HEART BEAT

CHAPTER TWELVE

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**Chapter 12**

The next morning, Kira woke up to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. She stirred, still wrapped in Alex's arms, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. The events of the previous day replayed in her mind, and a smile spread across her face as she remembered the proposal, the joy, and the love that had filled every moment.

Carefully, she slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Alex. She wanted a few minutes to herself to process everything before the day began. Padding quietly to the kitchen, she began brewing a pot of coffee, the familiar routine helping to ground her in the reality of their new future together.

As the aroma of coffee filled the air, Kira leaned against the counter, gazing out the window at the peaceful morning scene. The world outside was just beginning to wake up, the soft sounds of birds chirping and the distant hum of traffic creating a comforting background noise. She felt a sense of calm wash over her, a deep contentment that came from knowing she was exactly where she was meant to be.

Her eyes drifted to the engagement ring on her finger, the diamond catching the light and sparkling brilliantly. It was still surreal to think that she and Alex were officially engaged, that they were planning to spend the rest of their lives together. She traced the band with her fingertip, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. This was a new chapter, one filled with possibilities, but also with the unknown.

As if sensing her thoughts, Alex appeared in the doorway, rubbing sleep from his eyes. His hair was tousled, and he had the kind of sleepy, disheveled look that Kira found irresistibly adorable. He smiled when he saw her, his eyes lighting up with that familiar warmth that always made her heart skip a beat.

"Good morning, fiancée," he said, his voice still husky from sleep.

Kira's heart fluttered at the word, and she couldn't help but grin. "Good morning, fiancé."

Alex crossed the room to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. "How are you feeling this morning?"

Kira sighed contentedly, leaning into his embrace. "Happy. A little overwhelmed, but mostly just... happy. I still can't believe all of this is real."

"It's real," Alex murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. "And it's only going to get better from here."

Kira looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "Are you nervous at all? About what's to come?"

Alex paused, considering her question. "A little, I suppose. It's a big step, and there's a lot we'll need to figure out. But I'm not nervous about us, if that's what you mean. I know that as long as we're together, we can handle anything."

His words brought a sense of reassurance that Kira hadn't realized she needed. She nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're right. We'll figure it out, one step at a time."

They stood there for a moment, wrapped up in each other, the world outside seeming distant and unimportant. It was in these quiet moments that Kira felt the depth of their connection most strongly, the unspoken understanding that had always existed between them now stronger than ever.

After a while, Alex pulled back slightly, a playful glint in his eyes. "So, what's on the agenda for today? Should we start planning the wedding, or maybe take a day off to just enjoy being engaged?"

Kira laughed, the sound light and full of happiness. "As tempting as it is to dive right into wedding planning, I think we should take a day for ourselves. We have plenty of time to figure out all the details."

Alex nodded in agreement. "I like the sound of that. Let's spend the day doing whatever we want, no plans, no schedules. Just us."

Kira's heart warmed at the thought. A day spent with Alex, free from the pressures of work or obligations, sounded like exactly what they needed. "Perfect. Where should we start?"