“I can see how happy you are.” She handed him another gift, this one covered in tissue paper. “For you.”
He unwrapped a framed picture of them at the Botanical Garden, the colorful blanket flowers in the background.
“This is a memory of one of the best days of my life,” she said. “You told me I made that day special, but you made it just as special for me. This is the day I started falling in love with you. I never want to lose the magic we captured that day.”
He kissed her. “This gets hung in my office as a reminder of what’sreallyimportant.”
Love, tender and true, wove around his heart. “And since we’re talking about what’s important, Kent and I have had several conversations about our business.”
“All good ones, I hope.” She picked up her flute, sipped the chilled bubbly.
“Going forward, we’re partnering with energy-efficient companies that focus on preserving as much of the natural environment as possible. We want to respect the land and build structures that honor its beauty, not detract from it. Turns out, we aren’t the only ones concerned about this. We’ve already pitched two projects in that same vein.”
She grinned. “I like that…a lot.”
“I thought you might.” He sipped the champagne. “We’re committed to taking on more small-town projects and driving business back into the hands of local merchants. But the biggest change is that we’re all about work-life balance. I scaled back from seventy hours a week to forty, and it feels like I’m working part-time.”
“Youwerea workaholic.”
“Those stress headaches were killing me.”
“I love your plan and I’ll do whatever I can to support you.”
He clasped her hand, making small circles on her palm with his thumb. “I brought Kent and Megan here and they fell in love with the area. We’re relocating King Development to Starry Cove.”
Her eyes grew large. “That’s huge.”
“That’s not all.” His heart picked up speed. “This house is too big for me to live here alone.”
“So, are you looking for a roommate?” Her playful expression made him smile.
“No, and I don’t want a dog, either.” Pausing, he studied her face.Thiswas their defining moment. “I want to build a life with you, Savannah.”
“Oh, Zander,” she murmured.
“You can fly in and out of Dulles for your out-of-town gigs. Keep your beach home as our getaway place.” Though confident in her love for him, he was unsure she’d be willing to make this drastic life change.Ask her.“Savannah, will you move in here with me? Turn this house into a home?Ourhome.”
Love sprang from her eyes and she kissed him. “You don’t have to sell me, babe. My answer isabsolutelyyes. I’d love to.” She paused, her unwavering gaze making his heart pound hard and fast. “I can’t imagine my life without you.”
With a loving smile, she captured his face in her hands. He breathed her in and tightened his hold. His jitters floated away, replaced by a peace that settled his restless soul.
And when his lips melded with hers, he knew in his heart he’d come home.
