“If it’s that Pink Floyd album, Drake and I looked everywhere before your birthday, and we couldn’t find it.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “That’s okay. I have a backup wish that’s just as good. You sure you’re ready?”
“Yes!” She fisted her hand around the quarter.
He gazed into her eyes with a serious expression. “My God you’re beautiful.”
Her stomach tumbled. She’d never tire of the intensity of his love. “You say that like you’re just seeing me for the first time.”
He slipped one hand to the nape of her neck, drawing her closer, and said, “That’s because you get more beautiful every time I see you.” He kissed her tenderly, warming her from the inside out. “I love you, sweetheart. Wish well.”
She faced the fountain with the quarter in one hand. Gavin took her other hand and said, “Okay, beautiful, close your eyes.”
GAVIN WATCHED HARPER close her eyes, just as he had the first time they’d cast their wishes into the fountain. She was smiling hard, her cheeks and the tip of her nose red with cold. He loved watching her throw her hopes out for the universe to hold dear, and he’d never tire of trying to catch those hopes and make all of her dreams come true.
He made a quick wish and tossed his quarter into the fountain at the same time she did.
She squealed when their quarters clinked against the concrete and turned gleefully toward him, bouncing on her toes in her fur-lined boots. “Did you make a wish?”
“I sure did.”
“Do you think it’ll come true again?”
“We’ll know soon enough.” He dropped to one knee, his heart thundering as he met her surprised eyes.
“Gavin? What are you doing?”
“Hoping my wish comes true.” He took her hand and said, “Harper, my love, from the very moment we met, I knew my life would never be the same. We both took a chance that night, and I didn’t think anything could beat those hours we spent together. But the past several months have shown me that not only do we belong together, we get better, closer, and fall deeper in love with every passing day. You are my best friend, my lover, and you are the magic in my dreams.”
Tears streaked her cheek. “Gavin…” she said breathlessly.
“I love you, Harp, and I want to be the man who makes you laugh, who loves you so completely, you never feel second best. I will be there for you to lean on, and I will be your biggest fan, celebrating your successes and helping you if you lose your way.”
He took the engagement ring he’d had made out of his pocket, holding it up for her to see it sparking in the moonlight. The pear-shaped pink diamond was set on a diamond-encrusted band, surrounded by tiny white diamonds.
Harper gasped, and her hand flew to her heart. She mouthed his name.
He rose to his feet, gazing deeply into her loving eyes as he said, “Harper, I want to spend forever being the man you deserve and creating the family we both want. Will you marry me, sweetheart?”
“Yes!” she said tearfully.
She threw her arms around his neck and he spun her around, sealing their promises with steamy kisses. He set her feet on the ground just as it started snowing, wetting their smiling faces as he slid the ring on her finger.
“Oh, Gavin! I love you,” she said through her tears as they embraced. “I can’t believe it. We’re getting married!”
“Believe it, baby. I’ve waited a long time to do this.”
“You have? How long?”
“If I had asked you the first time I wanted to, when we were right here in this exact spot last summer, you would have thought I was crazy. If I had done it the second time I had the urge, the first morning you woke up in my arms on my deck, you would have laughed in my face. I could say I’ve waited since last summer, but the truth is, I’ve been waiting for you my whole life.”