Instantly, we’re both on our feet and he picks me up in a bear hug, spinning me around with excitement. I giggle as he asks with disbelief, “But what about your job?”
“I’m getting transferred to the East County location! It just got approved, so I’ll have to switch back and forth betweenlocations for the next month, but once I’m there permanently, I’ll commute from here.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do anything for you.”
He smashes his lips to mine, then places me on my feet again. “Good, because I have one last gift for you.”
“Miller! You’ve already given me plenty.”
He shrugs. “One more.”
From across the room, Tina squeals and kicks her feet against the carpet, and Tim shushes her. Glancing at them over my shoulder skeptically, I quirk a brow in a silent question. Both of them clamp their lips closed, mirroring each other in a very husband-wife way as they try to look at me innocently.
When I turn back around, my gaze instantly drops, and I suck in a sharp breath. Miller is down on one knee looking up at me with so much love in his eyes, and a ring box in his hand.
“Elizabeth Ashford. One year ago, you walked onto my farm and completely uprooted my boring, mundane life. I hadn’t realized there was so much lacking until you brought so much happiness, love, and laughter into it. You’ve added nothing but joy to this family, and effortlessly became one of us, as though you always belonged. I knew from the moment I saw you that you would be my wife one day, and I think I’ve been a pretty patient man by giving this relationship a little more time to grow since we started off as such a whirlwind. But, Zee, I can’t wait any longer. Will you do me the honor of making me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”
My hand flies to my mouth, and I try my hardest not to cry, even though I know this time, they’ll be happy tears. “You want me to marry you?”
“Oh, Elizabeth, I don’t want you to marry me. I want you to spend your life with me, be the mother of my children, and grow old with me.”
Pulling him to his feet, I toss my arms around his neck as I jump up and latch my legs around his waist. “Yes! I’ll be your wife!”
Tina and Tim get to their feet in excitement, hooting and hollering, and hugging each other, as Miller spins me around again. When he places me back on my feet, his hand cradles my lower back as he dips me, and kisses me deeply.
Tim whistles low, but I ignore everyone else in the room, getting lost in myfiancé.
I thought nothing could top last Christmas when I met and fell in love with the man of my dreams, but I’ll never forget this moment.
Miller kisses me like I am the answer to all of his prayers, but what he doesn’t realize is that he’s the answer to mine.
Before him, I let the loneliness and the grief of losing my family consume me. But now…now I feel whole again. And although I’ll never stop missing my parents and brother, part of my heart will always feel full thanks to the everlasting Christmas gift the Stokes family and Miller have given me.
When the Christmas festivities have winded down, and Tim and Tina retire to their bedroom, Miller and I sit in front of the crackling fire in comfortable silence.
With my head resting against Miller’s chest and my feet curled under me, I could fall asleep. And the way he’s rhythmically rubbing his fingertips against my arm makes me think he wants me to.
My eyes grow heavy, and I yawn, unable to stop it from happening.
“Ready to go home?” Miller asks.
Home.
Home is where Potato is, and my heart swells, knowing he’s at Miller's cabin.
My head bobs in a nod. “Yes.”
Pushing to his feet, Miller stands, tugging me with him. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, and leads me to the door. Stopping to put on our coats, he tugs my beanie down around my ears before kissing me on the nose.
“Thank you, fiancé.” I grin.
“You’re welcome, fiancée.”
After locking up behind us, Miller cranks the heater in the truck for me, and drives us back to his cabin. I spend the short ride admiring my sparkling diamond ring, and it shimmers under every streetlight we pass under. “It’s beautiful. I can’t believe I’m going to be your wife.”
“I can. I knew you would be from the moment I saw you, remember?” He glances over at me, grinning.
