Page 65 of A Pen Pal for Christmas

His eyes shifted, and then he gave a short laugh. “Hey, if it doesn’t work out, at least you know you’d have a room with Tommy and Grace. You wouldn’t betotallytrapped.”

I stared at him, some part of me wanting to laugh even as my mind scrambled to process what he was asking. He wanted—needed—me close. He wanted us to build something here. Together.

And as much as the idea terrified me, it also filled me with quiet, undeniable joy.

“Are you sure you want to deal with that commute? It’s an hour each way,” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Hudson grinned, shrugging slightly. “An hour in the car is nothing if it means coming home to you.”

“Cheeseball.”

“You love it.”

Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, and I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. “I do love it, actually. And I love you.”

His eyes flared. “So… does that mean you’ll move in?”

I nodded.

“Yes?” he prompted.

“Yes, I’ll move in with you,” I said, my voice breaking. “I don’t want to lose this either.”

His hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen. “You won’t.”

I pressed my lips to his, my heart swelling with a mix of gratitude, hope, and something even more profound. Then he took control of the kiss—slow and deliberate, like he wanted to pour everything he felt into each brush or stroke.

My hand slid up to his shoulder and hung on, as if letting go would make the moment slip away. Thankfully, his lips were soft, but his touch was firm, steady, and so very grounding.

When we finally broke apart, he traced the curve of my lower lip with his thumb. “I love you, too, Sofia.”

And in that moment, surrounded by the warmth of the fire and the steady beat of his heart beneath my hands, I knew I’d finally found the place I was meant to be. But the best part was… I felt safe enough to trust it.

CHAPTER 22

Hudson

I satat a corner table with the guys, nursing a beer and pretending not to be hyperaware of the group of beautiful, laughing women at the other end of the bar.

Well, objectively, they were all beautiful and laughing… but I only had eyes for one of them.

Sofia was at a table with Grace, Holly, and Robin, and all four of them were decked out in ugly Christmas sweaters and matching grins.

It wasn’t like I was hovering—at least not by my definition. After all, I’d loosened up a bit thanks to us having over two weeks of peace. For example, she didn’t have to check in with me every time she left our room, and I didn’t feel the need to trail her like a shadow.

Still, she was worth putting up with a boatload of “overprotective bodyguard” jokes, and that was why I’d suggested having a guys’ night at the same place that the girls would be gathering.

It was a compromise. She got her freedom, and I got my peace of mind. Just because it’d been quiet didn’t mean anything had been resolved.

Nick took a sip of his beer, his eyes scanning the bar. “You tell her yet?”

“Tell her what?” I asked.

Nick grinned. “That you’re living out every Hallmark Christmas plot with your fixer-upper house in a magical little town?”

Jack leaned back in his chair, laughing. “He’s got you there. But I do have a question. Are you planning to marry the girl or just have her watch your house while you’re busy being a recruiter in Harrisburg?”

Jamie whistled. “Shots fired.”

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