The first light of dawn painted the Boston skyline in shades of gold and rose when Harmony stirred awake. For a moment, she was disoriented by the unfamiliar luxury of the hotel suite, but then she felt Jeremy's warmth beside her, his arm draped protectively across her waist. She allowed herself to simply exist in that moment, memorizing the gentle rhythm of his breathing, the way the early morning light caught the slight curl in his hair.
Her prosthetic leg rested within easy reach - exactly where she'd left it, no awkward attempts to hide it away. The realization brought unexpected tears to her eyes. Here, in this space they were creating together, she didn't need to hide any part of herself.
The peaceful moment was broken by the harsh buzz of Jeremy's phone. He stirred, pressing a sleepy kiss to her shoulder before reaching for it. "Crawford speaking," his voice was husky with sleep but quickly sharpened. "Marcus, it's 5 AM in Boston... Yes, I understand the urgency, but..."
Harmony watched as he slipped from bed, tension gathering in his shoulders as he moved to the balcony. Even through the glass, she could see the growing strain in his posture as he paced.
Her own phone lit up with messages:
Emily: Up yet? Tell us Everything! How's the suite? How's the view? How's the man? 😉
Jane: Give her time to wake up first! But seriously, we want to know everything! ❤️
Before she could reply, another message appeared:
Mara: Morning, sis! Weird waking up and not hearing you bumping around the bathroom. Miss you already. Lunch later? Need to tell you about Alex...
The balcony door slid open, and Jeremy returned, running a hand through his disheveled hair. The morning light caught the silver at his temples - a detail she hadn't noticed before, something that made him look distinguished rather than tired.
"I'm sorry, love," he sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Not exactly the romantic morning I had planned."
Harmony sat up, wrapping her arms around him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Hey, this is real life. I want all of it - not just the carefully planned romantic moments."
He turned to face her, his eyes softening as they always did when he looked at her. "How did I get so lucky?"
"I ask myself the same thing," she whispered, leaning in to kiss him. He tasted of sleep and yesterday's coffee, and something uniquely him that made her heart race.
A knock at the door interrupted them. "That would be breakfast," Jeremy smiled against her lips. "Don't move."
He returned with a silver tray laden with coffee, fresh croissants, fruit, and a single red rose in a crystal vase. "The café had to open early for this special order, but their chef owed me a favor."
"You didn't have to go to all this trouble," she said, but her heart swelled at the gesture.
"Loving you isn't trouble," he settled beside her, pouring coffee exactly the way she liked it. "It's the easiest thing I've ever done."
Steam rose from their coffee cups as Jeremy broke off a piece of croissant, offering it to her. "Do you remember our first conversation about breakfast?" he asked, eyes twinkling.
"The great British breakfast debate," Harmony laughed, accepting the bite. "You were so horrified that I preferred coffee to tea."
"In my defense, I was raised believing tea could solve all problems." His smile softened. "Though I must admit, sharing coffee with you has changed my mind about a lot of things."
"Like what?"
"Like how the perfect morning doesn't have to be perfectly planned." He brushed a crumb from her lip with his thumb. "How sometimes the best moments are the messy, real ones."
Harmony caught his hand, pressing a kiss to his palm. "Even with all the interruptions?"
"Especially those. Because you're here, handling it all with such grace. Making every moment better just by being in it."
His phone buzzed again. They both stared at it for a moment before he deliberately turned it face down.
"Jeremy..."
"Just for breakfast," he said softly. "Just give me this moment with you before the world crashes back in."
Her phone rang - Mara's ringtone. "Take it," Jeremy encouraged. "I need to return some calls anyway."
"Hey sis," Harmony answered, watching as Jeremy moved to the balcony again.
"So?" Mara's voice was eager. "How's the suite? How's the man? How's everything?"
"It's..." Harmony watched Jeremy pace, phone to his ear, his free hand gesturing as he spoke. "It's real. Not perfect, but real. And somehow that makes it better."
"But?"
"His world is so complex, Mara. Board meetings, international calls, his mother's expectations..."
"Stop right there," Mara interrupted. "You're doing that thing where you create problems before they exist. That man looks at you like you hung the moon. Trust that."
On the balcony, Jeremy's voice rose slightly. "Mother, with all due respect, my personal life is not a board matter..."
Harmony's heart clenched. "I should go..."
"Love you, sis," Mara said quickly. "And Harmony? You deserve this. All of it."
The call ended just as Jeremy came back inside, looking drained. Without a word, Harmony held out her arms. He sank into her embrace, burying his face in her neck.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I wanted to give you a perfect morning."
"This is perfect," she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. "Because it's real. Because you're letting me see all of you, just like you see all of me."
He pulled back slightly, cupping her face in his hands. "My mother wants to video call later. To discuss 'the situation.'" His thumb brushed her cheek. "I want you there with me. No more hiding, no more trying to keep my worlds separate. You are my world now."
"We should prepare for that call," she said softly, continuing to run her fingers through his hair. "Your mother will have questions."
"Let her ask," he pulled her closer. "I have all the answers I need right here."
"Jeremy..."
"No, listen," he sat up, taking both her hands in his. "Before you, my life was all about meeting expectations - the perfect businessman, the perfect son. But you've shown me there's beauty in imperfection, strength in vulnerability. Whatever my mother says, whatever the board decides, none of it changes what I know in my heart."
Tears pricked at her eyes. "And what's that?"
"That some things are worth fighting for. That real love isn't about perfect moments - it's about perfect understanding."
Her phone lit up with another text from Jane: "Living the dream yet? 💫"
Looking at Jeremy, at the morning light turning his eyes to warm honey, at the way he held her like she was precious but not fragile, Harmony felt something shift inside her. This wasn't just about romance anymore - it was about partnership, about facing whatever came their way together.
She picked up her phone, typing quickly to Jane: "Better than any dream. This is real."
In the soft morning light, with the taste of coffee and croissants still on their lips, they held each other, ready to face whatever came next.