Mitch saw her and smiled. He said something to Jack and Angelo, then made a beeline for her side. “You’re too pretty to be standing here by yourself. Doesn’t your boyfriend know better?”
She laughed. “I guess not.” She kissed his cheek. “What were you all talking about?”
“Jack’s stalker, Monica, was picked up by police last night on three outstanding warrants. Angelo won’t say exactly what his role was in all of that, but I think he was involved in some way.”
Harper’s smile dropped. “Is that going to cause trouble for Jack?”
“I don’t think so. Jack was who she called from the police station. Apparently, she was very apologetic and promised to delete everything if he’d bail her out. He got her an attorney that’s going to do his best to get her into rehab in exchange for doing time. The attorney has already personally supervised the deleting of all questionable photos and texts from her phone.”
Her brows shot up. “Wow.”
Mitch nodded. “You can say that again.”
“He always has been a bit of a golden boy.” She touched Mitch’s wrist. “That watch really does look good on you.”
He smiled. “I like that I think about you every time I look at it.”
She could have kissed him right then. He was just the sweetest. “I like that, too.”
His brows bent and an odd look came over his face. “Speaking of things you like…or maybe won’t like, I did…something.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What?”
He took her hand. “Maybe we should talk about it over here.” He led her to the section of the patio that bridged the outdoor kitchen area with the pool surround.
She followed, not quite sure what was going on. “Okay.”
When they got to the middle of things, Mitch stopped them, still holding her hand. Everyone went quiet, looking at them. Then Frankie, all smiles like she knew what was going on, came up and took Harper’s wine glass.
“Hey,” Harper said.
“You’ll get it back, don’t worry,” Frankie said.
In those brief moments, everyone had gotten closer. Kyle and Willa, who was holding Ruthie, were even out of the pool.
Mitch smiled at her. “Harper, I owe you a great debt.” He took a breath. “You changed my life in ways I didn’t think was possible. You showed me a way through my grief. You helped me find happiness again. More amazing still, you made me believe in love again.”
She swallowed as she realized what he was doing. What she thought he was doing. Her heart beat a million miles a minute and she blinked to keep tears back.
He slipped his hand into his pocket and came out with a ring box. “I cannot imagine my life without you in it. I love you. And I think you love me.”
She nodded, unable to speak.
“I’m not an impulsive man, but sometimes, when you feel something deeply, you have to act. So that’s what I’m doing. I want to ask you if you wouldsomeday, when you’re ready, be my wife.”
He let go of her hand and opened the box, revealing a ring that had last been on her finger in Las Vegas.
She sucked in air, doing her best to remember how to breathe. “You didn’t.”
He nodded. “I did. I know you think it’s too much, but I don’t. And for the record, in front of God and all our friends, I don’t care if this engagement lasts two weeks or ten years. I just want you to know that this is how much you mean to me.”
He held out the ring. “What do you say?”
She exhaled and gave him the only logical answer. “Yes.”
“Yes?” For a moment, he seemed surprised. Then he laughed and raised both hands into the air. “She said yes!”
Everyone clapped and cheered, causing the dogs to start barking, which made them all laugh. Frankie, Joyce, Beryl, and Jack were crying.
