Page 19 of Brewing Up Christmas

She caught his gaze then, her laughter softening into a smile, and Eli’s heart swelled even more. Her hand slipped over his under the table, a quiet intimacy in the gesture that made his chest tighten with something deeper than desire. After their explosive Christmas Eve night, everything between them had shifted. It wasn’tjust physical anymore—though that spark was still there, burning just as hot. This was real. Grounded. Something neither of them had expected but both were eager to explore.

“You good?” Angelina asked, leaning in closer, her voice just for him.

Eli grinned, his thumb brushing across her knuckles, his heart full to bursting. “Never been better.”

Angelina’s lips curved into a knowing smile, and she leaned in to press a soft kiss to his cheek, her lips lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. “Good.”

The chatter continued around them, but for Eli, everything else faded into the background. He couldn’t take his eyes off her—this woman who had walked into his life like a whirlwind of magic and charm and somehow become his center. She’d changed him. More than he ever thought possible. And she’d brought a kind of magic he’d never believed in until now. The kind of magic that didn’t disappear when the holidays were over—the kind that stayed, grew, and became something more.

Bayshore had changed too. What once felt like a place to pass the time had turned into something deeper. The town wasn’t just a backdrop to his life anymore—it was home. Every part of it, from the beach to the brewery, to the people who filled it with life, had wrapped aroundhim and made him realize this was where he belonged. And Angelina—well, she was the heart of it all.

“Okay,” Nolan announced from across the room, clinking his glass to get everyone’s attention. “We’ve got five minutes until midnight, so let’s raise a glass!”

Everyone lifted their drinks, laughter and cheers filling the space as Nolan went on about the new year—jokes about fresh starts and promises they’d probably never keep. Eli lifted his glass with the rest of them, but his gaze never left Angelina. She met his eyes, something soft and knowing passing between them, as if they were both thinking the same thing.

“Here’s to new beginnings,” Nolan said with a grin, raising his glass high.

“To new beginnings,” the group echoed, the clinking of glasses ringing through the room.

As the countdown to midnight began, Eli slipped his arm around Angelina’s shoulders, pulling her close. The warmth of her body against his, the soft hum of the world outside, the gentle crackle of the fire—everything about this moment felt perfect. He didn’t know what the future held for them, but for the first time in his life, he wasn’t worried about it. He had her, and that was enough. More than enough.

“Three... two... one... Happy New Year!” The room erupted in cheers, glasses clinking, laughter spilling into the air, but Eli only had eyes for Angelina.

“Happy New Year,” he murmured, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, lingering kiss.

“Happy New Year,” she whispered back, her smile lighting up her whole face, her eyes warm and full of promise.

They stayed like that for a moment, the world around them forgotten, lost in the quiet joy of the moment. When Eli pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers, his voice low and full of meaning.

“Here’s to us.”

Angelina smiled, her hand resting on his cheek, her touch soft and warm.

“To us.”

As the new year began, with the snow falling softly outside and the warmth of their friends surrounding them, Eli knew one thing for sure—he had found what he’d been searching for. This was home. This was love.

And this was only the beginning.

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