“You look incredible,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of his neck. “Everyone’s gonna be jealous that I somehow managed to snag the hottest guy in Texas.”
Hayden rolled his eyes, but I caught the hint of a smile playing at his lips. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously in love with you,” I countered, giving him a squeeze before releasing him.
As we headed down the stairs, I could already hear the buzz of conversation and music from the diner. Christmas lights twinkled all around the building, casting a warm glow over everything. But what surprised me most of all was the little flecks floating down that caught the light.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” I grinned, catching a snowflake on my palm. “White Christmas after all.”
Hayden’s face lit up with childlike wonder, his freckles standing out against his flushed cheeks as he tilted his head back to catch snowflakes on his tongue. The sight made my heart swell.
“It almost never snowed in my part of California,” he explained, eyes sparkling. “This is like... perfect Christmas card material. Way better than the slushy stuff in Amarillo.”
I pulled him in for a quick kiss, tasting the cold moisture on his lips. “You’re perfect Christmas card material.”
He rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “That was cheesy even for you, cowboy.”
The diner windows glowed warmly against the darkening evening, and through the glass, I could see that the party was already in full swing. The tree we’d decorated stood proud in the corner, and someone had hung more mistletoe in strategic locations throughout the diner. Every surface had been draped in garland, lights, candy, and baked goods. And from the looks of things, the party was already a hit.
The moment we stepped through the door, Dolly spotted us from behind the counter.
“There they are!” she called out, causing several heads to turn our way. “Thought you boys might’ve forgotten about us.”
I felt Hayden stiffen slightly beside me, uncomfortable with the sudden attention. I slipped my hand into his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Sorry we’re late,” I said, guiding Hayden through the crowd. “Lost track of time.”
Dolly gave us a knowing look that made Hayden’s cheeks flush pink. “I bet you did,” she said with a wink before turning to grab a tray of appetizers.
The diner had been transformed for the party. Tables had been pushed to the sides to create a dance floor in the middle, and the counter was laden with food and drinks. Christmas music played from speakers in the corners, and someone had set up a small photo booth complete with holiday props in the far corner.
“Diego!” Lucas’s voice cut through the crowd, and I spotted him waving from near the tree, Beau at his side looking handsome in a red sweater.
“Come on,” I said to Hayden. “Time to meet everyone properly.”
We made our way through the crowd, stopping every few steps as people greeted me and introduced themselves to Hayden. He was polite but reserved, that city-boy shield going up slightly as he navigated the unfamiliar social waters. I kept my hand firmly in his, a silent reassurance that I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Finally!” Lucas exclaimed when we reached them. “We werestarting to think you two were skipping the party altogether,” Lucas said with a mischievous grin. “Though I wouldn’t blame you.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” I assured him, giving Hayden’s hand another squeeze. “Too many people I want Hayden to meet.”
Beau stepped forward, offering his hand to Hayden. “Good to see you again. Properly this time, without all the chaos of the ranch.”
“You too,” Hayden replied, shaking Beau’s hand. His voice was steady, but I could feel the tension in his shoulders. He was nervous, which was adorable considering how confident he usually was.
“Hayden’s decided to stay in Sagebrush,” I announced, unable to keep the pride from my voice. “Permanently.”
Lucas’s eyes widened with delight. “Really? That’s fantastic news!” He turned to Hayden, giving him a big smile before looking back at me. “And what about you, Diego? You sticking around too?”
“Try and make me leave,” I replied, wrapping an arm around Hayden’s waist. “I found my reason to put down roots.”
Beau and Lucas exchanged knowing looks, and I could’ve sworn I saw Beau mouthI told you soto his fiancé.
“Well, this calls for a celebration,” Beau declared, handing us each a glass of what looked like the eggnog I’d been craving. “To new beginnings.”
We clinked glasses, and I watched as Hayden took a tentative sip, his nose wrinkling slightly at the strong taste.
“Jesus, what’s in this?” he coughed.
