“Are you just going to pace back and forth, or are you going to come inside?” Sophia asked with a tilt of her head. “It’s cold out here.”
She waved him into the house, and he brushed past her as he walked inside, immediately smelling the aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. The overall effect served to make her home seem even cozier.
“Where’s your mini me?” he asked, surprised that Lily hadn’t come running to the door.
“She’s on a playdate with her friend Ashton,” Sophia said. “She’ll be home soon.”
“Abby’s gone. I saw her face-to-face and made sure of it,” Caleb told her. “She’s on a one-way flight back to California. Her and her film crew.”
Sophia let out a surprised sound. “She is? I’m shocked that she gave up so easily after coming all the way here.”
“I’m not. She knew that there was no point in sticking around. I wasn’t going to film the show with her, nor was I interested in rekindling our romance.” He quirked his mouth. “Something tells me she’s going to find another leading man really quickly.”
“Thanks for telling me,” Sophia said. “Just the thought of her breathing the air in Moose Falls bugged the hell out of me.”
Caleb felt the sides of his mouth twitching at Sophia’s comment. “Ditto,” he said.
“Caleb, I—” Sophia began, just as Caleb started to talk.
“Sophia, I need to say something to you,” he blurted out.
“Okay,” she said with a nod. “You go first.”
“I know you’re afraid and unsure of where we go from here, but for the first time in my life I’m not.” He sucked in a little breath to steady himself. “I’m so in love with you, Sophia. You’re it for me, and I can’t imagine a life withoutyou. I don’t know exactly what that’s going to look like except you and Lily will be right at the center.” He tapped his chest. “Right here.”
Sophia wasn’t saying anything.Why wasn’t she saying anything?He was in agony waiting for her to speak.
“I should have told you all this before, but I promised myself that I wouldn’t say the L word until I knew that I was in it for the long haul.”
Sophia’s eyes were wide as she looked up at him. “And are you?” she asked in a low voice.
Caleb nodded. “Yes, I am. I want to be with you, Sophia. For always.”
Sophia exhaled a deep breath. “Oh, Caleb. I love you too,” she said, closing the distance between them and wrapping her arms around his neck. Relief and gratitude rose up inside him as soon as Sophia uttered the L word. He’d hoped she felt the same way as he did, and now he knew she did.
Sophia continued, “I think that I fell for you up in that attic, despite my best efforts not to.” She blinked away tears. “And even before you said anything, I was planning to apologize, because I let doubt cloud what I feel for you.”
Caleb brushed his lips over hers in a tender kiss. “And how did you come to that realization so quickly?” He shuddered. “The last time we spoke you were pretty determined to go your own way. Or at least that’s what it seemed like.” He placed his hand over his heart and made a face.
Sophia shook her head. “We can thank Hattie for that. She set me straight in no uncertain terms.”
“Hattie to the rescue,” Caleb said, grinning. “She’s one special lady.”
Sophia nodded in agreement. “So, what’s next? Any updates on Yukon Cider?”
“I’m not sure how this is going to end and whether my brothers and I are going to run Yukon Cider or sell. But I know that I want to be right here in Moose Falls with you.”
“Oh, Caleb,” Sophia said, swiping away tears. “That means the world to me.”
He leaned down and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Whatever we decide as brothers, Hattie stipulated that we have to make the decision together. And, honestly, that’s a gift, because it means that we’re going to be a united front, no matter what we decide.”
“That makes sense,” she said, wiping away tears. “All for one and one for all.” She was smiling now, grinning with happiness.
“But I know that I want you with me,” Caleb continued, “wherever this journey takes us. I’m not prepared to give up my dreams, but I’m also not willing to toss Hattie’s legacy away. It means the world to me to honor her in any way I can.”
“Of course it does,” Sophia said. “Hattie’s done so much for Moose Falls and everyone who lives here. What she’s built needs to be preserved, however you guys decide to accomplish that. Only the three of you can make that decision.”
“You’re a wise woman, Sophia Brand,” Caleb murmured as his lips met hers in a passionate kiss. Sophia wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned in, the weight of her body feeling solid against his own. Just then the doorbell rang, and Sophia said, “Oh, that must be Ashton’s mom dropping off Lily.”
