“He’s the reason I met you.”
Her heart stumbled, but in a good way. She knew whatever happened, Elias was there to catch her or help her put the pieces together again. “I’m so happy I tripped over his leash that day. This has been the best Christmas ever.”
He took a breath and another and gazed into her eyes.
She recognized that pensive gleam. “What?”
“Stay in Berry Lake with Higgins and me. There’s no rink back in Wishing Bay.”
Chills—the good kind having nothing to do with the cold temperature—raced through Tasha. She forced herself to breathe. “I want to stay. But the park’s rink goes away after the New Year.”
“There’s another one thirty minutes away. That’s closer than Wishing Bay, and Logan Tremblay’s planning to build one in Berry Lake, so he can skate closer to home.”
Like Mom and Dad.
“There’s another option.” Elias squeezed her hands. “I gave myself until January to decide what to do about my job. Having you here has made it better. Higgins too. I’m working less, enjoying life more. But you’re the most important thing to me. If there’s another place you’d rather be, Wishing Bay or a larger city, that’s fine by me. As long as we’re together.”
She couldn’t believe what he was saying. “Your job and family…”
“I want you to be my family, too. I know I might be rushing things.”
“I don’t mind rushing.”
“Good because I’m not patient when it comes to you.” He brushed his lips over hers. “You and Higgins are the two most important things in my life. I can find another job. We can visit Berry Lake.”
Her heart slammed against her rib cage. No one had ever been willing to sacrifice for her. Not like this. But Elias…
“I love you.”Guess we’re still traveling at light speed. But Tasha couldn’t stop herself from saying the three words. She didn’t want to. “I love you so much.”
His eyes widened. So did his smile. “I love you too.”
Every nerve ending tingled. So much adrenaline pounded through her veins. She might land a quad if she tried. “I want us to be together.”
“This year is only our first Christmas together. The first of a lifetime together.”
He let go of her hands, dropped onto one knee, and pulled something out of his pocket.
A ring. A diamond solitaire in a shiny gold setting.
She gasped. Her hand covered her mouth.
“This is fast, and I wasn’t sure if I should wait, but I wanted to be ready if the opportunity presented itself. It has, and I don’t care if a month ago, we didn’t know each other. We do now.” Affection laced each of his words. “You’re the best thing in my life. I want you to know how I feel. How committed I am to you. To us. Tasha Ramson. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Her breath hitched. Warm tears—happy ones—blurred her vision and slipped down her cheeks.
“Yes.” Tasha thought she might be dreaming. Elias was everything she hadn’t known she needed, wanted, loved. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He removed her glove and placed the ring on her finger.
Tasha stared at the gorgeous diamond and giggled. She got a gold ring, after all.
He wiped her face. “Thank you. We don’t have to rush the wedding, but this way you know I’m committed to you.”
“And I’m committed to you.” Wholeheartedly.
They kissed.
More snow fell.
