Her body still trembled with longing, but she forced herself to step away, drawing a steadying breath.How could she deny this man his honor?Such virtue felt sacred in a world where men had long forgotten the word.
She turned toward the windows, where the sea stretched endless and untamed, much like him.“I feel it, too, Caleb.That bond between us, deeper than passion.As if our souls are tethered across centuries.”
When she looked back, he stood rooted like some immortal carved from faith and fire, his gaze full of awe.
For a long moment, they simply looked at each other, the ship creaking softly beneath them, the air thick with love as deep as the sea, as eternal as the heavens themselves.
Then her eyes fell upon the Bible on his desk, and she remembered.
“God healed my sister,” she whispered.
His brows rose.“You believe now?”
The warmth of God’s Spirit spread through her chest.“I do.I was angry for so long, I couldn’t see His love.But He never left me.”
Patches meowed and leapt onto the desk.Desi gathered her close as Caleb’s smile widened, radiant and boyish.
“I couldn’t be happier, Desi.That is the finest news a man could hear.”
“I felt His presence, Caleb.Heard His voice, just like you said I would.”
He crossed to her in two strides, setting Patches aside and wrapping her in his arms.“Your sister is well, then?”
“Completely.I left her in charge of my business.”She swallowed hard.“Everything and everyone… is as it should be.”
But instead of joy, a shadow crossed his face.He stepped away, his boots thudding softly on the planks.
“Please,” he said at last, voice roughened with emotion, “have pity on me, Desi.Tell me, are you here to stay?”
Tears stung her eyes.“Of course I am, Caleb.If you still want me.”
He laughed.“IfI want you?”Taking her hands, he lifted them to his lips.“You are my world, Desi Starr.My compass, my harbor, my home.”His voice faltered, low with vulnerability.“Yet I fear you may one day regret it and long for your time.”
“There is nothing for me there.My life is here with you.”
Caleb dropped to one knee.
Her heart nearly stopped.
“Miss Starr,” he said, looking up at her with eyes full of light and storm, “will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
The moment shimmered—ship swaying gently, candlelight flickering, Patches purring from the stern ledge.Desi wanted to etch every heartbeat into eternity.
“Yes,” she breathed, tears spilling freely.“Yes, I will.”
Caleb rose, caught her up in his arms, and spun her around, laughter ringing through the cabin like music.Then he kissed her again—sweet, lingering—but drew back with a grin.“Until the wedding night.”
Heat flamed up her neck, and she laughed, shy and dizzy with joy.
“I have something for you.”He moved behind his desk, rummaging through a drawer.
“A gift?”she asked.
He nodded.“My mother gave me this to write my thoughts, but I never had the heart for it.”He turned and handed her a leather-bound book.
Desi stared, breath catching in her throat.
It was the same journal as the picture inside the one her grandfather had given her, brown leather with a cross imprinted on the cover—the very first book that started it all!
