His thumb traced my jaw. “I don’t like being separated from you for long.”
There were times when he would explain how irrevocably I had changed his life, his heart. He said that meeting me had filled all of the gaps he’d felt but never understood. I inspired him, he said, to be the best man he could be, and it was a responsibility he planned to fulfill, to me, for the rest of his life. He never failed to amaze me.
I leaned into his touch. “How soon will you be leaving?”
He watched me with interest, his eyes traveling over my face thoughtfully. “We wrap up here next week. I imagine we could arrange some of it to overlap the visit home.”
“It will be wonderful weather,” I said. There was a certainty, a confidence in him, in our family, that grew stronger and more fulfilling each day. That he felt the same way about the children and me was a gift I hoped I’d always acknowledge.
He spoke hesitantly, exhaling a shaky breath. “We could consider making the trip a honeymoon?” His eyes held mine as he took my hands in his.
I stared at him, my heart in my throat.
“I’ve known since the night before you left Los Angeles that you are ‘home’ for me, Claire, wherever we go. Let me be your family, officially and irrefutably.” His hands held mine firmly.
I felt my heart kick up a notch. “Josh—” My voice broke.
His eyes searched my face. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful, delicate ring. He slipped the ring on my finger then looked at my hand with distinct satisfaction. He took my hand in his, kissing it as the ring sparkled on my
finger. “It was my dad’s mum’s ring. It suits you.” He looked back at my face, smiling.
“It’s beautiful.” I straightened my fingers, looking at the ring with wide eyes. I looked at him then, at this giving, supportive, beautiful man smiling at me. How I had found him, how he’d come to love me was something I was still trying to piece together.
“Claire.” He smiled his most knee-weakening smile. “Will you marry me?”
“How did I get so lucky?” I whispered.
He smiled as his thumb traced my jaw. “That’s not really an answer.”
He didn’t understand that he’d already given me so much. He’d helped me find and love me. It was Josh that had inspired me to give and accept love again. He’d shown me that sharing was a sign of respect, not a burden. He’d given me so much, but now he was giving me the best gift I could hope for.
Himself.
“Yes.”
He smoothed my hair from my face and cupped my face with his hands. “You’re mine now.” His lips were a whisper on mine.
I leaned into his arms as they wrapped around me. “I was yours long before you asked me to marry you,” I whispered against his shoulder, closing my eyes and burrowing close.
“Oh?” He peered down at me. “I’ve been holding my breath, worried you were going to disappear. I thought I might be just a stop along this journey to your new life.”
“You’re my new life, Josh. My journey brought me to you. And I love you very much.”
We regarded each other then. I traced the contours of his face with my eyes. His gaze was just as intent, and I found myself flushing a bit.
“I love you, Claire.” His voice was soft and his eyes grew warm and intense.
“You know, you’re really beautiful.” My voice grew husky.
His half-smile appeared. “As are you,” he said as he stood and pulled me up with him. “Come on, then. Let’s go tell them.” His hand wrapped around mine, warm and comforting. We set off down the beach to the rest of the family.
He looked at me, smiling his devastating smile, with the wind in his hair. He lifted my hand and kissed it, watching the ring on my finger sparkle brightly in the sunlight.
The wind carried Will’s happy greeting to us as we made our way to them. Nat smiled and waved, sitting up on her towel. I knew they’d be happy that Josh was officially part of the family. To them, he already was their family.
It was as warm as sunshine, the love and contentment that completely filled me now. And I knew with sudden absolute certainty.
This was it…my happily ever after.