Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
Tania
The soft glow of string lights reflects off the water, the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore creating a soothing backdrop. The restaurant is tucked away from the city, intimate and serene, the kind of place where the world seems to pause. Levi chose it, of course. He always knows how to find the perfect setting.
We sit at a table by the window, the flickering candlelight casting warm shadows over the crisp white tablecloth. Levi’s hand rests lightly on mine, his touch grounding me as I sip my wine.
“To us,” he says, raising his glass.
I smile, clinking my glass against his. “To us.”
The dinner begins with light conversation, a reflection of the calm we both desperately needed after the chaos of the past few weeks. We laugh about Damon’s flustered exit from the boardroom, recounting every detail with a mix of relief and triumph.
“You should’ve seen his face,” Levi says, his green eyes sparkling with amusement. “I don’t think he expected you to step in like that.”
“I couldn’t help it,” I reply, grinning. “Someone had to put him in his place.”
“And you did it brilliantly,” he says, his tone softening. “You were amazing, Tania.”
His words make my cheeks flush, but I shake my head. “We were amazing. It was a team effort.”
He leans back in his chair, his smile turning thoughtful. “We are a good team, aren’t we?”
“The best,” I say, my voice quiet but certain.
As the night stretches on, our conversation shifts, growing quieter and more personal. Levi recounts the early days of the merger, the pressure he felt to prove himself, and the fear that kept him from reaching out to me sooner.
“I thought I had to do it all alone,” he admits, swirling the wine in his glass. “But I realize now, I didn’t need to. I just needed you.”
His honesty makes my chest ache, and I reach across the table, taking his hand. “You’ve come a long way, Levi. I hope you see that.”
He looks at me, his expression open and vulnerable. “That means more than you know, Tania.”
In that moment, I feel a swell of pride—not just for the man sitting across from me, but for us. For everything we’ve overcome, for the way we’ve rebuilt what was broken. I’ve loved Levi for a long time, but tonight, I’m struck by something deeper.
I’m proud of him.
After dinner, Levi surprises me with another gesture—a private spot on the restaurant’s deck, overlooking the water. Soft music plays from hidden speakers, and he holds out his hand, his smile warm.
“Dance with me?” he asks.
I laugh lightly, placing my hand in his. “You know I can’t say no to you.”
We sway together under the string lights, the world fading into the background. His arms wrap around me, pulling me close, and I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
“Tania,” he murmurs, his voice soft. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
“You’re impossible,” I reply, smiling against his shirt. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He chuckles, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “You’re stuck with me now, Caldwell.”
“And you’re stuck with me, Nichols,” I say, tilting my head to meet his gaze. “Forever.”
The words feel light but significant, a promise spoken in the quiet of the night. And as we dance, the water shimmering beneath the moonlight, I realize that for the first time, I’m not just hopeful for our future—I’m certain of it.