Savannah was only human and the bracelet was absolutely stunning. She held out her arm. Harlan clasped it around her wrist, then kissed her wrist just above the bracelet.
“You really shouldn’t have, but I love it,” she told him. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I have another present for you,” she said.
“You already gave me enough.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll like this one. It’s just a little something for you to unwrap.”
“All right, but me first.”
“What? Tell me you didn’t get me another present.”
“I didn’t get you another present. Exactly.” He slid off the couch, one knee on the floor.
Savannah’s heart rate shot up into the stratosphere. He took her left hand in his and smiled at her. “I love you, Savannah. It hasn’t been very long since we found each other again, but I didn’t need long to realize that you’re the woman I want to be with the rest of my life. You’re the love of my life. We’ve lost a lot of years, and I don’t want to lose another minute with you.” He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a ring. “Will you marry me, Savannah?”
Stunned, she stared at him. She’d wondered at first if Avery and Rachel were right and Harlan planned to propose. But she’d decided it was too soon, and then when he gave her the bracelet she’d been sure he had no such thing in mind. And now he was down on one knee in front of her, holding the most beautiful sapphire and diamond engagement ring she’d ever seen and asking her—
“It’s too soon, isn’t it? I was worried you’d think that. We can just forget it until—”
“No.”
He got up to sit beside her. “Pretend I didn’t say anything. The last thing I wanted was to pressure—”
“No, it’s not too soon. Harlan, I would love to marry you.”
“You would? Thank God,” he said, and crushed his mouth to hers. Long moments later, he drew back and slipped the ring on her finger, then kissed her hand.
“It’s gorgeous,” she said, looking at it admiringly. “I remember seeing it and thinking how beautiful it was.” The ring had an Art-Deco setting, a sparkling round diamond, set in platinum, surrounded by sapphire baguettes, with more sapphires and diamonds on the band.
“Once I had your ring size, I went back and got it. If there was another you’d rather—”
Savannah snatched her hand away. “I love it. I don’t want a different one.”
Harlan laughed.
“Now for that something I have for you to unwrap,” Savannah said. “Trust me, you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I’ll like anything you give me. But you didn’t need to get me anything else.”
“Wait ten minutes and come upstairs.”
“That sounds mysterious.”
She smiled and left him. A little while later she heard him coming up the stairs. She’d changed into her brand-new lingerie: a lacy black teddy with tiny buttons down the front.
Harlan stopped when he saw her, his gaze traveling from top to bottom, slowly and appreciatively. “Wow. This is my present?”
“I thought you might like something to unwrap.” She popped open the top button. “Me.”
Harlan pulled her into his arms and tumbled them onto the bed. Looking down at her he said, “I love you, Savannah.”
“I love you, too, Harlan.”
He kissed her, then smiled devilishly and undid the next button on her teddy. “Now, about this present...”
Christmas morning Harlanwoke up with Savannah wrapped in his arms. He lay there a moment, more content than he could remember being in a long time. Maybe ever.
Savannah opened her eyes and looked at him. “I didn’t dream last night, did I? We got engaged?”
