Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“And what’s on your schedule for the day?” Harper asks, raising an eyebrow at me.
I shrug, playing it up like there’s nothing big happening. “Just meetings at the new office. I’m trying to interview department managers today. We still have a lot of applications to go through.”
It’s all a lie, and I feel bad about it, but the surprise is going to be worth it. We spend the rest of breakfast going over the French lessons both of us have been taking and practicing on each other. Harper nails just about everything, even with a French accent to boot. Whenever I try, she just laughs at me.
When we’re both done eating, we get dressed and kiss each other goodbye before going our own ways. With everybody who would see her harmed gone, I don’t feel like I need to track her down any longer. I don’t need to keep an eye on her the way that I did in Los Angeles. She’s safe here.
Instead of going to the office, I begin my preparations for what is bound to be a magical night for both of us. The first place I go is to the jeweler to retrieve the ring that I had fitted for Harper’s exact measurements. It’s a beautiful engagement ring with a white gold band and a simple princess-cut diamond in the center, surrounded by diamond insets in the band itself. It was entirely custom-made for Harper because I knew she would want something understated yet elegant.
Now that I’m no longer doing business with my father, and all of the seedy business operations have come to a halt, I’m making significantly less money than I once was. That being said, all the work I did last year creating European branches of the business have really paid off. At first, it was just a cover for new trade routes my father wanted to create. But now, this business is promising enough on its own that I don’t even need to think about trading weapons or drugs.
That being said, I didn’t dream of skimping on anything for this proposal. Harper might have said countless times that she doesn’t have a dream wedding or proposal, but I want to make this a dream come true, regardless.
I head to the flower depot in the heart of the city and gather hundreds of roses, both red and white, to fill vases all throughout the penthouse. I have to hire a couple of teenagers hanging around outside to help me bring it all back home in time before Harper comes home.
By the time I’m back with the most expensive bottle of champagne I can find, hundreds of roses, the ring, and the ingredients to make a celebratory steak dinner for the two of us, it’s already evening.
Harper is due back any minute now, and I stand by the railing of the balcony waiting patiently. I look toward the Eiffel Tower, watching how it lights up and makes the evening sky glow with an aura of romance. This couldn’t be any more perfect.
The front door opens, and I stand up straight, shoving my hands in my pockets to grab the ring box. I hear Harper gasp from the doorway.
She slowly closes the door, and I see her walking around the penthouse, glowing from all the candles mingling with the roses around her. She follows the obvious trail I created toward the balcony and stands in front of me with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face.
“Dawson, what’s going on?” she asks even though she knows what’s about to happen as much as I do.
I take a few steps closer to her, getting on one knee as I grab her hand to hold it in mine. With her free hand, she covers her mouth and squeals with excitement. She’s practically vibrating from the joy radiating through her, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Harper, I’ve only known you for a short time, but I’ve gotten to know you better than anyone else in my life,” I begin, pulling the ring out of my pocket with my free hand. “I’ve experienced life without you, and that’s not a place I ever want to go back to. You are the love of my life, and I can’t imagine spending a single day without you by my side. I want nothing more than to love and cherish you for all eternity. Harper, will you marry me?”
She doesn’t say anything. She squeezes her eyes shut, and I watch as a few tears stream down her face as she nods up and down. When she pulls her hand away from her mouth, I see the biggest smile on her lips as she pulls her hand away from me and drops to her knees to hold me close in her arms.
I squeeze her tight before turning toward her and kissing her, feeling the joy in every swish of our lips together.