Page 69 of Christmas Coffee

I cut her off and take her face in my hands and tell her, “I’m in love with you. I have been for a long time and nothing could ever change that. You’re my heart, my home. Everything I was missing, everything I ever wanted has been staring me in the face. I love you now and I’ll love you tomorrow.”

Nova swallows hard and throws her arms around my neck. When she releases me, I pull back and smile down at her. “Will you help me trim my tree?”

She snorts loudly trying to conceal an out of control giggle. “Celyn,” she scolds. “We need to go inside first.”

My face burns as I stand up and then offer her a hand. “That’s not what I meant!”

She doesn’t comment on the blush rushing across my cheeks, but she smiles harder. “Can I trim your tree?” she teases, taking my palm in hers and then standing. “Really.”

I point to the massive pine sprawled across the floor of my apartment. “I was serious!”

She takes my hand and walks us over the threshold. “So was I. I’ll trim your tree if you ride my sleigh.”

I laugh and lean in, whispering in her ear, “I’d love to ride your sleigh, and maybe even stuff something up your chimney.”

She laughs and swats my chest, “Celyn!”

“That makes you blush? Really?” I’m grinning at her, leaning down, my mouth close to hers with a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I lean in closer and drop my voice, “You are the most precious,” I kiss the corner of her mouth, followed by the other, “wonderful gift I’ve ever gotten. Will you stay with me tonight?”

She nods sweetly, those long lashes focused on my lips. “Yes.”

“Will you stay with me the night after? And the night after that?”

Her smile increases and she looks up at me. “Yes, if you want me.”

“I want you every night, every day. When I thought I lost you, it was clear.”

“What was?”

When she looks up at me with her green eyes, I bare my heart to her. “I want you in my life, in my bed, and I don’t want you to leave. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better life than one with you. What I’m saying is, will you marry me?” It’s too fast, too soon. We’ve barely had any time, and I hate myself for being so weak, for saying it now.

But when her eyes widen and I think she’s going to push me away, she blinks rapidly as if trying to keep tears from falling. “Yes.”