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Another step.

“Are.”

Another step.

“Magnificent.”

He closes the distances and reaches gently up to tuck a strand of my hair back. He lets his finger drop along my shoulder, running his hand down my back. He freezes, gulps.

“This dress has an open back?”

I press my lips together, staving off a smile, and nod.

Gabe looks to the ceiling, letting out a whistle.

“Is that going to be a problem?” I ask, emboldened.

He slowly shifts so he’s looking at me, and his mouth spreads into a deliberate, delicious grin.

“Last week, before you were mine, it would have been a problem. Today, it’s like Christmas came early.”

I laugh lightly. “Okay, charmer.”

I take a step past him, and he grabs my wrist, bringing it up and kissing the exposed skin just below my sleeve. “I mean it, Bethy. You are stunning. In this dress, yes. But also, when you’re in a sweater and jeans. Or a sweatshirt and sweatpants. I’m honored to be your man tonight and always.”

Call me Frosty in the greenhouse because I’m officially melting.

Gabe’s unfiltered adoration unlocks something fiery and fun inside of me. I’m basking in the glow of his attention—high on this day and the adrenaline of what’s to come when we get to Valley Peak.

“Well, if you’ve got any extra sweatshirts for me to borrow, I think I’d like to sleep in one from now on.” I bat my eyelashes at him, and he bends slightly at the waist.

“Torture. Pure torture,” he breathes out.

“So that’s a no to wearing your sweatshirt?” I ask innocently.

Gabe growls. “No, that’s very much a yes. You’re playing with fire, Bethy, and I think you know it. Now if you keep talking like that, we’re going to miss your brother’s engagement because I’m about to go all caveman on you and drag you back into your office so I can kiss you out of view of these front windows.”

“Eh, everyone’s at the ball. No one’s walking the streets at this hour. If you want to kiss me right here, I wouldn’t say no.”

I barely get the words out, and Gabe’s doing just that.

We manage to make it to Valley Peak at quarter to eleven after a lot of kissing at the bookstore . . . and some more kissing in the gondola on the way up the mountain, which was purely to keep Gabe’s mind off his fear of heights, of course.

When we walk in, the ball is still going strong.

My breath catches at the sight of the North Building’s atrium festooned in twinkly lights. Lorissa and her team outdid themselves with the decorations. I totally bailed on helping set up this morning, but it doesn’t look like they needed me. There are deep-navy cloths on all the tables and large glass vases hold floating candles for centerpieces. The piney scent in the air is undoubtedly due to the fresh Christmas trees in each corner of the room and the garland draped across each table.

The eight-piece band we hired is singing a rousing rendition of “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and the town is out on the dance floor in full force.

Gabe bends and speaks directly in my ear, the warmth of his breath sending a wave of full-body tingles through me. He places a kiss just under my ear.

“Is that Wallace?”

I hum. “Never thought you’d be able to make an inquiry about our resident journalist sexy, but here we are.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Bethy.” Gabe winks, and I chuckle.

I look over to where he’s indicating, and sure enough, Wallace is out on the dance floor spinning Lola around.