I scratch behind Pookie’s ears, and she turns in my lap a few times before snuggling up with a happy doggy sigh, her Sleigh Queen sweater slightly askew. “Obviously. She’s going to be the most pampered pug at the fire station. Oreo won’t know what hit him.”
“Oreo?”
“The station dalmatian.”
She laughs. “You’ve really thought about this.”
“I’ve thought about a lot of things.” I meet Rebecca’s eyes across the table. “Like how I’m going to explain to Brady that I’m dating his little sister.”
“Dating?”
Holding her gaze, I ask, “Becca, will you be my girlfriend?”
“Yes, definitely yes.” She winces. “But I don’t think that’s going to be a fun conversation to have with my brother.”
“He’ll get over it. Eventually.” I hope. “Besides, he sent me to check on you. This is technically his fault.”
“I don’t think ‘you told me to make sure she was okay’ translates to ‘so I fell in love with her.’”
The words hang in the air between us, and I realize what she just said. What she just admitted.
“Love?” My voice comes out rougher than intended.
“He can’t argue with that.”
I sink my gaze into her with a promise. “And I’ll never give him a reason to question what you mean to me.”
Her cheeks flush pink. “Reese ... yes. Love. Is that too fast? Too soon? Too?—?”
“Maybe this has been years in the making. After all, I remember every song you ever played on that old piano.”
“I was at all your hockey games. And I always wore your jersey under my jacket.”
My eyebrows bounce. That’s news to me. “You loved it when your mom made macaroni and cheese.”
“You always stole the carrots off my plate.”
“They’re good for eyesight.”
She tips her head back with laughter. When she squares her chin, I capture her gaze and then drop my attention to her lips.
She nods, almost imperceptibly.
I kiss her, cutting off her rambling, tasting chocolate and peppermint and promise. When I pull back, her eyes are shining.
“Not too fast,” I say. “Not too soon. Just right.”
Pookie grunts between us, clearly annoyed at being squished, and we both laugh.
After dessert, we migrate back to where everything started—the fireplace in the main lobby. The fire crackles and pops. Outside the window, the snow falls gently, adding to the already impressive accumulation.
We settle onto the same couch where we sat two days ago with our first hot chocolate, except now Rebecca is tucked against my side. My arm wraps around her shoulders and her head rests in the perfect nook beneath my chin.
“I can’t believe that only a day ago,” she starts and stops.
“Right here.”
“You chasing my dog. Me in that sparkly dress.”
