His expression transformed into something that made Juniper’s breath catch. The falling snow created a curtain of white around them, as if nature itself was giving them a moment of privacy amid the chaos.

His hand found her waist with familiar certainty, drawing her closer as the crowd’s energy shifted from celebration to anticipation. Juniper felt rather than heard the collective intake of breath from the observers as Daniel’s other hand rose to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing away a snowflake that had landed there.

“Juni,” he breathed, the word carrying volumes of unspoken meaning.