He moved to the coffee table and grabbed the little box on top.He handed it to her.“This might help you make the decision.”When she stood quietly holding the box, he said, “Go ahead and open it.It won’t bite.I promise.”
She lifted the lid and gasped.“It’s beautiful.”
She lifted the white-gold necklace from the box.The diamond star pendant dangled in front of her.By the big smile on her face, he assumed she liked it.
“This is your North Star,” he said.“So, no matter where you go in this world, you’ll always be able to find your way home.”
Her eyes shimmered with what he hoped were happy tears.“I love it.Thank you.”She held it out to him.“Will you help me put it on?”
She swept her long hair to the side, and it took him a couple of tries, but he finally got the clasp to work.When she turned around, the pendant sparkled as it rested against her green sweater.It looked almost as beautiful as its owner.
His heart was beating fast, and his palms were damp.This was his third time attempting this.Hopefully, the third time was the charm.“Felicity, I love you.Will you give us another chance?”
She paused as though giving his question due consideration.Her gaze searched his.“What if things don’t work out with my new business?What if I decide to move back to the city and take an office job?”
He’d given this a lot of thought.“Then I’ll move to.”
Her mouth went slack.She blinked.“You’d really do that?”
He nodded.“If it means we can be together.”
The breath caught in her lungs as he waited for her decision.He knew how much was riding on this moment.
She leaned forward and lifted up on her toes.Her hands came to rest on his chest.“I love you.”
“You do?”He couldn’t believe how much he’d needed her to say those words.
She smiled and nodded as her arms slipped around his neck.“I do.I used to think home was a house—a place—but you’ve helped me realize that my home isn’t any of those things.It’s you.You’re my home.”
He was so touched he didn’t have words to express the depth of his emotions.Instead, he decided to show how much her words meant to him.He lowered his head and claimed her lips with his own.It was a long, slow kiss filled with love.
When he finally pulled back, he said, “This is the best Christmas present ever.”
“Oh.Then I guess you don’t want the one I have for you.”
His gaze narrowed as he stepped back to give her a quick onceover.“I don’t see a gift.”
She smiled broadly.“It’s not the kind of gift you can wrap.”
He arched a brow.“What kind of gift is it?”
“Well, you see, I, uh…took the liberty of sending your manuscript to a friend of mine.They’re a well-respected literary agent.I never expected to hear back from them so quickly, but they said once they started to read your book, they couldn’t stop.They want to offer you representation.”
His mouth gaped.“Seriously?”
Felicity smiled as she nodded.“Now, it’s no guarantee of a publishing contract, but I don’t think you’re going to have to worry.”
With a smile on his face, he picked her up in his arms and swung her around.He placed her feet back on the ground.“You’ve made this the best Christmas ever.”
“I knew you had talent—”
“No.Not that.I’m talking about you giving us a second chance.I love you.From cradle to grave.”
“I love you too.From cradle to grave.”She smiled up at him.“You know what this means?”
“No.Should I be afraid to ask?”
She smiled.“It means next Christmas it isn’t just going to be you.You’ll have me and Sunny.And…”
