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Holden stepped forward and looked around. “Did you pass him on the road leading up here?”
She shook her head. “The whole road from the entrance to here was empty.”
He’d disappeared. Again.
“Well, he said he was stealthy.” Holden stepped back, holding up the check to show her. “He’s donating money to my project.”
Faith stepped inside the house and looked around, probably searching for signs of J.J. “You mean investing?”
“He didn’t seem to expect anything for his money. He wants to help the town.”
“Wow,” Faith said.
What was he doing? He had the most beautiful woman in the world standing in front of him, and he was talking business?
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her toward him. “I talked to J.J. this morning,” he said as he looked down at her. “She said if I blow this one, she’ll stop speaking to me for a week.”
“Only a week?” Faith asked, but her smile made it clear that the words meant a lot to her. “Did you tell her you didn’t blow it?”
“I’m hoping I didn’t.” He pulled her even closer, giving her a full-on hug. This was where he was meant to be. Holding her close. Keeping her safe. “I plan to do everything I can to make both of you happy.”
“Already done.” She pulled back and smiled up at him. “Now, we probably should cash that check before you lose it.”
“I was thinking the same thing. How about an after-Christmas matinee?”
“Sounds perfect.” She looked in the direction of the door. “Should I go get J.J.?”
“She’ll be here soon enough. Meanwhile, I’m going to steal a kiss from my fake fiancée.”
She’d be his real fiancée soon enough. Until then, he was going to enjoy every single day as her boyfriend.
28
The maid of honor was only nine.
She was the youngest member of the wedding party, but it totally fit. It wouldn’t have been the same if she was a flower girl or the daughter of the groom.
No, J.J. Pryce needed to be standing up there next to her second mom-to-be.
Holden smiled at his daughter as she split from his best man, Lucky. He and Lucky weren’t just business partners these days. Over the past year, they’d become close friends.
Since Holden had been part of Lucky’s wedding party, he’d been a natural to stand up here with Holden. His now-good friends Matt, Denver, and Nic were up here too.
On J.J.’s side were Charity and Ana. Faith’s sisters were both happily married now, but Holden and Faith were the first couple to get married at the brand-new ski resort at the top of Misty Mountain.
The opening strains of “Here Comes the Bride” started, and Holden’s heart leapt into action. Faith stepped into the doorway, her hand looped through her father’s arm as her gaze connected with Holden’s. Even here, all the way across this gigantic, high-ceilinged room, sparks flew between them the second they looked at each other.
He would’ve thought it impossible, but he loved this woman more than ever. His heart felt like it might explode, he was filled with so much emotion at the sight of her. She was beautiful—gorgeous. It seemed impossible there could be anything on Earth this breathtaking. And she was pledging to spend the rest of her life with him.
How had he gotten so lucky?
Her eyes stayed on him as she walked up the aisle between rows of chairs. Everyone was standing, staring at her, but he barely noticed. He only had eyes for Faith Ardmore.
He’d proposed to her in the summer, during a trip to the beach with her family. J.J. had helped him hide the ring under a big shell, then kept an eye on it while he went to get her. She’d hidden behind a rock, videoing the entire thing on her phone, while he got down on one knee, right there on the sand, and proposed.
When they’d returned to everyone, they’d been officially engaged, and J.J. was on her way to getting her “second mom.”
“Love you,” he mouthed to Faith as she stepped to stand in front of him. She mouthed it back and gave him a big smile before they turned to face the preacher together.
