“This was a great idea,” Harper said after polishing off her turkey sandwich.

“I’m glad you thought so,” Finn replied, leaning over to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. 

It was a glorious Wednesday afternoon at the beginning of summer, when all the weather elements had aligned to make a perfect day: not too hot, not too cool, with a slight breeze that ruffled her hair without ruining it.  And she had a hot date.  What more could she ask for? 

Finn had called her earlier to ask if she were free for lunch.  After she’d told him that she was, he’d asked her to meet him at his house for a picnic.  All she had to do was provide the blanket and he’d bring the food. 

She and Daisy had arrived at his house first, and she’d dug out a plaid blanket from his closet.  Then she, Daisy, and Hunter had found the perfect spot on Finn’s sprawling back lawn, where she’d laid out the blanket.  The dogs were running around in excited circles, sniffing the ground and each other while they all waited for Finn.

The second they heard his truck pull up, the dogs raced around to the front of the house to greet him, with Harper trailing behind even though she was just as excited to see Finn as they were.  Over the past few months, their relationship had really grown, just like the flowers that were blooming everywhere.  While they’d maintained their separate homes, they saw each other every day, and Harper couldn’t remember the last time she’d spent the night alone. 

She was amazed that every time she saw him, it was almost like seeing him for the first time.  While she’d known him for several years now, everything felt new and different.  Julia and McKayla had been making bets on how long it would take before Finn proposed to her, but she wasn’t in a huge hurry. 

She’d come to a point in her life where she felt satisfied, content, and happy.  It felt like she’d emerged from a long, dark tunnel into the light, and she was just so grateful.  Grateful for her close friends, their families, and, of course, for Finn, who’d stood by her, supported her, and patiently waited for her to love him too. 

And oh, how she loved him.  She didn’t let a single day go by without telling him and/or showing him, and he treated her the same way.  They both understood how fleeting life could be, and they didn’t want to waste a single moment. 

“I have another idea to run by you,” he said to her now, leaning back on his elbows on the blanket. 

“Oh?  What’s that?”  She assumed it would be something work-related since he’d often asked for her opinion or advice.

“Before I tell you, promise me you won’t say anything until I’m done talking.”

Studying his expression, she realized that whatever he had to say must be important, and clasping her hands tightly in her lap, she said, “I promise.”

Taking a deep breath, he said, “It’s about us.  About our future.  I know where I want to be one year, five years, ten years from now, and that’s with you.  All the time, every day, forever.”

She swallowed hard, but she kept her mouth shut as he’d requested. 

“And I know it’s probably too soon to ask you to marry me, so I won’t.  Not today, and maybe not next week or next month, but soon.  And I hope when I do, you’ll be ready and you’ll say yes.  But until then, I would love it if you’d consider moving in with me.  You and Daisy.  We spend most of our time here anyway, and why maintain two places when we can just have one, and…?  Oh God.  And now you’re crying.”

She was actually laughing and crying at the same time, along with making some very unflattering snorting sounds.  But this was Finn, and it was ok because, with him, she could truly be herself, and she knew that he would love her no matter what. 

Instead of answering right away, she rolled over on top of him and pinned him to the blanket.  Propping her hands on his chest, she looked directly into his crystal-blue eyes and said, “Yes.” 

“Yes?” he repeated as if to make sure he’d heard right.

She nodded.  “Yes, I’ll move in with you, and yes, I’ll marry you someday.  Because I want that too.”

Lifting his hands, he wiped away her tears and then cupped her face.  “Whenever you’re ready.  I’ll be here.”  And with that, he pulled her down on top of him, held her close, and kissed her. 

When they came up for a breath, he said, “When you said, ‘someday,’ do you have any idea when that might be?  Not that I’m in a huge hurry or anything…”

Laughing, she said, “Soon.  Very soon.  But for right now, I just want to enjoy this moment.”

And that’s exactly what they did.

 

 

THE END

 

 

 

Stay tuned for the next book in the O’Brien Brothers Series, featuring Connor and Julia.