I’d opted to sleep topside instead of lying beside Beatrice. Until she agreed to marry me, it seemed wrong. Somehow, Tori and I managed to get off the boat without being spotted by the woman I hoped to marry. “She’s going to be furious,” I muttered under my breath while we rode in the back of the taxi.

“Yeah, well Max won’t be much happier with me. He would’ve wanted to help.” She sighed. “You know what that means, right?”

“Uh, mostly that he’d try to convince me to buy a more expensive ring than I could afford and then pay for it, which would be more like Max proposing than me.” I sighed. “We’re doing this right. Assuming Beatrice lets me ask her before stomping off mad.”

“Maybe you should wait until we leave the dock.” Tori teased.

I chuckled. “We don’t have a dinghy we’re towing behind us, do we? I think I need her to have zero possible means for escape.”

“That’s right, lock her down from the start.” She rolled her eyes and the car came to a stop. “Well, this is nothing like the jewelry store where we picked out this rock, but I actually think that’s a good thing.” She stared at the storefront while I paid the cab driver. “I think I’d have been far more comfortable here.”

“Great. Let’s go.” I rubbed my hands together nervously while I waited for Tori to join me. As soon as she emerged, we entered the store and I almost immediately felt guilty and overwhelmed.

“You can do this. Megyn would approve,” Tori whispered as she pushed me toward the counter.

I nodded numbly. I knew she was right, but still it felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest as I stuffed my hands in my pockets and leaned over the glass cases as I stared into the display. “Hi,” I mumbled weakly to the man in the suit behind the counter. “I’m here to buy an engagement ring.”

An hour later, we were riding back to the marina. “She’s going to love it,” Tori commented for the twelfth time.

“I hope so,” I responded, yet again. Now, I simply needed to figure out what to say.

“Good luck.” She snickered.

“Wow, I expected something more encouraging and supportive.” I shook my head and stared out the window.

“Will, I’m not the kind to pretend any of this is going to be easy, but focus on the big picture. You’re going to have a wonderful life together.” She smiled warmly at me. Then she glanced out the window and saw the yacht parked at the day dock. “I’m pretty sure everyone is on deck. Let’s go.”

“I didn’t get flowers.” I sank low in the backseat.

“You don’t need flowers. Come on.” She was clearly excited to see Max and Penelope again.

“I didn’t bring back chocolates. I hear women love chocolates.” I leaned forward and rubbed my forehead. “Maybe you should go on without me. I’ll pick up more stuff and come up with a game plan.”

“Stop it. Let’s go!” Tori huffed.

We sat there and argued for several minutes until the cab driver interrupted us. “Sir…ma’am?”

“What?” I snapped. Then I stared past him through the front windshield. Beatrice stood there looking positively pissed. Her cheeks were pink, the wind was whipping her hair around, and there was a glow about her. I smiled, which didn’t seem to help anything at all. Stepping out of the cab, I stumbled toward her. “God, you’re beautiful,” I murmured as I took her hands in mine.

Her flush deepened. “Well, you’re still an ass.” She stomped her foot. “How do you just leave without telling me? How do you take off with another woman and just leave me and your daughter behind?” She eyed Tori. “Sorry.”

“Oh, no offense taken. I’m going to go see my future husband and my daughter. You two have some talking to do.” Tori turned to me, her brow arched. “Now is a good time.”

“A good time for what?” Beatrice glared at me as Tori disappeared.

“Let’s go for a walk,” I suggested as I wrapped an arm around her waist. At first, she stiffened, but then she melted against me.

“Stan used to leave all the time without saying goodbye. Sometimes I wouldn’t get so much as a note,” Beatrice grumbled by way of explanation. “Then I woke this morning without you and I had no idea where you’d gone or when you’d be back.” She stopped mid-step and turned her face away, but I could see she was upset.

“You get mad first and calm down later, huh?” I teased. “I’m slowly getting to know you.” I brushed her hair back from her face and raised her chin to stare into her eyes. “I’ll be better, Bea, but you couldn’t come on this errand. It was a surprise.”

Her brow furrowed. “A surprise?”

“Yes, a surprise. Everything about you has kept me off balance from day one when Mo sprung you on me. You had a big role to play…filling her shoes, caring for Thea, but your toughest job was one you did effortlessly.” I bent lower and pressed my lips to her forehead, savoring the scent of her hair. “You healed me, Beatrice. It scared the hell out of me, but that’s because I’m not nearly as tough as I look.”

Tears leaked from her eyes. “You’ve been acting like you’re completely impervious to me. What are you talking about?”

“Fear makes us do crazy things, beautiful. It makes me run when I should stick around. It makes me lock you down when you could fly away.” I blew out a breath and patted her eyes dry with the hem of my shirt. She caught a glimpse of my abs and inhaled sharply.

“Lock me down?” Beatrice blinked a few times. “What are you talking about, Will?”

I took a deep breath. “I haven’t asked Thea, but I’m sure she won’t mind. I haven’t asked you and I’m sure you will.” I groaned. “I’m no good at this, Bea. I’m lousy at love and emotions, but I think I could be better with your help. Could you stick it out with me?”

She frowned. “For how long?”

I dropped to one knee in front of her while pulling the velvet box from my pocket. Slowly, I opened it and held it up in front of her. “I was rather hoping you’d agree to forever. Please say you’ll marry me.”

Beatrice inhaled sharply. The tears I’d hoped had dried instead became a veritable river running down her face. She clapped a hand over her mouth while nodding vigorously.

“Is that a yes?” I asked hopefully. “I know I’m not eloquent or smart, but I have a good heart and it’s all yours, if you’ll have me.”

Throwing herself into my arms, Beatrice murmured, “Just say when.”

I took a deep breath. I hadn’t thought this through. There was a clamor behind her and I realized everyone was standing there silently cheering. Except for Thea, who was jumping up and down.

“Tomorrow,” Thea announced. “You should get married tomorrow.”

“I don’t know how we’d do that…” My voice trailed off as I studied Bea’s reaction.

“On the yacht,” Max explained. “The captain can marry you as soon as you get the license from the county clerk. There’s no waiting period in California.” He chuckled. “I may have explored this possibility before Victoria objected.”

I nodded, shocked. This was happening. “You in?” I asked my almost wife.

She smiled. “Anything for you and Thea.” Then she held open her arms and my daughter launched herself at us.

My heart raced in my chest. “We’re getting married,” I murmured as I coped with the shock.