She blinks. “But…why? I don’t understand.”
“You’re not leaving, Ruby.” I close the gap between us, cupping her cheek. “You’re my girl. Mine. This isn’t just some holiday fling.” I’m breathing hard, coming on too strong. Too intense. But I can’t help it. I need her to know how damn seriousI am. “I want you here with me, sugar. Not just for Christmas. Forever.”
Ruby’s lips part in surprise, but she doesn’t speak.
“I know you have a life in Florida,” I tell her. “Your job, your apartment. But I promise I’ll take care of you, sugar. Hell, there are plenty of weddings and events out here for you to photograph. There’s always a wedding going on in Cherry Hollow. I know it’s only a small town. Not exactly Miami. But I’ll do whatever it takes to support you. Whatever it takes to make this work.”
It’s selfish. I’m asking her to uproot her life. Her career. A thought strikes me, and I add, “Or I can move to Florida. If you don’t want to leave Miami, you don’t have to. Hell, I’ll move tomorrow if you want me to?—”
“You’d do that?” Ruby’s voice is soft. Almost a whisper. “Leave all this behind just for me?”
My response is emphatic. “Of course I would. Fuck, sugar, I’d do anything for you.”
She wets her bottom lip, her breath coming fast. Her eyes are misting over, clouded with emotion. “You don’t need to come to Miami, Ivan. I’d love to stay here with you.”
My heart jumps, hope flooding my gut. “I’m not just asking you to stay here, baby. I’m asking you to live here. Make this cabin your home. Our home. What do you say?”
She nods slowly, a tear sliding down her pale cheek. “I say yes, Ivan.” Then she beams at me. “Yes, yes, yes.”
It hits me all at once, an avalanche of pure joy that sucks the breath from my lungs. I reach for Ruby, grabbing her desperately, lifting her into my arms.
“You don’t know how fucking happy you’ve made me,” I tell her. “You won’t regret this, Ruby. I’ll spend my whole life trying to make you happy.” I smother her pretty face with kisses, mylips brushing every inch of exposed skin they can reach. “Fuck, princess. You’re all mine.”
“I am. All yours.” She laughs with delight, tightening her arms around me. “Oh God, Ivan, I was dreading having to leave. I’m so relieved.”
Her words send another buzz through me. I feel like I’m high on Ruby, high on this moment. I’ve never felt so damn happy. My heart races as I twirl her around in my arms, both of us laughing when North leaps up, trying to join in.
We stay like that for a long time, holding each other as snow falls outside the windows. A carol plays on the radio, the fire cracking in the hearth as I lean in to kiss Ruby, her soft lips melding against mine.
“This is the best Christmas ever,” she says when we pull apart.
“Best one so far, sugar. But we’ve got plenty more to come.”
She grins, her gaze flitting to the tree behind me. “Hey, we still need to add the star!”
I watch as she takes it from the box, a sparkly gold star to sit on the tree. As Ruby raises her arm, I grab her hips and lift her up so she can reach the highest branch. She slides the star on top, then I set her down, pulling her close. Ruby admires the finished tree, but I only have eyes for her.
My sweet girl.
I fell for her the moment I saw her. The moment she opened that bathroom door and looked at me with those big brown eyes. That’s when everything shifted. Hell, I never imagined I could enjoy the holidays again, but with Ruby by my side, it’s impossible not to. She has driven away the darkness and flooded my world with light. And I’ll never stop being thankful.
“Merry Christmas, Ivan,” she says, my name like honey in her sweet voice.
“Merry Christmas, Candy Cane.”
And just like that, our forever begins.
EPILOGUE
RUBY
I sit on the couch,propped up with a million cushions to take the pressure off my back. It’s not easy getting comfortable when you’re nine months pregnant. My legs are stretched out in front of me, swollen feet resting on the ottoman as I open a stack of Christmas cards. Most of them are from clients, and I smile to myself as I read through them.
Merry Christmas to the best photographer in the world!
Love from Max and April
Happy holidays!
