When he let go of her hands, he laughed nervously and dug in his pocket. Then he dropped to his knee, and Harper realized what was happening. Her hands started trembling, and her jaw dropped as he produced a small ring box and opened it for her.

She couldn’t even see the ring, though. Tears were blurring her vision as she stared down at him, and her heart raced in her chest.

“What I’m saying is…” He paused, swallowing uneasily. “Harper Fisher, will you marry me?”

She took a deep breath, terrified she might sob or scream, and when she finally spoke, her answer came out weak and shaky. “Yes.”

“I mean, we don’t have to get married right away,” Daniel hurried on, apparently not having heard her whisper of a reply. “We can wait until you’re done with college or whenever you want. But I wanted to make it official—”

“Yes,” Harper said, louder this time, and she smiled down at him. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

“Really?” He laughed in relief, and with his own slightly tremulous hands, he slid a small diamond ring on her finger. “I was so afraid you’d say no.”

“How could I say no?” she asked. “I can’t imagine my life without you, either.”

He stood so he could kiss her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Under the starlit twilight, Harper kissed him deeply, knowing that she’d never love anyone as much as him, and when he held her in his arms, she breathed in deeply, savoring the magic that was all around them.