He’d reached one of the most important moments in his life, a moment that would affect everything that came after. . . . And the man who’d always set clear goals, then taken steps toward those goals, had no confidence in the step he planned to take with Leah.

He’d have felt better if he’d booked them a trip or bought her a diamond bracelet or . . . anything else. Instead, he was here alone. Just him. And the words he needed to say to her.

He was trying to put her first. She’d communicated that she didn’t want gifts or grand gestures.

Even so, this setting and strategy didn’t feel like enough.

He didn’t feel like enough.

A sinking sensation moved through his torso. This was going to fail.

Leafless trees sent strips of shade across the dirt path at his feet. The plants across from him bloomed with white flowers. He picked a piece of fluff off his navy sweater and wondered if he should have chosen something nicer than jeans—

“Sebastian.”

He turned toward the sound of Leah’s voice. Sunlight highlighted the slopes of her face and the shiny lemon-colored strands in her hair. She wore the outfit with the polka dot shirt she’d worn in Atlanta.

The day they’d met, he’d thought she had the face of a world-weary angel, but he hadn’t known the half of it. He’d had no idea then of her quickness, feistiness, fairness. He hadn’t known what it felt like to kiss her. Or how one look from her blue eyes could set his world on fire.

Sick with worry that she’d reject him, he straightened to his full height.

She stilled. “You saved Dylan’s life, and I’ll never forget it for as long as I live. How can I thank you?”

He didn’t want her gratitude if he couldn’t have her. “A better man would say that you don’t have to thank me. But I’m going to press my advantage.”

“I expected nothing less.”

“As you know, I never let indebtedness go to waste.”

“I’m very aware of this truth.”

“You can thank me by taking me back.”

She angled her head a few degrees. Not shooting him down, but not saying anything, either.

Dread constricted his ribs. “Since the day we met,” he told her, “all I’ve wanted is to be with you.”

“At Claire’s house, you told me you couldn’t get any more involved with me.”

“That was stupid,” he said bluntly. “When I watched Claire’s dad hit you and realized that you’d broken your promise, it rattled me.” He struggled to find the right words. “You know when you fall, and you see the ground rushing up at you?”

“Yes.”

“The things that happened at Claire’s made my fears rush up at me. I’m sorry about how I reacted.”