‘On whether we both feel the same way.’
‘And what way is that?’
‘You’re not making this easy.’
‘Where’s the fun in that?’
But now it wasn’t time for talking. He bent his head closer to her, moving slowly, making the moment go on forever, until his lips finally met hers. And it was everything she’d hoped it would be. Tender, oozing with passion, and like it was meant to be.
‘You need to promise me something, Amelia,’ he said when they came up for air. ‘Promise me you’ll stop putting everyone else before yourself.’
‘I can’t.’
‘How did I know you were going to say that?’ Laughing, his lips hovered dangerouslyclose to hers again.
‘Promise me you’ll be my date to Cleo’s wedding next year. Come as my plus one. There’s nothing worse than turning up at those sorts of events on your own.’
‘It’s a deal. But you need to do something for me, he grinned. ‘Lose those trainers the second we get back to the inn. You look like you’ve got clown feet. How did you ever run in a pair so big?’
‘Kyle needed me, I knew I had to be there, I just ran.’
His eyes never leaving hers, he told her, ‘You’re amazing, you know that? Promise me you’ll never change.’
She smiled, looking up into dark eyes, a hint of stubble on his jaw, as the moonlight managed to sneak in between the tiny crack of the doors to the wooden chalet at the winter markets. ‘Kiss me again, for longer, it’s already getting cold in here again.’
And when he kissed her this time she melted into him, the dizzying feeling of falling in love in Manhattan. Their own holiday romance, their own happy ever after.
Epilogue
On Christmas Eve Nathan and Amelia had eventually gone back to the Inglenook Inn, where the champagne was flowing and the party was still in full swing. They danced together and kissed when they thought nobody was looking, at least until Kyle did his impression of Nathan and dragged them apart. Thankfully Nathan saw the funny side.
The snow that started on Christmas Eve had carried on until every inch of pavement and street was covered, making for a magical Christmas Day dinner at the Inglenook Inn. And now, on Boxing Day, here they all were in Inglenook Falls to take a look at the Chestnut Lodge. Darcy and Myles led the way from the station towards their new guesthouse, Holly and Mitch had been waiting at the top of the track that led down to the Christmas tree farm and Cleo and Dylan had just arrived to meet their friends.
‘Inglenook Falls is kind of special,’ said Amelia as she stood next to Cleo. ‘It’s got the small-town charm I never knew existed anymore.’
‘It really has.’
‘Would you think about getting married here?’
Cleo began to smile. ‘I’ve already put in a request to book a venue.’
‘That’s amazing, where?’
Cleo tapped the side of her nose. ‘Not telling, at least not yet, not until it’s one hundred per cent confirmed.’
‘Spoilsport.’
Holly agreed. ‘I’m desperate to know too, but I’ve already been hounding her and she won’t give in.’
With the snow giving Inglenook Falls that magical feel, they gathered in the small parking lot out front. Despite its proximity to Main Street, close to a little library and an Italian restaurant, the guesthouse was well hidden and would make a wonderful escape.
Nathan kissed Amelia before joining the other men to talk building plans as they walked to the side of the lodge, inspecting it from all angles as though they were structural experts.
‘Are you going to keep everything mostly the same?’ Cleo wondered. ‘The porch is delightful, really wonderful in the summer months.’
‘It is,’ Holly agreed. ‘I’ve sat up there drinking homemade lemonade with the previous owners. You can see enough of Main Street to feel part of it all, but it’s still so quiet and a great place to relax. Not that you two know how to do that,’ she added, looking at Darcy now.
Darcy smiled. ‘I’m hoping that even though we’re as busy as ever, it’ll be busy together rather than running our lives on separate tracks. Does that make sense?’
