"That sounds perfect," Grant said.
"It does, doesn't it?" Riley settled back against his chest. "I can't believe it took me ten years to figure it out."
"Better late than never."
"True." She pressed a kiss to his chest, right over his heart. "I love you, Grant Lawson."
"I love you too, Riley Monroe." Grant's smile was soft. "Soon to be Riley Lawson, if I have anything to say about it."
Riley lifted her head, eyes wide. "Grant?—"
"Not right now," he said quickly. "I'm not proposing right now. But someday. When the time is right. I want you to know that's where this is headed for me. You're it, Riley. You always have been."
Riley's eyes filled with tears, but she was smiling. "You're it for me too."
They kissed again, slow and sweet and full of promise.
Outside, snow had continued to fall, dusting the fields in white. Inside, wrapped in each other, Grant and Riley finally had what they'd both been searching for.
Home.
Love.
Each other.
No more pretending.
No more fake.
Just real.
Just them.
Just forever.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Riley
Riley woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and Grant's arm wrapped around her waist.
For a moment, she just lay there, breathing in the warmth of him, the steady rise and fall of his chest against her back. The room smelled like him—clean laundry and woodsmoke and something uniquely Grant. The sheets were soft and worn, the kind of comfortable that only came with years of use.
This was real.
She was here. In Grant's bed. In his home. Their home.
The reality of it hit her all over again, and Riley felt tears prick at her eyes. She'd quit her job. She'd moved home. She'd chosen this life. Chosen him.
And he'd chosen her right back.
Riley turned in his arms to find him already awake, watching her with soft eyes and a sleepy smile.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Hi." Grant's voice was rough with sleep. "Sleep okay?"
"Better than okay." Riley pressed a kiss to his chest, right over his heart. She could feel it beating steady and strong beneath her lips. "Best sleep I've had in years, actually."
