Page 80

I nod toward the horizon, where the sun has just touched the water, igniting the sky in spectacular colors that reflect across the gentle waves. Harper turns in my arms to watch, her back against my chest as I hold her close.
“It’s beautiful,” she says softly. “Worth every debate about the yacht’s fuel efficiency.”
“I thought you might appreciate it,” I reply, my heart is racing. The small box in my pocket seems to pulse, the moment I’ve been planning for weeks is here.
“Harper,” I begin, my mouth suddenly dry. “Do you remember our first night on the cruise? When you asked what I was doing on the deck so late, and I told you I was hiding from matchmaking passengers?”
She laughs at the memory. “And I accused you of using strategic misdirection to avoid discussing environmental commitments.”
“You weren’t wrong,” I admit. “Though what I didn’t tell you was that I was also thinking about my grandfather. It was his birthday, and I was remembering how he loved watching the sunset from the deck of this yacht.”
She turns slightly, sensing the shift in my tone. “You never mentioned that.”
“We weren’t sharing personal histories at that point,” I remind her with a small smile. “You had just thrown champagne at me the day before.”
“True,” she acknowledges.
“It was the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” I say. “Because it started us on this journey.”
Something in my expression must change, because her eyes widen. “Ethan...”
I take a deep breath, turning her to face me as the sun continues its descent into the sea. “My grandfather built Cole Tech from nothing, created something that outlived him. But his true legacy wasn’t the company—it was teaching me to value what truly matters. The ocean he loved. The family connections he valued so much. The principle that a man’s character matters more than his success.”
Harper watches me.
“When I met you,” I continue, “I was running the company he built but had lost sight of some of his more important life lessons. You reminded me—forcefully, with excellent champagne aim—that success without them is hollow. That compromise isn’t the same as balance.”
“Ethan,” she says softly, but I shake my head.
“Let me finish while I still have my words in order,” I request with a nervous laugh. “Because what I’m trying to say is that loving you has made me not just a better CEO, but a better man.You challenge me, inspire me, frustrate me in the best ways possible. You’ve shown me I can have it all.”
I take her hands in mine, heart pounding so hard I’m certain she can hear it over the sound of the waves.
“I know we’ve joked about it,” I say, my voice growing more serious. “But I don’t need more.”
Her eyes grow bright as I reach into my pocket and drop to one knee on the polished deck of my grandfather’s yacht.
“Harper Bennett,” I say, opening the small box to reveal a ring with a center stone surrounded by smaller gems in a pattern that mimics waves. “Will you marry me?”
For perhaps the first time since I’ve known her, Harper seems speechless, her eyes bright with unshed tears.
“I have several questions about the sourcing of these gemstones,” she says, voice wavering.
I laugh, relief and joy bubbling through me at this perfectly Harper response. “Full certification documentation is available.”
“You expected my concerns,” she laughs, a smile breaking through her momentary shock.
“I’ve learned to factor them into all major decisions,” I confirm.
“That’s fighting dirty, Cole.”
“Is that a, yes?” I press, still on one knee, heart still racing.
“Yes,” she says, simple and direct in the way that is so essentially Harper. “Yes, I will marry you.”
“I love you,” I murmur against her lips.
“And I love you,” she replies, her voice more emotionally unguarded than I’ve ever heard it.