My mouth hangs open in shock as the world around me suddenly stands still.
His blue eyes hold mine, shimmering with hope and happiness. “You opened up my eyes to a life that I never imagined. You broke down my walls and crawled straight into my heart and my daughter’s heart.”
“Harrison.” I croak and drop my forehead to his.
“Marry me, Jules.” He takes the ring out and holds it up to my trembling finger. “Make me the happiest man on earth.”
“And me!” I turn to see a wide-eyed Claud standing in the doorway, with Nate’s hand now securely over her mouth.
“Sorry,” he cringes.
With tears streaming down my cheeks and a smile on my face, I turn back toward Harrison and nod. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slips on the ring, then stands, pulling me into his arms, and kisses me in a way he’s never kissed me before.
I faintly hear people clapping and cheering in the background, but I’m too lost in my own happiness to see anyone but Harrison until I’m almost plowed over by a little body crashing into my legs.
Harrison picks up Claud and pulls us all into an embrace. “My girls. My family. My loves.” He kisses Claud and then me.
My heart.
“Hi, sugar plum.” I lean in and kiss her, too.
“Show her, Daddy, show her!” She bounces in Harrison’s arms. “Please.”
He smirks at her enthusiasm, and places her back down on the ground. He takes off his suit jacket, and hands it to Claud, then unties my favorite pinkish tie. Whenever I see him wear it, it brings me back to the first time I slept at the penthouse, and the beautiful memories to follow. He begins unbuttoning his shirt…now I’m confused.
“What are you doing?”
He ignores me, then pushes open his shirt, exposing his toned chest, and a dusting of chest hair…and then I see it. “Oh my god.” I reach out and trace over his tattooandhis new one. “H,” I breathe.
Now, a second larger butterfly is intertwined with the smaller one meant for Claudina.
“Do you like it?” he whispers, sounding unsure.
“I love it. So much.”
There’s no way to truly measure someone’s love for another. Still, Harrison permanently tattooing a butterfly, something so meaningful to him, tells me everything I need to know about our love.
What’s even more remarkable is how he wove it with Claudina’s butterfly—his precious daughter, who is untouchable to the rest of the world.
I hold my hand out in front of my face to admire my ring, and I can’t help my goofy smile. “This is freaking huge.” I laugh, not that I expected anything less from Harrison. “But so stunning.”
“I’m glad you like it. Claudina picked it out with me, and I’ve never bribed her so many times in my life not to tell you. We all know she has a big mouth.”
Claud giggles and smiles up at me. “You did a good job, sugar plum. It’s beautiful.”
She nods. “So pretty.” Then runs back into the bakery.
Then it hits me…
“Holy crap. You’re my fiancé.” I widen my eyes to get my point across. “I can’t believe this is real life.” I laugh and look down at my ring again, wiggling my fingers.
He chuckles at my excitement. “Don’t get used to it.”
“What are you talking about?” I frown.
“You won’t be my fiancée for long. I’m not waiting to marry you, Juliette. I want to start the new year with you as my wife.”
