Page 103 of The Ice Queen in the Corner Office

EPILOGUE

Jill

Alex grabbed my hand and gave me a gentle tug. I followed him out of the living room, filled with our families, all waiting to celebrate the new year.

“What’s up?” I asked.

He spun me over to a dark corner down the hall from the festivities and smiled. “I never got to give you your Christmas present.”

“And you chose this moment?”

He grinned. “Seemed like a good moment. Come on.”

He pulled me farther down the hall and into the kitchen. “You got me a cake? I’m starving.”

He chuckled. “It’s better. Grab your coat.”

I shook my head, but I knew better than to ask questions. In the past couple days since we’d reunited, I’d discovered that he loved surprising me, with a kiss, flowers, my favorite coffee, and I had discovered surprises weren’t as bad as I’d always thought.

I pulled on my coat and followed him outside. It was dark, and a light snow fell softly. Alex clicked on the flashlight on his phone and led me off the property to the west, an area I hadn’t visited often.

We’d only gone about ten feet when I noticed a glow in the darkness. Alex’s grip on my hand tightened and he led me to a small cabin decorated with fairy lights.

He released my hand, stepped onto the porch that creaked in a concerning way, and spread his arms wide. “Merry Christmas, Jill.”

“You got us a dilapidated cabin for the night?”

He shook his head as though he were disappointed. “No imagination,” he muttered. He reached for me and I stepped onto the porch next to him. “This is your cabin. Your mother has agreed never to rent it out, but to keep it available for when you and I want to visit.”

I gasped, tears welling in my eyes. “How’d you get her to agree to that?”

He sighed and put his finger to my lips. “That’s like asking the price of a gift. Very gauche.”

“So it was expensive?”

He dropped his chin to his chest. “So expensive.”

I laughed and threw my arms around him in a tight hug. “Thank you.” There were no words. He’d given me so much and now he’d somehow also given me back my family, given me the opportunity to see them whenever I needed them or they needed me. “This is the best present ever.”

He hugged me back. “It needs a lot of work, but your mom’s given it high priority for renovations. It should be ready for us soon.”

“Not tonight?” I pressed a kiss to side of his neck and wiggled my hips.

He groaned and kissed me hard before releasing me. “Sadly no. We’d freeze to death and, as much as I’d be willing to take the risk for myself, I can’t risk you.”

I laughed. “Let’s make a quick appearance at the party, then, and sneak up to our room.”

“The room right next to your mother’s, you mean?”

“Which is why we’ll sneak up before the ball drops.”

“Oh, the ball is going to drop,” he said, his voice low and seductive.

I laughed and dragged him off the porch. “Good thing I’m a sure bet.”

“It sounded better in my head.”

We snuck back into the party and were creeping toward the stairs when I noticed that the rowdy group had quieted. May was surrounded by family, Anthony by her side, his arm around her shoulders.

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