The lopsided sketch of Christian caught her eye. Where was he? Hallie glanced past the girls, scanning the yard. Unless he hid behind the trees to the side of the driveway, he wasn’t nearby. “Where’s your dad?”
Isla turned over her drawing, pointing at the words scrawled across the back. “He left a note.”
Immediately, Hallie recognized Christian’s handwriting scrawled hastily in pencil.
Meet me at the creek in 10?
Hallie knew the exact spot. Nestled in the foothills of the San Bernardinos, the Lucases’ property backed a miles-long thicket of scrub oak with pine trees becoming denser further down the trail. “The Woods,” as all the cousins called it when they were little. They used to love taking the five-minute walk to the clearing where the small stream passed through, spending hours skipping rocks and splashing around the ankle-deep water.
How did Christian know about that? And what was he up to?
Tyler and Brad had to have a hand in this. No wonder they couldn’t keep a straight face.
“Come inside, girls.” She ushered Isla and Penelope into the house.
It took longer than ten minutes to get them settled in the familiar company of “Uncle Tyler.” She was anxious to discover what plan Christian had concocted, but she wasn’t about to leave the girls—especially Isla—without being completely confident of their comfort.
Once they were seated next to her brother on the couch with plates of snacks, eagerly watchingHow the Grinch Stole Christmas, Hallie slipped on a thick sweater and left out the back door. She weaved through the numerous tents set up in the spacious backyard until she got to the gate.
She hadn’t been to the creek in years, but she still knew the way by heart. Her pulse pounded a jagged rhythm in her neck in time to each step. The nerves buzzed stronger the closer she got to him. After four days of silence, what could he possibly have to tell her that he couldn’t say over the phone?
It had to be something good. He wouldn’t drive the girls all the way up here, lavish her with hastily picked daisies and drawings if he planned to get back with his ex.
Right? The very possibility gave her pause.
What if everything had changed for him?
Light musical strains floated through the air to her, easing her doubts. She knew that melody; had danced to Jason Mraz’s proclamation of not giving up on loving someone. The sweet strains of the chorus brought her back to the night of that wonderful, glorious, beautiful dance she’d shared with Christian.
Peace spoke to her soul. Everything would be okay.Theywould be okay. More than okay. She increased her pace.
His back was to her when she stepped into the clearing. A small smile tugged at her mouth. “What’re you doing, Christian Gustafson?”
He turned, sliding his hands from his hoodie pocket as he approached her. “I was up all night trying to come up with the perfect grand gesture.” His voice was husky, uncertain.
Hallie held her breath, studying the glassy shine in his brown eyes, the way his brows furrowed like he was holding back emotion.
“I couldn’t think of anything that came close to being worthy of what you mean to me,” he said. “So, I’ve come here to ask this one question. Will you dance with me?”
Maybe it was the sweet reminder of that night. Or the sincerity of his tone. Whatever the reason, the simple question spurred her into action. She lunged at him, throwing her arms around his neck. Burying her face into his chest, she breathed him in, alreadycomforted by his familiar essence. He pulled her into his strong embrace, holding her tenderly as though refusing to let her go.
They didn’t dance. The music drifted into the background, mixed with the breeze rustling the trees around them and the water bubbling in the brook. All that mattered was him. His embrace, his presence, his love.
“Christian.” She backed up enough to look at him. “Why did you need a grand gesture?”
His hands ran down her arms, tangling with her fingers. “I know I messed up, Hal. I shouldn’t have shut you out. I left you with doubts, and I wouldn’t blame you for deciding to walk away. But please let me explain. Not to make excuses, just to help you understand.”
Hallie led him to a boulder overlooking the tiny stream. She sat, pulling him down next to her before nodding for him to continue.
“Seeing Sabrina again really shook me.” Christian stared at their interconnected hands on his thigh. “It sent me right back to that guy desperately trying to fix his marriage only to come home to his wife gone and his world in pieces. I spiraled. I’m sorry. You have every right to be mad.”
“I was never mad.” Tears stung her eyes at hearing the agony of his last few days. “Just worried about you and the girls. I want you all to be okay. Even if that’s without me.”
Christian leaned forward to rest his forehead on hers. “That’s the last thing I want. I don’t want to be that jaded guy anymore. I don’t want to be driven by the bitterness over what Sabrina did, unable to see the love right in front of me. You’ve shown me what a healthy relationship looks like, and you deserve that in a partner.”
Hallie swallowed past the thickness in her throat.
“You told me once that every problem has a solution.” He brought his hand up to caress her neck. “Hallie, you’re my solution. Not because I expect you to solve all my problems, but because I want to go through life with you. The highs, the lows. Everything. I want to help you get your bakery and walk with you when you’re stressed. I want to dance with you in the kitchen while we’re cleaning up dinnerand relax on the couch together after the girls are in bed. I love you. And I won’t give up until I become the man worthy of you.”
