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Harper had her bags packed, had straightened up the B&B as much as possible, and still there was no sign of Knox. It was either book another week or check out. Celeste Hargrave had been nothing but generous throughout Harper’s ordeal, but she couldn’t be rude and push the limit just because her heart was breaking.

It had been two days since she’d last seen Knox. She’d filled her time with virtual strategy meetings and resetting the priorities on her project list. Anything not to think of him or wonder if he was thinking about her.

Loads of events had been impacted by the fire Landon had set. Every change and adjustment, every phone call with a disappointed guest, made her want to kick him.

It wasn’t like her. Landon was in custody and he wouldn’t be out anytime soon.

Harper couldn’t lie to herself. Her edgy mood was as much about Knox as Landon. She missed him. Missed his presence, not just in bed, but everywhere. She missed seeing him, chatting with him after a phone call. Missed his smile when he handed her a cup of coffee. Missed the scent of his skin and the warmth of his touch.

He said he’d come by and she believed him. At least she thought she did.

There was no way Knox had moved on to the next job without talking to her. No way.

He was hung up on something. Probably his parents. If he would just come talk to her, she could tell him how much she didn’t care. He wasn’t anything like them and she had no worries that he would drift away from the man he’d become, a person of good character and integrity.

Maybe she should go to him. Except she didn’t know where to find him.

She had to shake off the melancholy. She wasn’t alone here. Her friends had come through for her. Lila had taken her down to the beach for a walk, and the two of them had met up with Trina, Molly, and Nina for another trivia night at the Pelican Pub.

Although she hadn’t requested a courtesy car or gone by the resort, thanks to her assistant’s video tour she understood the scope of the damage to the resort and her suite in particular. A few photos and heirlooms were destroyed, but it could’ve been much worse.

Her phone chimed with a text from Celeste, confirming Harper was indeed leaving today.

She understood how desperately the three sisters who owned the B&B wanted to get back on schedule. She needed to get back to the resort too. It wasn’t as if Knox didn’t know how to find her when he could make the time.

Maybe a full report on a case like hers did take forty-eight hours. But after everything that had happened, she worried he’d jumped into another case leaving her to wonder about his safety. To question if there was anything left of a relationship for them to salvage.

She glanced at her phone, managing to drop it into her purse rather than call Jess. That wasn’t the way she would go about things. She and Knox needed to work this out on their own.

“He knows where to find me,” she muttered to herself. Although she thought maybe it would do him some good if he had to work to find her. Maybe she needed to be more of a mystery to him.

He couldn’t seem to resist those.

Irritated with her bleak mood, she headed downstairs. Passing the table with the collection of postcards, she considered writing a note for Knox. Something that Celeste could give him if he showed up.

That would hardly be the mysterious move, but she was done waiting around for him to notice how much he loved her. They were going to sort this out now, not waste more time they could be spending together. She was searching for a pen, when a flash of movement caught her eye.

“Knox!” She flew across the courtyard. “You’re here.” Her knees nearly buckled with relief. “How are you feeling? Are you okay?”

“Never better.” A ghost of a smile crossed his face. “You’re feeling all right?” He reached out, his thumb feathering over a bruise on her jaw.

Everything was fine now that he was here. “Yes, thanks to you.”

“Harper—” He took a step away from her and glanced over his shoulder. There were shadows in his eyes. He was about to tell her goodbye.

Not a chance. Something almost violent rose up within her. She would fight for a future he might be tempted to avoid. Nothing in his past scared her. Nothing in his present either.

He was staying this time. Twice he had crossed paths with her and disappeared. She wasn’t about to give him an easy out this time.

She would not let him slip out of her reach again.

She might be safe, thanks to him. That didn’t mean she wanted to be alone. “Do not take one more step,” she snapped, not caring how mean she sounded.

“What?”

She laced her fingers through his. “You’re staying. You love me. End of story.”

“Is that so?”

“It is. I’m not budging on that. We are better together. We belong together. You know it as well as I do.”

“My job?—”

She cut him off again. “Is important, and I support it completely. I support you one hundred percent. Always.”

“Always, huh?” He pulled one hand free and touched her lightly between her eyebrows. “You’ve got that fierce and determined frown.”

She would probably have a lifetime of wrinkles starting right now because of Knox. But he was worth it. There were ways to mitigate wrinkles. But there was no answer for her life, no true happiness, if he wasn’t in it.

“My heart is yours,” she said. “I love you, Knox. It’s been that way for more than half my life.”

“And what if settling down isn’t what I want?”

She snorted. “Since when are you a big chicken? If you walk away from me right now, it’s just fear. And I think we’ve proven that together we’re stronger than fear.”

She waited, not quite sure how to interpret the spark in his gaze. Maybe she was overplaying her hand, but if she backed down after this outburst, she would be the coward. They were both better than that. They both deserved more than that.

“I love you. And I know you love me too,” she insisted. She didn’t even mind that she was begging. This was her whole life right here in this moment. He was everything. The family she longed for, the kids they might share, the ups and downs of a full life.

“Whatever is going through your mind, it would be great if you shared.”

“Are you actually going to let me get a word in edgewise?”

She caught herself and clamped her mouth shut, nodding.

He laughed, just a quick bark of humor, then he cradled her face between his palms. “I love you.” His lips brushed over hers. “You’re right.”

“Then where were you going?”

“I only wanted to sit down by the water.” He kissed her again. “I was going to sit out there and pull you on my lap and figure out the next steps.”

“Oh.” She liked the sound of that.

This time his laughter boomed, carrying on the breeze. He shifted, quick as lightning, and suddenly she was in his arms, and they were moving away from the house and down toward the private cove.

She looped her arms around his neck. “You weren’t leaving me?”

“No. Not even before you started issuing orders.”

“You like it when I’m bossy.”

“There might be a time and place for it,” he teased. “I wanted you out here, in one of your favorite places, when I asked you to marry me.”

“Was that the proposal? It sounded too hypothetical to be real.”

He lowered her to her feet but kept his hands at her waist. His strong touch was the only thing keeping her steady.

“Harper Ellington, will you make me the happiest man in the world and let me love you for the rest of our days? Will you be my wife?”

He dropped to one knee and lifted a gleaming diamond ring up to her. Thanks to her mother and her aunts, she knew her jewelry and could guess the value.

“You had that in your pocket?” Of all the reckless things he had done, this might be the worst.

“What? Suddenly you’re a princess who won’t take the ring if it doesn’t come in a Tiffany’s box?”

“I am not spoiled.” She shoved his shoulders, and they both laughed, giving in to the absurdity of it all. Of each other. Of being overwhelmed by a love that had been brewing for years.

“Sweetheart, I know you’re not spoiled. I’ve seen you in action. Giving at every opportunity, standing up when people need your help. I’ve seen you and your amazing courage long before this crisis. You’re one of the strongest women I know.

“That’s why I took the time to get this ring. And I had to call in a favor to get it shined up for you. This ring belonged to my grandmother. As screwed up as my parents are, my grandparents were solid. She gave this to me ages ago when I was too young to really appreciate what it meant. Then I met you, fell in love with you, and realized exactly how lucky my grandparents were. They were a team and they built things for their family, for their communities. Just like you do. I will forever be grateful that they didn’t live to see my dad take such a wrong turn in business.” He shook his head. “My point, Harper, is this ring represents what I want for the future. With you. I want to spend my life on your team.”

“Together?”

“Damn straight. And stronger for it.”

She couldn’t label this the most classically romantic proposal of all time. But it was absolutely the most perfect proposal from the man she loved with all her heart.

She let him slide the ring onto her finger. The gorgeous diamond was polished to a blinding glow and set in lustrous platinum. A setting that would hold up to a lifetime of love and work and play. She didn’t even bother asking how he knew her size. The man was allowed to have a few secrets.

But only a few from this point on.

She jumped up into his arms, knowing he’d catch her. “I love you, Knox Moore. For today and always.”

She had no idea how long they kissed, standing there in the sand with the ocean rolling persistently behind them. She felt it was the perfect music to go with this moment. The everlasting drumming of the water echoing the forever feelings beating in her heart.

* * *

Thanks for reading Harper and Knox’s story!

Turn the page for a special bonus epilogue from Brookwell!