“And yet you’re here right now.”
He covered their linked fingers with his other hand, his thumbs running over the backs of her knuckles. “Because it still doesn’t make sense, but it doesn’t have to. I know we’ve only known each other for a week. I know you live here and I live in Connecticut. And I don’t care. I don’t want to say goodbye to you, Nola Kendrick.”
She stepped closer to him, tipping her head back so she could still see his face. “You’re right. It doesn’t make any sense, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting you to never say goodbye to me again.”
He let go of one of her hands so he could caress the side of her face before cupping the back of her neck. “I started falling for you the minute I met you and I haven’t stopped falling. I’m never going to. I’m in love with you and I’m going to be in love with you every day for the rest of my life.”
“The second you walked through the door of the lodge, I knew my life was never going to be the same again.” Tears sprang to her eyes, but they were happy tears this time. “I’m in love with you, too. Right from the moment I met you, and you showing up tonight is the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.”
He smiled, his blue eyes shining with joy, and he whisperedMerry Christmasbefore lowering his lips to hers in a kiss filled with the promise of endless love.
Epilogue
Christmas Day
One year later
“This is allI really wanted for Christmas.”
Ian’s voice was low and a little rough, and Nola snuggled deeper against him. She was currently engaged in her second favorite activity, which was sitting sideways across Ian’s lap in the massive, well-cushioned chair he’d bought for her back porch so they could cuddle together while enjoying the view.
“You could have said thatbeforewe spent thousands of dollars,” she teased. They’d decided to buy a joint gift for themselves this year—a 2-up touring snowmobile so they could ride together sometimes—and they were both looking forward to taking it out soon.
“I don’t know how far in advance you make your Christmas lists, but this is what I’ll want for Christmas next year, too. And the next.” He kissed the side of her neck. “For every Christmas, forever.”
“That’s a long time to be on Santa’s nice list,” she warned. “And I like you on the naughty list, personally.”
“Yournaughty list,” he said, and then he dropped his voice to a whisper. “But not the guy in the red suit’s naughty list.”
She laughed and gave him a little jab with her elbow. He jostled her slightly, and she thought it was in retaliation, but then she realized he’d pushed his hand down between the cushions of the chair and was fishing around for something.
“I want to give you your Christmas present a little early, before the kids get here,” he said, sounding a little distracted by whatever he was looking for.
“That would probably be less awkward for everybody.” The jostling finally stopped. “But they’re going to be here soon, so you’ll have to be quick.”
“What is it you think I’m giving you?” When she laughed, he shook his head. “Am I supposed to wrap a red bow around my dick?”
“I could untie it with my teeth.”
That image forced him to shift a little in the chair, moving her weight a little to the right and she laughed again. “I’m trying to be romantic here.”
“You have to admit that would be romantic. Unless my depth perception was off and I missed the bow.”
“Ouch.”
“We agreed we could buy each other one small gift to open this morning since we bought the snowmobile. And we already opened those.” She kissed his jawline. “I love those slippers, by the way.”
“I think they’ll go well with this.”
Nola turned her head to see the small velvet box he was holding in his hand, the lid opened to reveal a stunning diamond ring. The round diamond in the center was surrounded by smaller diamonds and when his hand moved, they reflected sparkles of light at her.
Pressing her hand to her chest, she tilted her head back so she could see his face through the sheen of tears. “It’s gorgeous, Ian.”
“Will you marry me, Nola?”
“Yes,” she said with no hesitation. “Yes, I want to marry you.”
Even though she’d been expecting this moment for a while, watching him slide the ring onto her finger filled her with so much emotion she could barely breathe.
