For one suspended moment, everything else fell away—the noise of the party, the cold November air, the sixty people watching. There was only her.
Beautiful.
She started toward the tent, and he moved to meet her.
Showtime.
Chapter 26
The lake houseglowed with warmth as they stepped out of the car. Fire pits flickered across the lawn, heat lamps cast amber light across the heated tent, and the entire Oath Capital staff mingled with champagne glasses in hand.
Ronan appeared at the edge of the tent, his face lighting up when he saw her. He crossed the distance in quick strides.
“You made it.” He kissed her cheek, then turned to Eleanor and Andrew. “Thank you for bringing her.”
“Our pleasure,” Eleanor said with a smile.
A server appeared with a tray of champagne. Ronan handed glasses to each of them, his fingers lingering on hers for just a moment.
“Come on,” he said, guiding them inside the tent. “Everyone’s here.”
She stepped inside, taking in the crowd. Colleagues from the office, the catering staff moving efficiently, and?—
“Lucy?” Her voice pitched higher. “What are you doing here?”
Lucy grinned from her spot near the dessert display. “Ronan invited me to stay. Said I should enjoy the party after delivering the desserts.”
Before she could process that, Ronan pulled a pen from his pocket and tapped it against his champagne glass. The sharp clink cut through the conversations. The tent quieted.
“Thank you all for coming tonight,” he said, his voice carrying across the space. He turned to Eleanor and Andrew. “And a special thank you to the Beauchamps—for your trust in Oath Capital, for taking a chance on us, and for everything you’ve done to make this partnership a success.”
Applause rippled through the crowd. Eleanor inclined her head graciously. Andrew gave Ronan a subtle nod, and Ronan winked back at them.
Then his gaze found Devney’s, and something flickered in his eyes. A hint of nervousness.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you up to?”
He set down his glass and took both her hands.
“You think you’re here to celebrate the first milestone of the Beauchamp deal,” he said, his voice wavering slightly. “And that’s true.”
He paused.
“But hopefully, it will be a different type of celebration than the one you’re expecting.”
His fingers trembled.
“I wanted everyone here tonight because I want the world to know how much I love Devney Sinclair. And I couldn’t wait another minute to lock down the most important merger of my life.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
“The first time I asked you to marry me, it was a charade. A business decision. This time, it’s real.”
He knelt.
Her hand flew to her mouth as he drew a velvet box from his pocket. Around them, gasps. Lucy’s sob cutting through the silence.
“You changed everything.” His voice cracked. “You challenged me. Pushed me. Saw through every wall I built. You made me realize that success isn’t measured in profit margins or market share. It’s measured in moments like this—standing before the woman I love, terrified and hopeful and certain that you’re the only future I want.”
