamond. A gemstone that represents steadfast love. This is the world’s biggest that will sit in the heart chakra of our new home. I wanted to get you something that represented you, us, and the life we’re going to build together.” Then he pulls out another black velvet box, one that fits in his palm. “This one will go on your finger,” he says quickly, showcasing a magnificent solitaire that sparkles brightly in the sun.

“What do you say, Daise? Will you marry me?” he asks, and it’s then I realize I haven't answered him, too shocked at seeing a raw diamond in real life.

Through tear-filled eyes, I smile, nodding eagerly. “Yes, Connor, in a thousand lifetimes, my answer will always be yes,” I tell him before he stands, holding me tight and kissing me just like the first time.

Only this time, our chakras are perfectly aligned