He finally gives me a real kiss. A quick peck on the lips that still holds the promise of passion.
Wyatt lets out a whistle and a few of the guys whoop.
I bury my head against him, mortified.
“Guess the whole town knows it’s official now,” he chuckles, the sound vibrating through his chest.
“If not, they will in about five minutes,” I murmur.
I lift my head from Hayes’s chest just as Mom bustles through the front door, cheeks rosy from the cold, snowflakes clinging to her hat. She takes one look at me wrapped up in Hayes’s arms, firemen all grinning like they’ve been waiting for this plot twist for a decade—and her entire face lights up with a smile that I haven’t seen since my dad died.
“Morning, Mrs. Alder,” Hayes lets me go and hugs my mom.
“I guess since no one is in their fire gear, you’re here on a personal call?” She gives Hayes a knowing glance.
“You’d be right,” he winks.
“About time,” she says, then pinches his cheek. “Now, get a ring on her finger so I canfinallyhave some grandbabies. I’m not getting any younger.”
“Mom!” I gasp.
“Just say the word, honey. I can make a New Year’s Eve wedding happen like ‘that’.” She snaps her fingers.
“Told ya it was time to take the breaks off, Sis,” Evie calls out from behind the counter.
The cafe door opens and Holly Bascombe, town florist and uber-talented decorator, walks in. We exchange pleasantries and my mom doesn’t even hesitate to ask Holly what her schedule looks like in the event that “we” may have a last-minute wedding on our hands.
Holly laughs. “Well, I suppose itisthe season. I always enjoy putting together winter floral arrangements.”
Mom continues making small talk with Holly while she gets in line, no doubt for her dose of peppermint mocha.
Meanwhile, I look up at Hayes and ask, “How do you feel about moving somewhere warmer? Some place at least an eight-hour flight away?”
He looks like he’s about to answer me in earnest when the bell over the door jingles again.
Luke Byron, Mistletoe Bay’s own tech genius, pauses in the doorway the minute Holly turns around and his eyes meet hers. Then he practically disappears, right back out into the cold.
Holly sighs.
Hayes raises a brow. “Wonder what that’s about?” he whispers.
I shrug. “Not a clue.”
I might not know what’s going on with Holly and Luke, but as Hayes wraps his arm around me and tucks me into his side, I know for certain that I’m looking forward to wherever our kindled hearts lead us.
epilogue
. . .
Hayes
eight weeks later…
I’ve been carryingthis damn box around for three days. Ever since I picked it up from the jeweler.
Waiting for the right moment.
It might sound cliche, but we’ve already spent too much time circling each other and ignoring our feelings. I don’t want to waste another day.
