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“Open it.” I chuckle.

She removes the wrapping paper from the final gift to reveal a ring box. I get down on one knee and take the little black box from her.

“Alexa Anne Laine…”

“Oh, my God.” She covers her mouth. Unshed tears fill her eyes.

Opening the box toward her to reveal a two-carat princess cut diamond engagement ring, I say, “I know we haven’t been together long, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that you and I are forever. You make me happier than I could’ve ever dreamed of being. You always say that you love that I save people and want to do the same. But the thing is, you already have. You saved me from a life without you. You saved me before I even knew I needed to be rescued. Now that I know what it’s like to be loved by you, I could never live without you. Please marry me and let me spend the rest of my life showing you how loved you are.”

Tears roll down her cheeks. “I can’t believe this is happening to me. Is this real?”

“It’s real.”

“Yes.” She sobs. “Yes! God, yes, I’ll marry you.”

I’ve barely slid the ring onto her finger before she tackles me with a hug. I hold her tight, breathing in the scent of her skin and fruity shampoo, and I’m at peace. I never saw Lexi coming, never could’ve predicted that the forward girl I met in the bar on my birthday could transform my life so completely. But she has.

Her mom and dad join us on the floor. Each of them wrap us in a hug. The genuine love and happiness in this room is so thick, it’s palpable, and I breathe in deep.

A few hours later, I rock in the cushioned clad porch swing with Lexi as her parents work on Christmas dinner inside.

It’s been a whirlwind of a day.

“Are you happy?” I ask her. My thumb rubs her shoulder, and I lean in, kissing the top of her head.

She holds her hand out, staring at the diamond ring that encircles her finger.

“The happiest.” She sighs. “I love my ring.”

“Lex,” I hedge, thinking of the grand scale of the day’s activities. “A life with me will never be impressive in terms of materialistic things, but it will be rich in love. I’ll make more money as I rise through the ranks. But even captains aren’t rich. We’ll never have a home like your parents, endless money to spend on frivolous things, or a ten-thousand-dollar Christmas.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t care about any of that. I would live in a cardboard box if it meant spending my life with you.”

I grin. “I can promise you more than a cardboard box.”

“Then we’re good.” She scoffs. “I had the best of everything growing up, the latest fashions, the most expensive shoes, trips, a brand-new car at sixteen—I had it all, but I wasn’t happy. If there’s a constant theme to the horror stories you’ve heard about my past, it’s that. Money and things don’t make you happy. You know that.”

“I know that.” I quirk a brow. “I just wanted to make sure you know it.”

She smiles. “Believe me, I do. I only need one thing to make me happy…you.”

“That I can do.”

CHAPTER28

LEXI

Cam hurries into the bedroom, which has been designated as the bridal area for the day. My mom pins a curl that has fallen loose back into my updo.

“Everything is ready. The guys have the tents secured. The music is here. The buffet is set up. The yard looks like a garden of daisies,” Cam exclaims. As my one and only bridesmaid, she is beautiful in a pale-yellow sundress.

My parents wanted to give me the wedding of my dreams, one fit for a princess. They all but begged me to let them put it on for us. God knows the sixteenth birthday party they threw for me was more costly than most people’s weddings. My mother’s vision of my wedding would’ve been breathtaking.

But it didn’t seem right.

I want our wedding day to be the start of our life together, Tony’s and mine. We aren’t over-the-top people. Our life is more down-to-earth. There’s an emphasis on people and community over money and things.

Boss has expressed worry that the life he can provide me won’t be satisfying, and nothing could be further from the truth.

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