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Silas looks taken aback but doesn’t answer me at first. “I may have stopped by the Pine Tree yesterday—”
I grab him by his jacket and pull him in for a kiss.
“You aren’t mad?” he asks skeptically.
She chuckles and shakes her head. “You want to know if I’m mad because you talked her into writing us a review.” It’s not a question but a statement.
“To be honest, it barely took any convincing. She explained that she never blamed you and that she was going to write about the inn for you either way.”
“I don’t know what’s hotter,” I say, and tilt my head like I’m actually pondering what I’m about to say. “You swooping in to save the day, or you be completely honest with me and not take all the credit? I mean, there was even going to be celebratory sex, but now.”
“I did it.” He shrugs like it is no big deal. “I saved you. The inn. Three dollars on the dozen donuts on the floor. I saved it all.”
I burst out laughing. “I love you.”
Silas’s face sobers. “You what?”
“I lov—” I start to say, but he wraps his hand around the back of my neck and pulls me in for a kiss.
“I love you too,” he whispers against my lips. “Always have, always will.”
EPILOGUE
Silas
It’s been a year since my life changed so much for the better. I have the woman I love and two great kids that love to keep us on our toes. But it’s time to make it official. I would’ve asked Eloise to marry me last Christmas, but I knew taking it slower for Brayden and Aspen would be best to let them adjust to this new change. But that didn’t stop me from buying the ring that’s been burning a hole in my pocket ever since.
“Mom said you wanted to talk to us,” Aspen says, running into the living room, followed by Brayden.
Elle thinks I wanted to talk to them about what they want for Christmas.
“Take a seat,” I say, pointing to the couch.
“Are we in trouble?” Brayden asks.
“I don’t know.” I try to hold in the laughter that wants to come out. “Did you do something wrong that you want to tell me about?”
Brayden thinks for a moment and then shakes his head no, seeming to think better of the idea. “Nope.”
I chuckle. “I didn’t think you would.”
Brayden grins at me.
He’s a good kid. It’s been so nice watching him relax and be the kid that he’s supposed to be, even if he likes to test his mother’s patience and his sister’s sanity.
“So, your mom thinks we are going to talk about Christmas gift ideas,” I say, and they both perk up. “And we will get to that in a moment, but there is something important I want to ask you both.”
Brayden and Aspen exchange a nervous glance.
“It’s nothing bad,” I continue. “At least I hope you don’t think it’s a bad idea. But I wanted to see if you two were okay with me asking your mom to marry me.”
Aspen gasps excitedly, but I hold up my hands to stop her from screaming it out loud. Eloise is in the kitchen baking, and I don’t want her to hear what we are talking about.
“Will you be our dad?” Aspen asks.
“That would come with the role, but I already feel like you two are mine already.”
Aspen pushes off the couch and runs into my arms. The soft whimpers in my ear as I wrap my arms around but fill and break my heart for her. She’s my little girl, and if all goes to plan, I will take care of her for the rest of my life.
