“Too good, in some ways. I closed myself off because it was safer. Then there was you.” She reached up to lay a hand on his cheek. “I've been so afraid of what I feel for you. But that's over. I love you, Nathaniel. It doesn't matter if it was magic or fate, coincidence or sheer luck. I'm just glad I found you.”
She lifted her face to his, reveled in the freedom of the kiss, the scent of the sea, the promise of his arms.
“I don't need retirement plans and insurance policies, Nathaniel,” she murmured. “Not that you don't. It's very important that you... Stop laughing.”
“I'm crazy about you.” Still laughing, Nathaniel scooped her off her feet and swung her in dizzying circles.
“Crazy period.” She struggled to catch her breath and clung to him. “We're going to fall off the cliff.”
“Not tonight we're not. Nothing can happen to us tonight. Can't you feel it? We're the magic now.” He set her on her feet again and held her close, so that even the air couldn't come between them. “I love you, Meg, but damned if I'm going to get down on one knee.”
She went very still. “Nathaniel, I don't think—”
“Good. Don't think. Just listen. I've sailed around the world more than once, and seen in a decade more than most people see in their lifetimes. But I had to come home to find you. Don't say anything,” he murmured. “Sit.”
He led her back to the rock and sat with her. “I have something more for you than paperwork. That was just to smooth the path. Take a look at it,” he said as he drew a box from his pocket. “Then tell me it wasn't meant.”
With trembling fingers, she opened the box. With a sound of wonder, she lifted her eyes to his. “It's a pearl,” she whispered.
“I was going to go for the traditional diamond. Seemed like the right thing. But when I saw this, I knew.” He took it out of the box. “Coincidence?”
“I don't know. When did you buy this?”
“Last week. I thought about walking here with you, that first time. The moon and the stars.” He studied the ring, the single glowing pearl surrounded by small, bright diamonds. “The moon and the stars,” he said again, taking her hands. “That's what I want to give you, Megan.”
“Nathaniel.” She tried to tell herself it was too fast, too foolish, but the thought wouldn't lodge. “It's lovely.”
“It's meant.” He touched his lips to hers. “Just as we're meant. Marry me, Megan. Start a life with me. Let me be Kevin's father and make more children with you. Let me grow old loving you.”
She couldn't find the logic, or think of all the reasons they should wait. So she answered with her heart.
“Yes. Yes to everything.” Laughing, she threw her arms around him. “Oh, Nathaniel. Yes, yes, yes...”
He squeezed his eyes tight on relief and joy. “You sure you don't want to qualify that?”
“I'm sure. I'm so sure.” Drawing back, she held out her left hand. “Please. I want the moon and the stars. I want you.”
He slipped the ring on her finger. “You've got me, sugar.”
When he drew her close again, he thought he heard the air sigh, like a woman.
Epilogue
“Mom! We're here!”
Megan glanced up from her desk just as Kevin flew in the office door. She lifted her brow at the suit jacket and tie he wore.
“My, my, don't you look handsome!”
“You said I had to dress up 'cause it's Aunt Colleen's birthday dinner. I guess it's okay.” He stretched his neck. “Dad showed me how to tie the tie by myself.”
“And you did a fine job.” She restrained herself from smoothing and straightening the knot. “How was the tour business today?”
“It was great. Calm seas and a freshening breeze. We sighted the first whale off the port bow.”
“Oh, I love that nautical talk.” She kissed his nose.
“If I didn't have to go to school, I could work with Dad and Holt every day, and not just on Saturday.”
“And if you didn't go to school, you'd never know much more than you do today. Saturdays will have to do.” She gave his hair a tug. “Mate.”
He'd expected as much. And, really, he didn't mind school. After all, he was a whole year in front of Alex. He grinned at his mother. “Everybody's here. When are the new babies coming?”
“Mmm...” With the Calhoun sisters in varying stages of pregnancy, it was an interesting question. “I'd say on and off starting next month and through the New Year.”
He ran a fingertip over the corner of her desk. “Who do you think's going to be first? C.C. or Suzanna?”
“Why?” She glanced up from the ledger, and her eyes narrowed. “Kevin, you are not betting on who has the next baby.”
“But, Mom-”
“No betting,” she repeated, and smothered a laugh. “Give me just a minute to finish up here, and I'll be along.”
“Hurry up.” Kevin was bouncing. “The party's already started.”
“All right, I'll just—” Just nothing, she thought, and closed the ledger with a snap. “Office hours are over. Let's go party.”
“All right!” Grabbing her hand, Kevin hauled her out of the room. “Alex said Dutch made this really big cake and it's going to have about a hundred candles on it.”
“Not quite a hundred,” Megan said with a laugh. When they neared the family wing, she glanced toward the ceiling. “Honey, I'd better check upstairs first.”
“Looking for someone?” Nathaniel came down the steps. There was a twinkle in his eye and a tiny pink bundle in his arms.
“I should have known you'd wake her up.”
“She was awake. Weren't you, sugar?” He bent his head to kiss his daughter's cheek. “She was asking for me.”
“Really.”
“She can't talk yet,” Kevin informed his father. “She's only six weeks old.” “She's very advanced for her age. Smart, like her mama.”
“Smart enough to know a sucker when she sees one.” They made such a picture, she thought, the big man with a boy at his side and a baby in his arms. Her picture, she thought, and smiled. “Come here, Luna.”
“She wants to go the party, too,” Kevin declared, reaching up to stroke a finger over his sister's cheek.
“Sure she does. That's what she told me.” “Oh, Dad.”
Grinning, Nathaniel ruffled Kevin's hair. “I could eat a pod of whales, mate. How about you?”
“Aye, aye.” Kevin made a dash for the parlor. “Come on, come on, everybody's waiting.”
“I've got to do this first.” Nathaniel leaned over his daughter to kiss Megan. “Jeez.” With a roll of his eyes, Kevin headed for the noise, and the real fun. “You're looking awfully pleased with yourself,” Megan murmured.
“Why shouldn't I? I've got a beautiful wife, a terrific son, an incredible daughter.” He ran his knuckles over Megan's pearl choker. “What else could I ask for? How about you?”
Megan lifted her hand to pull his mouth back to hers. “I've got the moon and the stars.”