Beck held out his phone. "Megan messaged. She said Dash has been scratching at the door and he won't stop whining."
"Alright." My feet had started to throb an hour earlier. "I'm ready to get out of these shoes anyway."
With Dash curledup on the bench seat between us, Beck drove my old truck out to Sugar Bay. The country carols wereback on the radio, andThe Twelve Days of Christmaswas being butchered by a man and a banjo.
Donnie was right. The outdoor rink was totally lit up. "How could Donnie forget to turn those off?" I hopped out of the truck and tromped ahead of Beck in my winter boots.
Christmas lights lined the boards. The ice shone, reflecting the glow from the full moon that had just risen above the jagged mountain peaks. Then I noticed the rose petals in the middle of the face-off circle.
"Beck."
He took my hand and led me onto the ice. Dash clicked along beside us. Beck turned to face me, his breath clouding between us. His hands shook as he took mine in his.
"This is where I fell in love with you," he said. "Both times."
My breath caught in my throat. He dropped to one knee and opened a black velvet ring box. A simple emerald-cut diamond sparkled on a thin gold band.
"I don't need a mansion or a corner office. I need you and Dash." He swallowed hard. "Clara. You're it. You've always been it. Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" It wasn't a whisper. I shouted so loud my "yes" echoed off the granite bluffs in the distance. Dash joined in, barking and wagging his entire body.
Beck slid the ring on my finger then stood and cupped my face in his hands. They were freezing, but I didn’t care.
"I love you, Clara."
"I love you too, Beck." I kissed him.
"There's one more thing."
"Anything." I'd never spoken a truer sentence.
He swiped my hair behind my ear. “Future Mrs. Shepherd, can we make pancakes together as my Christmas present?”
The spatula I’d bought Beck for Christmas was already wrapped and under our tree. “Absolutely, Mr. Shepherd. But you’ll have to open your presents first.”
“What if I can’t wait for the morning?”
I giggled as Beck scooped me up in his arms. “Maybe you can open one of them tonight.”
