I drop to one knee, the floor cold beneath me, and all the mayhem of the clubhouse, my brothers, Amy, Paige, Hope’s parents, the laughter, the teasing, fades away. It’s just her.
“Hope,” I say, my voice shaking slightly, “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. You… you’re my heart, my home, everything I never knew I needed. I can’t imagine a life without you, and I don’t ever want to try. Will you… Marry me?”
Her hand flies to her mouth, eyes filling with tears, her chest rising and falling as if she’s trying to breathe without floating away from the moment.
“Yes,” she whispers, barely audible, but I catch it perfectly. “Yes, Frost, I’ll marry you.”
The clubhouse erupts. Yells, claps, whoops, and laughter crash over me. My brothers are hooting like maniacs, Paige and Dad are grinning widely, and even Amy pumps her fist in approval.
I slip the ring onto her finger, and Hope pulls me up and into her arms, kissing me hard with her hands tangled in my hair. I wrap my arms around her waist and lift her off the ground.
When we pull apart, she presses her forehead to mine, breathless. “Merry Christmas,” she whispers.
“Merry Christmas, darlin’,” I murmur back. “You just made it the best one I’ve ever had.”
She laughs softly. “Good because this is just the beginning.”
At this moment, surrounded by family, I know she’s right. This is the beginning of everything.
CHAPTER 26
HOPE
Christmas Day turned out to be even more magical than I imagined it would be. The clubhouse buzzes with holiday energy. Glasses clink with good tidings while music and laughter permeate throughout the room.
“Want to get out of here?” Frost asks as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest.
I nod and set down my drink. We slip down the hallway to the elevator to make our escape. No one calls out, so either they don’t realize we left or they understand we need time to ourselves.
Time to celebrate alone… with my fiancé. I can’t believe we’re engaged!
Frost laces his fingers through mine as we walk to his room. The overhead lights are off, but the glow of lights from the Christmas tree Paige insisted we put in here gives off a romantic ambience.Neither of us makes a move to hit the switch on the wall, instead, we bask in the warmth of the twinkling lights.
I touch the ring on my finger, tracing the cool metal. The diamond catches the tree lights, which throw tiny sparks across the room. It still doesn’t feel real. It might be too fast for some people, but for us, it was fate. Once you find your other half, youfeel this draw to them, and no matter how much you want to ignore it, the urge to be with them intensifies.
We both found our happily-ever-after.
A shiver runs down my spine. We haven’t made love since we were at my apartment, and the anticipation heats my body with unfiltered desire.
“Hey,” he murmurs, voice low and rough in a way that hits right at the center of my chest.
“Hey,” I breathe back.
His fingers brush my cheek. “You, okay?”
“I’m perfect.”
“Say it again.”
“I’m perfect,” I whisper. “You asked me to marry you today. You made me the happiest woman in the entire world.”
His breath leaves him in a slow exhale, full of emotion that I feel down to my bones.
“I meant every word,” he says.
His hand slides to my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies touch. Heat rolls through me, slow and deep, making my pulse jump.
He lowers his forehead to mine. “You sure you want to do this tonight?”
