And sometimes, a start was all you needed.
16
CHARLIE
Charlie sat at the large mahogany desk in the library, surrounded by stacks of legal documents and her laptop open to multiple tabs of research. She had been working for hours, piecing together corporate filings and property records, trying to find the connection between Simon’s law firm and the mysterious developer who wanted to buy the Christmas Inn.
But right now, she was distracted by Logan’s hands on her shoulders, his strong fingers working out the knots of tension that had built up from hunching over paperwork.
“Don’t you have work to do with Jack and Holly?” Charlie asked, unable to stop smiling as Logan rubbed her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
“In a bit,” Logan told her, his voice warm. “You’re so tense and have been working so hard. On both the inn stuff and your firm’s work.”
“Private client’s work,” Charlie corrected automatically, though she was leaning into the shoulder massage despite herself. “Mmm. That does feel good, though.”
She really did need to get Logan to leave so she could call her PI friend, Angus, back. He had left a message an hour ago saying he had information about Pamela and her family. Information Jane desperately needed. But Logan’s hands felt so good, and she found herself reluctant to send him away.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go for dinner and a sleigh ride tonight with me?” Logan asked, stopping his massage and leaning against the desk beside her.
Charlie looked up at him, feeling guilty. This was the third date she had cancelled this week. “I would love to,” she assured him. “But we still have so much to do here, and I promised Jane I’d lend an extra hand with the magic stars for the ballroom.”
“Who knew you were such an excellent attorney and so good with arts and crafts?” Logan teased, his eyes crinkling with affection.
“Not me, that’s for sure,” Charlie laughed. “She could use your help with them, too. There are a thousand to do.”
“Yeah, I’ll lend a hand,” Logan promised. Then he leaned down and kissed her gently. When he pulled back, his expression became serious. “Charlie, I know we said we were taking this slow...”
His voice dropped lower, and Charlie felt her breath catch at the intensity in his eyes.
“But I’m in love with you,” Logan continued. “And as you keep cancelling all my romantic dates...”
Charlie’s eyes widened as Logan knelt down beside her chair.
“Logan, what are you...” Her heart started racing as he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket.
“We’re not spring chickens,” Logan said, his voice steady despite the emotion in his eyes. “And I, more than anyone, know not to waste a single moment with someone you love. I don’t want to waste another moment with you.”
“I...” Charlie swallowed, her heart beating so loud it was almost deafening her.
“Will you marry me, Charlie Burke?” Logan opened the box, and Charlie’s eyes widened even more at the sparkling diamond on the blue velvet bed. It was beautiful—elegant and classic, exactly what she would have chosen for herself if she had been picking out a ring.
“Please say yes,” Logan added with a slight smile, “because I’ve just realized we have an audience.”
His head bobbed toward the door, and Charlie turned to see Isabella and Jane standing there, staring at them in awe. Isabella was holding a tray of food, and both women looked like they had frozen mid-step.
“I... uh...” Charlie felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment and joy and a dozen other emotions all tangled together.
“Come on, Charlie, don’t leave my uncle hanging,” Jane said, a huge smile spreading across her face.
“Yes, Charlie...” Isabella added anxiously, practically bouncing on her toes.
Charlie turned back to look at Logan’s handsome face. Her heart did that flutter thing it always did when she looked at him or when he was near. The thought of a life without him suddenly hit her, and it seemed unbearable. Impossible. Wrong in every way.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat.
“I’m in love with you, too, Logan,” Charlie admitted, her voice thick with emotion. “And yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Jane and Isabella cheered, and Jane clapped in delight. Logan slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit, she noticed right before he jumped up to crush his lips to hers in a kiss that made Charlie’s toes curl.
