Page 97 of Catching the Mistletoe

She raised her eyes to mine. “When last year?”

“December.” There were no shadows between us now.

“After the hospital.”

“Yeah, after the hospital.”

“And it is for me. Right?”

“Yes, Little Dove.”

“So you knew, even then.”

“I did.”

She drew in a shuddering breath. “It makes my heart hurt for you. That you felt that, but you didn’t know you could tell me. That you thought you had to cut me out.”

“It hurts me that it hurts you. I’m sorry.”

Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to the tattoo. “I’m sorry too. So very sorry for all the awful things that happened to you. But also, I’m so proud of you.” Her hand was trembling as she reached up to brush the hair back from my forehead. “For all that you have endured, you never lost yourself, or your beautiful, loving heart. And I feel so honored that you want to give it to me, Mack. It’s the most precious thing in the world to me. God, I love you so much.”

I couldn’t speak past the lump in my throat, so I just held her tight and buried my face in her hair. Finally, I pulled back to look at her. “You are a miracle to me, Arabella. In all the ways life tried to wear me down, I never knew it was making room for something like this, like us.” My voice was steady, even if inside I was a tumult of emotion. “You’re the peace I’ve always been searching for.” I said simply. That was the heart of it—love didn’t need to be loud to be real. It was there in the quiet moments, in the easy silence, in the way her hand felt in mine. “You’re the home I never thought I’d find. And I never want to leave.”

Her eyes were drenched with emotion, and I saw her throat move as she swallowed heavily. She slid her fingers into my hair and pulled me forward so she could kiss me. When she pulled back, she was smiling. “Look at you, waxing all lyrical. Not bad for a broody, stoic cowboy.”

I chuckled. “I have my moments.”

“Well, I love it, so more of those, if you don’t mind.” She linked our fingers and lifted our joined hands to her lips, so she could brush a kiss across my knuckles. “You know what?”

“Mmm?”

“I can’t wait to get home.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I can’t wait to tell everyone about us.”

“Right.”

“What’s that look for?”

Seems like I was an open book these days. “Nothing. Just…”

“If you think they aren’t gonna like it, think again. Mom fucking adores you. She’ll be over the moon.”

“Okay.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Then believe me when I say everyone’s gonna love the idea. Got it?”

It was impossible to argue with such rock hard certainty. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Oooh, ma’am-ing me. Now I know you’re serious.” She kissed me again and when she drew back, it was with a mournful sigh. “As much as I could stay here all day, I suppose we should get up, since Evelyn will probably be here soon.”

“I suppose.”

---