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“I love you so much. You are my favorite thing in this whole world,” he repeated the declaration he’d made just this morning in her bed. “I want to make a life with you by my side. I want us to have a family and grow old together, here on this ranch, in our house. Will you marry me, Summer, and be the sunshine in my life always?”
“Yes.” The word burst from her mouth and tears filled her eyes, spilling over.
Caleb sighed out his relief and stood, taking her shaking hand and sliding the ring on her finger. He kissed her palm and held it to his cheek, wrapping his other arm around her and drawing her close. He kissed her and didn’t stop for a long time.
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you, too.”
“We’ll meet the architect in January. They’ll start construction in April. We should be in our new home by September.”
“You really mean it. We’re going to live here?”
“Literally, right here.”
She took in the snow-covered ground, the towering green pines and other nude trees. Close enough to the big house, but far enough away to have their privacy and space to be together and raise their children.
“It’s perfect.”
“It will be once we’re married.”
“I can’t wait.”
“I’ll leave the date and details to you, sweetheart. I don’t care when or where, just so long as you’re my wife.”
He kissed her again, rubbing his hands up and down her back. “Let’s get back. It’s freezing out here, and you’re shaking.”
“I’m excited.”
He led her back to the sleigh, helping her in and pouring her a mug of hot chocolate. She wrapped her cold hands around it and settled in next to him as he took the reins and set the horses in motion.
“You guys didn’t go to town last night, did you?”
“No. Your brothers helped with the snowmen and getting the sleigh. We did share a few beers while they alternately threatened to kill me if I didn’t make you happy and encouraged me to propose a hundred different ways. Ninety percent were stupid and corny.”
She laughed and kissed his cheek. “Sounds like them. It was perfect. I’ll never forget this day.”
“We’ll make a lifetime of memories.”
They came around the bend and she spotted her brothers with a tall, dark-haired stranger, who looked a lot like the man beside her.
“My Christmas gift to you arrived.”
“What’s that, sweetheart?”
She pointed to the porch.
“Blake?”
“I didn’t want you to spend Christmas without your family.”
Caleb reined in the horses. Her brothers and his came down to join them. Sam plucked her out of the sleigh and hugged her close, spinning her around.
“You sure you want to keep him? I could arrest him for something.”
Sam turned her loose and Jack hugged her close. “I can probably call in a few favors and get him deployed again.”
“Not a chance.” Caleb folded her into his chest and kissed her on the head. She melted into him.
