Her eyes widened. “Huh?”
Not waiting any longer, feeling like he had already waited far too long for all the things he truly wanted, he led her forward toward the crowd. Emma and Megan stood off to the side by one of the cabins. Brody and Faith sat around the fire pit, Houdini i
n Brody’s lap. Mom was by the table, standing with all her friends from bridge.
“What are you doing?” Harper asked, digging her heels in a little.
He tugged her forward until he got onto the grass, then he stuck his fingers in his mouth, giving a loud whistle. The crowd immediately silenced, and Harper’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink. Houdini slid off Brody’s legs and came charging toward them.
Chase turned to her. “I remember that my father once told me I would know when I found the woman who was meant to be my wife when all I wanted to do was have my days start and end with her.” He went down to one knee, untying the small black pouch he’d placed on Houdini’s collar, and he smiled at Harper’s gasp of surprise.
Once he had the princess-cut diamond ring between his fingers, he picked up Houdini, holding him in his arms. He glanced up at his beauty, never feeling surer about anything in his life. Harper’s hands covered her mouth, her teary eyes wide. The look of stunned happiness was one he’d strive to give her again and again. “The second you came home from school, I saw forever in your eyes. I didn’t know it then. But it’s not something I’ll ever forget now. My life doesn’t make sense without you in it. Houdini seemed to know it before I did. We are a family, and there’s nothing I want more than for you to be my wife.” He paused. Then, “Harper, will you marry me?”
She nodded rapidly, tears raining down her cheeks.
Her speechlessness was a perfect reward. He rose, Houdini’s belly resting on his forearm, and wrapped his free arm around her back, holding her tight.
The crowd roared in thunderous applause as Nash called out, “It’s about damn time.”
Chase laughed, leaned away, and placed the ring on Harper’s finger. “I love you, beautiful.”
Happy tears soaked her cheeks. “I love you too.”
He slid his hand to her nape, pulling her in close, and sealed his mouth across hers. Her lips quivered, her salty tears between them. Until suddenly they weren’t alone. Emma and Megan were there hugging Harper, then Brody and Faith, and before long Shep and Nash were in there too.
Chase leaned away and smiled at Harper, enveloped in so much love. That’s why he wanted to propose there. Right now. Everything that he cared about was there.
Chase knew that sometimes it didn’t matter how you got there, or all the bumps in the road you hit on the way, it only mattered that you got there.
And they had.
Epilogue
Three months of planning had led to this moment, though today wasn’t the big day, even if Harper’s nerves said otherwise. Tomorrow, all the planning would come together and hopefully the wedding would go off without a hitch.
At the guest ranch, behind the house and next to the creek, Harper stood off to the side next to Chase and the ordained minister who had married Brody and Faith. They had already run through the entire proceedings once, but the procession felt off.
As Megan and Nash grew closer, Megan muttered, “Stop enjoying this.”
Nash grinned, though he kept his eyes forward. “I am enjoying the hell out of this, Freckles. I like having you close.”
Megan’s friendly expression didn’t falter. “You won’t be enjoying anything when I staple your balls to your eyebrows.”
Nash chuckled. “Ah, sweetie, now you’re just trying to tease me with such dirty talk.”
Harper sighed, wondering if she had made a huge mistake. Brody was Chase’s best man and Emma was the maid of honor, but Harper thought it made sense for them to walk down the aisle with their partners since they were all in the wedding party.
Obviously, Chase was worried too. “I hope you can keep those thoughts to yourself tomorrow,” he called.
“Oh, I will, don’t you worry.” Megan smiled, showing more teeth than necessary. “For right now, Nash can kiss my ass.”
“I’ll even bite your ass,” Nash remarked, and then added what sure sounded like a promise. “But only if you beg me to.”
“In your dreams, Blackshaw,” Megan retorted.
Chase chuckled.
Harper didn’t. To Chase, she said seriously, “They’re going to kill each other.”