Page 40 of Love in the Details
“Thank you for making Christmas fun again. That’s saying a lot with all that’s happened to me around Christmas.” His expression sobered. “So, I guess what I’m saying is that I like you, Kassidy, maybe even love you at this point. But if you don’t feel the same, then—”
Kassidy leaned forward, and instead of responding with words, she pressed her lips to his. It was everything she’d ever imagined it would be, times a hundred. If only her teenage self could see her now.
When they pulled apart, trying to catch their breath, he gave her a one-sided grin. “So I take that as a yes?”
“Of course, Dustin Wakefield. I would love to be your girlfriend.”
Epilogue
The year had flown, and here Kassidy was, just finishing up another gala at Wakefield Mansion. She’d spent even more time there since the last Christmas after Dustin decided to move back to Coldwater Creek permanently and run the company from there. He had to leave on business a couple times a month, but when she wasn’t planning one of the many events the townspeople of Coldwater Creek were clamoring for her to do, she went with him.
She was grateful she hadn’t caved before the gala last year and gone back to riding. Racing was a great part of her past, but event planning and dating Dustin were her future. Sometimes she still geeked out over that fact.
With presents wrapped and work on hold until after Christmas, she was ready for a nice, hot bubble bath.
The last package she’d been waiting for arrived on December twenty-third, and she carefully unwrapped the small green ornament, hanging it on one of the front-facing boughs of the Christmas tree.
“What is that?” Hunter asked over her shoulder.
She swatted him away and picked up her phone to text Dustin.Party is starting in ten minutes. Are you on your way?
The doorbell rang a few minutes later and in walked Dustin, his arm looped with Grandma Grace, and trailed by Walker and Lauren. Kassidy did everything she could to not think about the ornament on the tree while they ate. She wanted it to be a surprise for him, but it was proving hard to wait as her mom and dad kept talking. Once dinner was finished and the dishes were cleaned, they all moved into the family room.
Hunter went to turn on the Christmas lights, rolling his eyes at Kassidy as he saw the ornament again. Maybe, once he got the meaning of the ornament, he’d be a little more sensitive.
She couldn’t keep her legs from bouncing up and down, trying not to give away the hunt too easily. Because of the gala, the McBrides had moved their traditional Christmas Eve celebrations to the night before, since they’d been invited to attend this year, along with the rest of Coldwater Creek.
When the last early present had been opened, she settled in next to Dustin, hoping he wouldn’t notice how fast her heart was beating.
Dustin ran his fingers through her hair, the two of them watching Baby Emmy, Easton and Natalie’s ten-month-old, crawl around playing with the Christmas wrapping paper. At one point he paused.
“What’s that?” he asked, pointing toward the tree.
Kassidy pretended she couldn’t see anything, and he finally stood, striding toward the Christmas tree. He gently pulled back a few of the boughs.
When he turned, he held up the glass pickle ornament by the ribbon. “Did you get this?” he asked, staring at Kassidy.
As she gave a quick nod, tears pricked her eyes when she saw the struggle of emotions across his face. He stepped forward, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Thank you. Thank you for remembering this.”
When he let go and stepped back, she said, “Do you want your extra present?” She could see the small package of caramel-apple suckers she’d wrapped a few days before in preparation for this.
“What is with the pickle?” Colter asked loudly.
“Shhh!” the rest of the room said, each of them riveted on the scene in front of them.
Dustin grinned. “If it’s all right, I want to give you the extra present this time.”
Kneeling on one knee, he opened a small velvet box. “Kassidy Tonya McBride, you’ve been a whirlwind in my life, making sure that I keep living it. You’ve helped me see that I can love my job and still get out and be a normal human being. I love how you complement me and how you won’t let me get away with doing things halfway.” He paused, swallowing with effort. When he spoke, his voice was husky. “Will you be my wife?”
She couldn’t hold back the tears anymore, and they rolled freely down her cheeks. She gathered him up in her arms and held on tight as her family cheered.
“Thank you for what’s been a whirlwind of a year. For taking a chance on me as an event planner, and then again as your girlfriend. If our future is anything like this past year, we’ll conquer it together.” Emotion surged to her throat, making it difficult to speak. When she did, she said in a whisper, “Of course, I’ll marry you, Dustin Wakefield.”
Love small-town romance? Keep reading for a sneak peak of Becca & Colton’s story in Love Under Construction
