The sun is barely up as I walk the grounds of the newly built apartment complex. In a few short hours, this area will be bustling with news reporters, community members, Ward Enterprises, and new families moving into their brand new, energy efficient homes. Children will play on the jungle gyms, teenagers will swim in the pool, and the thousands of volunteers will carry boxes up as many as four flights of stairs to help people move in, while I’m sure Stan the mayor stands by and directs people on what to do.

I had hoped over the past eighteen months that he would slowly slip away, but unfortunately, he has been nothing but a thorn in my side and I don’t see him going away anytime soon. I try to put myself in his shoes, but I can’t. His vision of self-importance leaves something to be desired.

This revitalization project went a lot faster than I thought. I expected two years, if not two and a half to finish the apartments, but the crew was determined. Not only did they receive a hefty bonus from Parker, but also, I think with Dani and Alex coming around a few times a week with a buffet of food helped them work a lot faster. I may have threatened to cut them off with the food supply a time or two.

One thing that the Sweet Briar project has done was bring Alex and I a lot closer. Through her stories, I have been able to really bring Sweet Briar back to life. With the help of Parker, we contacted all the business owners in the “downtown” portion of town and remodeled, fixed, or repainted all the existing buildings to look similar. The conformity really makes the town look “old fashioned” but modern. Plus, it brings everyone up to code.

Once the cosmetic stuff was done, tourism started picking up. With the strip mall at capacity, the stores started seeing an increase in daily visitors. The city council began organizing events to draw more people to town. The sand castle building competition was intense, and I got to be one of the judges. Alex also saw this as an opportunity and purchased a food truck, which operates on the weekends near the newly constructed boardwalk. And Parker is currently in talks to develop a hotel along the beach.

It’s easy to see why people love Sweet Briar now that I’ve spent a considerable amount of time here. I’m tempted to ask Alex if she wants to buy a house here, but I think she enjoys the distance that we have with her parents. We visit them on Sundays for dinner, and while Alex and Larry have a better relationship, there are still moments when they frustrate each other.

Now that the Sweet Briar project is over, Alex and I are flying to Arizona so she can finally meet my parents. It’s been a long time coming, and while I could’ve easily taken her for a weekend, it wouldn’t be enough for my mother. She and Alex already spend hours on Sunday mornings talking or video chatting.

Wiping the morning dew off the swing, I sit down. My feet stay planted to the ground while I sway back and forth. Every project that I have worked on has meant something, but this one … for some reason this means more. It’s not a high-rise or some conglomerate building that will house Fortune 500 companies. This place will become someone’s home, their place to hang their hat and build memories. If it weren’t for Parker Ward, none of this would be feasible.

If it weren’t for Parker, I wouldn’t be here right now. I wouldn’t be in love with Alex or thinking about our future together. We talk about marriage. We both know we want to get married, but with her starting a business, which was fairly successful when she took it over and now has tripled in volume, and my dedication to this project, we haven’t made any definite plans. Not that plans need to be made. I just have to get down on bended knee and ask her. I’ve already asked Larry, or I should say that Larry has given me permission too many times to count. Alex says it’s because he loves me. I tease her it’s because he wants to get rid of her.

The slamming of doors breaks my reverie. I’m assuming it’s the news crews that are here, along with the community members who are coming to witness the ribbon cutting ceremony. I wasn’t going to do one, but Alex was insistent. She said that it’s like reaching the top of a mountain that you’ve been climbing for years and that when you get to the peak, everyone is there, waiting for you. I had set one up for her and Dani when they took over Let’s Get Baked, but did so for the publicity. One of the things they changed was opening a shop. Not only do they cater, but they sell baked goods as well. I learned early on in our relationship that I have to pick and choose the arguments I want to pursue. Alex is evil and will withhold sex … and by sex I mean food. My girl can cook, and if weren’t for my gym membership and the fact that she loves sex I’d be buying bigger pants.

By the time I reach the main parking lot, hordes of people are gathering around. When I arrived first thing this morning I roped off the entrance with a massive ribbon, preventing people from entering. The renters have seen their places, but no one else. Parker and I didn’t feel it was right.

Larry greets me with a smile as we come into view of each other. He’s been a Godsend with all the projects and worked tirelessly to raise funds for extras. Instead of shaking hands, we hug. He pats me on the back.

“I can’t thank you enough,” he says when he pulls away. There are unshed tears in his eyes, causing me to choke up as well.

“I didn’t do anything,” I tell him. “It was all you and Parker.” I’m always quick to point out that this project wasn’t my doing. I only designed the concept and saw the implantation of it.

“You did a lot, Kai. More than you give yourself credit for.”

I take his compliment to heart, wondering if some of it pertains to Alex as well. He often comments that she’s changed since we’ve been together, and I like to think it’s been for the better. I know she’s made me a better man. In fact, I think she’s perfect, and each night when I lie next to her I thank everything for her. I almost lost her, which now seems like the most trivial thing ever. But, man, I’m happy that she’s given me her all, including the one thing that nearly destroyed us.

“There’s a lot of people here,” Larry points out. I look out over the crowd in time to see Alex and Dani’s food truck pull up, except Alex isn’t in it because she’s walking toward me, dressed like she’s about to go church.

“Hey, babe,” I say, pulling her to me so I can kiss her cheek. I like to keep things chaste in front of her parents. She whispers, “Good morning,” in my ear before turning to face her dad.

“Morning, Dad. Dani has quiches in the truck if you’re hungry. Is Mom coming?”

“Yes, she’ll be here,” he says. Larry kisses Alex on the cheek and rushes over to the truck.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re trying to steal my thunder.” I nod toward the truck as Alex shakes her head.

Stepping closer, she straightens my tie. “I missed you this morning.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t sleep.”

“Are you nervous?”

I shrug. “It’s not nerves, but I don’t know what it is. More excitement I think because people get to start moving in today.”

“Everyone is going to love it,” she tells me.

I kiss her quickly and take her hand in mine to lead her to the other side of the ribbon. Parker and his wife, Mia, are making their way through the crowd, as well as Bryant and his wife. Yes, she’s the one he met at the club and started dating. There was a time when he started questioning his relationship, mostly because of how they met, and I thought about telling him about Alex and I but didn’t. Bryant can be a little rough around the edges and I didn’t want it getting back to Alex or Bryant saying something that would embarrass her.

Parker and Mia approach with a large pair of scissors in her hand. She’s excited as she greets Alex. “Well done, Kai. I suppose now isn’t the time to ask you to sign another contract?” Parker asks as he shakes my hand.

When I first started, I thought I’d move on after this project, but once I met Alex Portland quickly became my home. “Considering I’m thinking of purchasing a house here, I better sign quickly.” I laugh, hoping that he catches my drift.

He shakes his head. “Let’s forget about a contract and make you a full-time employee at Ward Enterprises. I think Director of the Community Development Division with a full staff at your disposal might do the trick?”

“With a raise,” Mia yells out at her husband.

Parker laughs. “After I’ve seen what you’ve done here, I’ll pay you anything to stay on.”

“Deal,” I tell him as we shake hands.

“Great, now let’s get this ribbon cut so people can move in,” he says. Parker’s presence is commanding. The second he shouts that we’re about to start everyone moves into position. Mia hands the scissors to me, and while I’d love to be the one to cut the ribbon, it’s not for me to do. I seek out Larry and beckon him forward.

“Without you, Sweet Briar would be one of those towns that people drive by,” I say him as I hand him the tool. “I think you should do the honors.”

Larry’s smile beams as bright as the sun as he takes the scissors from me. He steps forward, but not before looking at Regina, Alex, me, and finally out to the people who have gathered. “Here goes everything,” he says as he snips the ribbon. There’s loud cheer and people surge forward to explore the grounds. Standing back, I watch as children run toward the playground, and one in particular hops onto the swing I sat in earlier.

“You did good,” Alex whispers into my ear as she holds me from behind.

I hold on her arms and shake my head. “I didn’t do anything, Alex. The people, they wanted this. I just gave them the guidance to succeed and Parker gave them the funds. Your dad …” I pause and spread my arms out. “He did this. He knew what Sweet Briar needed and made it happen.”

Alex nestles into me as we watch our surroundings. Trucks are starting to arrive and the community is getting ready to help unload belongings. It’s going to be an all-day affair, and thanks to Let’s Get Baked, everyone will be well fed.

“Follow me, there’s someplace I want to take you.” With Alex’s hand in mine, we walk toward downtown. It’s a couple-mile walk but the morning is beautiful and I honestly need this time to think. Alex must be enjoying the peace and quiet, too, because she hasn’t said much since we left.

We finally make it to the beach where we trudge along in the sand until we’re almost in sight of what I want to show her.

“Turn around and look.”

She does. “What am I looking at?”

“That house.” The house in question is in shambles.

“Hmm, okay?”

“The asking price is very low. It comes with two hundred feet of beach access. It would be a full gut job, but we could make it ours. It’s three bedrooms with an attic that we can turn into another room or an office.”

Alex turns and looks at me. “What are you saying, Kai?”

“I’m saying … well, asking if you think we should buy that house? Do you want to invest with me and commit to remodeling our first home together? Take something and make it our own?” Turning, I face the ocean. “The master bedroom faces this view, Alex. We could wake up to this sound every day, and during the summer we could sleep with the doors open so we can hear the crashing of the waves.” I glance at her, wondering what she’s thinking. “What do you say, babe?”

“One condition,” she says.

“Anything.”

“Marry me,” she blurts the words out. “I know I’m supposed to wait for you to ask, but that rule is dumb. I asked your mom—”

“You asked my mom?”

She nods. “I figured if you were going to ask me, you’d ask my dad, so I thought I should ask your mom.”

Placing both hands on her cheeks, I pull her forward until our mouths crash together. “I love you, silly girl.” Once I release her, I drop down to my knee and fish the ring I bought for her a month ago out of my pocket, and hold it up. Her mouth drops open and she quickly covers it.

“Kai?”

“Alexandria, I have been in love with you since the moment I laid eyes on you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife, my partner, the one I fall asleep with every night and the one I wake to every morning?”

Alex nods rapidly. “Yes, so many times yes.”

I slip the ring on her finger before I drop it in the sand. I hadn’t really thought out my proposal, but as soon as she asked me, I had to ask her.

“And yes, I asked your dad … sort of.”

“What do you mean, sort of?”

Kissing her ring, I stand and pull her into my arms. “Your dad has been hinting for a long time that he’d be way okay if I were his son-in-law. I kept telling him soon.”

“That’s because he loves you.”

I shake my head. “It’s because he loves you and he knows that I’ll never do anything to hurt you. I love you, Alex.”

“I love you, Kai, but … you didn’t exactly answer my question.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Yes, Alex. I’ll marry you. Just name the time and place, and I’ll be there … by the way, I know a really good caterer!”