I pull Ava Grace’s father aside so we can have a talk. Because later, Ava Grace and I are going to have a talk.

A talk that’s going to change everything.

“What’s this about, son? It’s freezing cold out here you know,” he tells me.

“I know, sir, it’s important.”

“Well then?” He looks at me, waiting for me to continue.

“Here’s the thing, I moved out to the Yukon because I was determined to live my life on my own terms. I didn’t want to be owned by anyone, have anyone tell me who I needed to be or how I needed to do it. I don’t ask permission.”

Troy nods, and I appreciate that he’s trying to follow.

“The thing is,” I tell him. “I thought I didn’t need to ask permission, for anything. But I was wrong. I need to ask you permission, sir. Permission for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

Troy’s eyebrows raise, clearly shocked, I’m not surprised. I figured he might not know everything that’s gone down between Ava and me, but I need to do this right. Even if it’s uncomfortable or seems old-fashioned, I know one thing about Ava Grace. She’s a romantic. Asking her father for her hand in marriage is something I want to do for her. For us.

“Is this something she’s hoping you’d ask? I don’t mean to be rude, Samson, but this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“I know, sir, I know it might seem unexpected—”

“No, not unexpected. I’ve learned through raising Ava Grace that expecting the unexpected is the only way to survive when it comes to that girl. And who am I to judge? You want to be with her and she wants to be with you, well then welcome to the family. I trust her implicitly. But you, Samson, can I trust you?”

“Yes, sir,” I tell him. “You can trust me, I won’t let you down.”

Troy nods slowly, reaching his arms around me and giving me a fatherly hug. I haven’t received a hug like this in twenty years.

“It’s not me you need to worry about letting down, Samson. If she’s going to be your wife, Ava Grace is the only one you need to worry about making happy.”

* * *

In the car, Ava Grace is silent. I’m silent too, not wanting to push her, but so badly wanting to help her.

Eventually, we get on the road and I know it’s up to me to break the silence.

“I’m so glad you weren’t hurt in the fire, Ava Grace.”

She makes a sharp intake of breath. Her hand reaches for mine. “I forgive you, Samson. I forgive you and I should have told you that sooner.”

“We’ll talk about that, but I don’t want to stress you out. This whole night has already been so—”

“No, I’m not stressed out,” she tells me. “I feel like I know exactly who I am and exactly what I want. And Samson, I hated spending a month without you.”

I look at her, at this woman who takes my breath away. I didn’t expect her onslaught of emotions like this, telling me she’s accepted my apology and that she has missed me.

I wanted her to say these things, of course I did, but I knew I didn’t necessarily deserve them.

“I know what I want too,” I tell her.

“What do you want, Samson?” she asks, squeezing my knee. “Besides giving me your meatballs?”

Her joke makes driving fucking impossible. All I want is to pull over and have her here and now. I groan, feeling my cock grow hard, but knowing I need to get my girl safely home.

I keep my eyes on the road. “I want to talk this all through, but I need to get you to my place safely, first. Hell, especially after we’ve been through the fire, been through hell and back, I need to get you home in one piece.”

“I understand,” she says, keeping her hand on my knee.

My heart is pumping, so fucking grateful that she forgive me. Ava is sitting next to me laughing about mother fucking meatballs and I know we are made for one another.

“So,” she says, “you’re not actually this reclusive man living alone in the woods?”

I shake my head to clarify. “I am a recluse. I live alone, except for some employees.”

“But you live out in the woods? Pretty far from here?”

“I live about a two-hour flight from here, and it’s in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. But it’s beautiful. And I’m lucky bastard to have so much.”

“I can’t believe you’re a billionaire. You really pull off the I-don’t-give-a-shit-vibe very well.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Ava Grace laughs, and that laughter fills the car with what sounds like a thousand stars.

“It is a compliment,” she tells me, lacing her fingers through mine. “A very good compliment.”

* * *

Once everyone has arrived safely to my home, everyone’s eyes widen as they take in my place.

“Damn, brother, this is just one of your homes?” Taylor asks.

“Yeah, but honestly, the things I own don’t define me.”

Ava Grace is by my side. The girl who is incapable of holding back. “So, then what defines you, Samson?”

“The people in my life.”

“Crazy to hear that from you, Samson,” Taylor scoffs. “After you’ve been MIA for so long.”

“People change,” I say, meaning it with every fiber of my being.

Esme and Linda somehow managed to find five people to help run the show tonight. “We sent someone to town to get everyone toiletries and a simple change of clothing,” Esme explains to the wedding party.

“Do you think all of our luggage is completely destroyed?” Cecily asks.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Troy says. “I just got done talking with hotel and they don’t know how much damage there was. Thankfully, the fire was contained quickly and was just in a portion of the hotel. So, we might be okay.”

“Alright,” Sophia says. “It’s just, my wedding dress...”

“I know dear,” her mother says. “But there is no use fretting over trying to work that all out. Someone is running to grab us pajamas and toothbrushes. So, we can be grateful for that.”

Esme lets everyone know that dinner will be served in one hour and if they’d like to relax in the great room until then, there are cocktails and appetizers waiting.

Everyone starts to leave the foyer, a game plan in place, but I catch the eye of Ava, not wanting her to leave with everyone else.

Not wanting her to leave at all.

“Ava Grace, can you come with me?”

“Are you going to tell me what you want now?” she asks with a smile.

“I am.” I take her hand and lead her to the back of the house. I drape a coat over her shoulders and offer her a pair of gloves. I don a coat as well and open the back door, stepping back into the frigid winter air.

“Better be good, to bring me back out to the freezing cold.”

“It’s good. I promise.” I take her hand and lead her down a path away from the house. The sky is pitch black and you can’t hear a thing. I look at her and then raise my eyes to the stars.

“Ava Grace, there there are more stars in the sky than anyone can count, and that has always made me feel so small. But then I met you, and I didn’t feel insignificant anymore. I didn’t feel like I needed to hide. Your light was burning bright; you are stars, personified. You light up my life and I don’t want to be in the night sky alone. I want to be your star. And I want you to be mine.”

Tears fill her eyes. She’s looking at me as if she can’t look away. And I can’t look away either. She has captivated me.

“I love you, Ava Grace. And I know I am flawed. I know I messed up a part of our story and for that, I am so sorry. But I don’t think our story is finished, I think it has just begun. I think our love was written in the stars. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me, Ava Grace?”

Ava gasps, covering her mouth in surprise. “Yes, yes Samson.” She’s crying and nodding and trembling all at the same time. She’s laughing the laugh that captured my heart and fills my soul.

I dropped to one knee and pull out the black box. Then I open it, offer the final secret that I’ve kept.

“Oh, my God, Samson. You? You did this... for me?”

“I know is not conventional to ask a woman to make her own engagement ring, but—”

“It’s the most romantic thing. Samson, you truly have a heart of gold.”

She wraps her arms around me, and I breathe her in, her goodness and her truth and her love. I don’t know how I got so lucky as to find her, to have and to hold her, but I do.

And I’ll never let her go.

“I’m going to kiss you now, Ava Grace.”

My hands cup her cheeks and I pull her lips to mine. I kiss her softly, I kiss her gently. I kiss her and promise her my heart.