“What?”
“That sometimes family isn’t about where you came from. It’s about where you choose to be.” He opens his eyes, meeting mine. “And I choose to be here with you.”
I can’t wait any longer. I lean in and kiss him, pouring all my love, relief, and joy into it. He responds immediately, his hands coming up to tangle in my hair as he pulls me closer.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing heavily. “So,” I say, resting my forehead against his, “does this mean you forgive me?”
He pretends to think about it. “Well, you did make me hot chocolate. And lit about a million candles.”
“Don’t forget the soup.”
He laughs, the sound warming me from the inside out. “The soup was pretty amazing.”
“I’ll make you soup every day if you want,” I promise. “I’ll do anything you want.”
His expression softens. “Just love me,” he says. “That’s all I want.”
“That,” I say, pulling him close again, “is the easiest promise I’ll ever make.”
CHAPTER 35
CASPIAN
I pull Nate into another kiss because this is my all-time favorite place to be.
His hands slide up my arms, leaving trails of heat through my shirt, and I melt into him like snow on warm skin. The kiss deepens, and I taste mint on his tongue. My fingers find their way to the short hairs at the nape of his neck, those silky strands that always feel like silk against my skin.
When we break apart, his blue eyes are sparkling with that mix of mischief and tenderness that never fails to make my stomach flip. “Not that I’m complaining,” he says, “but what was that for?”
I rest my forehead against his, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with wood smoke from his fireplace. “Can’t I kiss my boyfriend because I want to?”
“Mmm.” His thumb traces my bottom lip. “You could, but I know that look. You’re thinking about something.”
“Am I that obvious?”
“Only to me.” He presses a quick kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Spill.”
I take a deep breath, stepping back just enough to see his face clearly but keeping my arms looped around his neck. “I got a message from Tate earlier. About Sienna’s christening in Chester Falls.”
His eyebrows lift slightly. “The baby? Already?”
“Yeah, it’s in the spring.” I bite my lip, studying the way his expression softens at the mention of our friends. “They want us to come. Both of us.”
“Of course they do.” His hands settle on my hips, warm and steady. “Did you think they wouldn’t?”
I shrug, trying to play it casual even though my heart is doing overtime. “No, I wasn’t sure if you’d want to. It’s a whole weekend thing, and I know spring is busy with forestry assessments and new growth monitoring…”
“Baby.” He cuts me off with another kiss, this one soft and sweet. “Try to keep me away. It’s not going to happen.”
The tension I didn’t even realize I was carrying melts. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” His smile curves against my lips. “I want to see this baby who’s got you all nervous about asking me on a weekend trip. Besides,” he adds, pulling me closer, “a whole weekend away with you? Sign me up.”
I laugh, the sound bubbling from somewhere warm and bright in my chest.
“They also want us to have dinner with them before they leave,” I say.
“Sounds great.”
