His focus lingered on Wynter, and she turned to find his gaze. Every time she looked at him like that, he fell for her all over again. Now he had something precious he had to protect at all costs. And he wasn’t going to let it slip through his fingers.
They hadn’t talked about what would happen in two months when her official contract was up. Part of him was nervous to rock the boat after they’d confessed their feelings to one another. Wynter might still be insistent on returning to California.
Already he knew what he’d do if she made that choice. He wasn’t going to try to convince her to stay. He’d promised he’d follow her anywhere. Wynter had a lot from her past to deal with, and it wasn’t going to be easy for her to find her way. Until she developed confidence in their relationship and what they could have together, he was determined to stand by her side.
She’d learn by his example that he wasn’t going anywhere unless it meant he could be with her. They’d go wherever she wanted. Together.
Wynter ducked her head, a smile and a blush crossing her features.
“So, you finally got what you wanted,” Mathew’s quiet voice came at his side.
Marcus gave his friend a smile. “I did.”
“Now what?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is she going to stay here? In Copper Creek? Or is she going back to California?”
Marcus knew what he’d do either way. “Doesn’t matter.”
A low chuckle rumbled from Mathew before he brought his orange juice to his lips. “You really do have it bad.”
Glancing over at Wynter once more, Marcus’s chest tightened but in the most delicious way. He wanted to cross the room and pull her into his arms so everyone could see just how gone he was for that woman. “Yes, I do.” There was no denying it. Everyone had seen the effect she had on him when he’d proposed at that Christmas party a week ago. “But we agreed to take it slow. No more rushing into things.”
Mathew chuckled again. “I’m happy for you.”
Marcus turned to him and frowned, noting the twinge of something in the man’s voice. He was closer to Mateo’s age, and yet they got along better than Marcus did with his own brother. “Everything okay?”
Mathew didn’t meet his eyes. Instead, he let his focus sweep over the room full of Marcus’s family. The man might have been trying to hide it, but there it was, present in his eyes. He longed to have this. To have a family of his own. He might have made several comments about how that wasn’t something in the cards for him, but he wanted it all the same.
“You can have it too, you know,” Marcus said quietly.
Mathew didn’t seem surprised by Marcus’s words. He took another sip of his juice and flashed Marcus a smile. “I don’t know. I might have lost my chance.”
“It’s never too late.”
He barked out a chuckle. “I moved to this small town to stay close to my family. My brother and sister are here. My folks are here so they can be close to their family. There are plenty of people in my orbit. But that doesn’t change the fact that the town is small. I’m getting older. And my job doesn’t exactly make it easy to meet new people unless I want to hit on those coming in with injuries.”
Marcus laughed at that. “Could be worse. I hear women love a guy who can take care of them.”
Mathew nodded. “I’ve heard the same. My ex can attest to it. But I wasn’t around enough to give her the attention she needed.”
Right. Mathew was speaking from experience. He’d tried to find that soul-binding kind of love that Marcus had found with Wynter. And it hadn’t worked out. No wonder he was more inclined to give up than try again. It was sad, really.
Marcus could feel Wynter before she arrived at his side. She slipped her fingers between his and smiled up at him before leaning forward and catching Mathew’s eye. “Merry Christmas, Mathew.”
He lifted his glass in a toast. “Merry Christmas.”
Wynter leaned into Marcus, and he pressed a kiss to her head. “I have a present for you,” she said softly.
“And I have one for you.”
“Yeah? Is it as good as the last one you got me?” She peered up at him with a brightness that could have blinded a lesser man.
“Better,” he assured her.
She hummed thoughtfully. “I find that hard to believe. That butterfly is still my favorite gift.”
