Page 62 of Christmas for Keeps

He wiped a hand across his forehead before going on. “As if the last four years weren’t enough, yesterday made me realize how fleeting life is. It’s too short not to make the most of it, and for me, that means spending it with you. I hope you feel the same way. Will you marry me, Con? Can we ride that destiny train together forever?”

My vision cleared just enough to see him leaning toward me, his lip caught between his teeth. He’d been the most important person in my life for years, even when I was so lonely, and I longed to wake up beside him and gaze into his wide, glistening eyes every day. A nervous laugh bubbled out of me, and I nodded fast. “Absolutely.” Then a flicker of doubt crossed my mind. “You mean you want to be husbands, right?”

He broke into a wide grin. “Yes.”

“But…”

His smile faltered. “But what?”

I couldn’t believe I was ruining this moment, but my mind was racing. This wasn’t a step to take lightly. “I haven’t been here for a week yet. We were apart for four years, and we’ve talked about how we need to rebuild trust and adjust to being back together. What if… well, what if?”

“What are you afraid of?” he whispered. “Tell me.”

“Will we be able to make the adjustment? After all this time, can we rebuild the trust? Marriage is for life, and it might be too soon for this decision. What if I can’t make you happy enough?”

He reached for my hand and cupped it between both of his. “You have always made me happy. Let me ask you a question: do you love me? As in forever love?”

“You know I do. I’ve loved you since… well, since the first summer we were together, if not earlier than that. I told you I’ve never stopped. You’re my forever person, Zachary Harris. I want to marry you. Please don’t doubt that.” The lump that had been growing in my throat stopped me from saying more, so I stared into his eyes, willing him to understand.

He smiled and squeezed my hand. “I get it, totally. We do have a lot to figure out, but I adore you, and I always will. Whatever we have to think about, I don’t think we need to wonder if we love each other enough.”

“We do,” I whispered.

“How about this? We know we’re meant to be together, so let’s get engaged. We’ll be fully committed, with no doubts about what we want, but we don’t have to rush into marriage right now. We’ll set a date when the time feels right.”

My heart leapt with joy, so much that I had to take my hand back and put it over my chest. “That would be perfect. And you’re sure it’s okay with you?”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m the one who suggested it. We’ll be ready when we’re ready.”

“It’s a deal, my forever man.”

His smile was back, bigger than ever, and he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. After opening the lid, he held it up so I could see the ring inside. “I got this for you. Kerry helped me look for it today, and I hope you like it. It’s the best one I could find. I know you like white gold, but this one’s platinum. The little diamond shines like your soul, and—”

I cut him off with a laugh and held out my hand. “I love it, so put it on me already. You can tell me all about it in a minute, but first I want to wear it.”

Reality hit as he slid the ring onto my finger. This was Zach—my Zach—the one who rescued me that fateful night in college when I was throwing up in the bushes. He was the one who made my life infinitely better than I’d ever imagined, the one who never walked away from me. And now, he wanted to marry me. I couldn’t help but moan when his lips touched mine. Electricity surged through me as I enjoyed my first kiss as an engaged man. It was sweet, scorching, and brimming with love—a moment I’d cherish as long as I lived.

Zach

Conand I stayed up late celebrating, so we had a leisurely Christmas morning in bed. After more festivities, he made banana pancakes for lunch, and we fed them to each other between kisses that sent shivers down my spine.

After we cleaned up the kitchen, he pushed the button to start the dishwasher and asked, “What time do you want to eat dinner? Should I put the chicken on now?”

I pressed a kiss to the top of his head, enjoying the way his fine hair brushed against my nose. “I got a fire going while you were making breakfast, so let’s go hang out for a while. I want to spend time with my fiancé, and I’ll help you cook later.”

“You’ve got it. I’m not sure I’ve mentioned it in the last five minutes, but I love you.”

“Love you too, baby.” I stole another kiss before guiding him into the great room. We sat on the sofa, and I said, “I have something for you.”

“Something else?” He held up his hand to show off the ring. It was a little big on him, but we’d have it sized in a day or two. After he examined it like he still couldn’t believe it was there, he said, “You already gave me this beautiful ring.”

Reaching under the sofa, I pulled out a package wrapped in gold foil and handed it to him.

“What’s this?” He tilted his head. “When did you get it?”

I couldn’t hold back a grin. “Open it already. Merry Christmas!”

Con had never been patient with wrapping paper, and he massacred it in his rush to get to the gift. His eyes widened when he saw what was inside. “This is… oh my God, this is beautiful.”

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