My stomach swoops as if I’m charging down the track of a roller coaster in the last car. “But you live in New York.”
I don’t know why that’s the first thing out of my mouth and not immediately the word no. But it’s the first thing that pops in my head, that we can’t be married and live in different states.
He shakes his head. “I’m quitting my job. Starting my own business like I’ve wanted to for years, the same way you did when you bought this place. I can do that job from anywhere, so I can stay in Mistletoe Falls, with you.”
Excitement bubbles in my stomach and fizzles in my veins. Am I really considering this?
God, yes. Yes, I am.
Since the moment I met Carter, something just felt right about him. Solid. As though he’d finally taken his place in my life as he was always meant to. Maybe that’s why I was so upset afterour first date when he rejected me outright. I questioned how I could be so wrong about the connection between us.
Carter doesn’t pressure me for an answer while I stand silent. He just looks up at me with a hopeful expression on his face while I work it out in my head.
But it doesn’t take me long to know my answer. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Tears fill my eyes as he slides the ring onto my finger. It’s a perfect fit as if he measured my ring finger. He stands and takes my face in his hands, pulling me in for a kiss. We both laugh and cry happy tears while our lips mingle together. It’s much too short when he abruptly pulls away.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
He cringes. “I practiced my speech all day in my head, and I can’t believe I missed the second most important part.”
“What?”
“I want us to get married tonight.”
My mouth drops open. “Tonight?”
“Today was supposed to be Steph and Doug’s day, so everything is already in motion for there to be a wedding this evening. I want it to be ours. I don’t want to waste any time starting my life with you.”
His request is the single most romantic thing I’ve heard in my life. Maybe a little insane, but romantic, nonetheless.
It doesn’t take me more than half a second to think about it before I blurt, “Yes!”
We crash together in another kiss, and when we pull away this time, he rests his forehead on mine, his hands holding my face to his.
“Are we crazy for doing this?” I ask.
“Probably, but it doesn’t make it wrong.”
“It doesn’t feel wrong.”
He smiles at me. “No, it doesn’t.”
“What am I going to wear? It’s not like I have a wedding dress lying around.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Actually, you do.”
“There’s no way I’m wearing my sister’s wedding dress.”
He laughs. “Wear your bridesmaid’s dress then. You’ll look beautiful in whatever you wear, Ash. I just want to marry you.” He runs a hand down my arm.
“That’s actually a good idea. I’ll wear the bridesmaid’s dress, and you can wear the suit you have for the wedding.”
“Perfect. You don’t have to do anything other than get yourself ready. I have a couple calls to make now that you’ve said yes, so meet me at the altar in three hours.”
I nod. “In three hours, you’ll be my husband.”
He smiles, and it feels like the warmth of sunshine on my face after a long winter. “I promise you won’t regret this.”
