Page 39 of Mistletoed with the Mountain Man

I laugh, even as heat pools low in my belly. "Debra's waiting for us."

"She can wait." But he steps back, adjusting his jeans with a grimace. "You're incorrigible, angel."

I run my hand down his chest, feeling his heart pounding.

He catches my wrist, his grip firm. "Behave."

"Fine." I step back, smoothing my hair. "But only because I want to see this basement.”

We're still flirting playfully when Debra reappears, her smile knowing. "Tell me what you think."

Kade and I exchange a glance. In it, I see our entire future—holidays filled with family, mornings wrapped in each other's arms, a lifetime of his organization and my havoc blending into something beautiful.

"We'll take it," I say.

Debra claps her hands. "Wonderful! I'll draw up the paperwork!"

An hour later, we're driving back down the mountain, our future suddenly very real and very close.

"I love you," he says, and the words make my heart skip. "So damn much."

"I love you too.”

Before, I was lost and grieving, hiding in glitter and avoiding the future.

Now I'm healing and running headfirst toward everything I want.

All because a sexy, tattooed deputy walked into my aunt's shop and asked me to help him create Christmas magic.

Turns out, the magic we created was so much bigger than either of us imagined.

And I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.