Page 110 of Seal the Deal

He glances down at me, eyes scanning my face. “It is…”

I lean into him, my cheek grazing his shoulder. “It reminds me of camp. The mountains, the quiet.”

Jake’s lips brush against my temple. “That’s what I thought when I bought it. It reminded me of camp.”

“And now you’re sharing it with us.”

Before Jake can respond, the kids come barreling out of the car, bundled up and racing toward the nearest pile of snow. Meadow immediately flops down, kicking her legs to make a snow angel, while Noah forms a perfect snowball and aims it directly at Jake.

Jake dodges, laughing. “Hey, easy there, buddy! You wanna start a snowball fight already?”

Noahgiggles, scooping up another handful of snow, and before long both kids are shrieking and running through the snow, their laughter echoing through the valley. I watch them, my heart full at the simple joy of the moment.

Jake turns to me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “What do you say we leave them out here for a bit? I’ll show you around the cabin.”

“Trying to get me alone, Brooks?”

“Maybe.” He holds out his hand. “But I did promise you a grand tour.”

Inside, the warmth envelops me instantly—the smell of cedar and pine, the crackling of the fire. The cabin is stunning. It feels lived-in, not like some flashy vacation rental, but it still has all the perks.

The large stone fireplace dominates one wall, and plush furniture is arranged around it in a way that invites you to curl up with a blanket and never leave. The wooden beams overhead give the space a rustic, homey feel, and there’s a Christmas tree, still undecorated, standing tall in the corner.

Jake steps behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, his breath warm against my neck. “The housekeeper came by earlier, so everything’s set. We’ve got food, drinks... and I figured we could all decorate the tree together.”

My heart melts at the thoughtfulness. “That sounds perfect.”

We stand there holding each other, the soft glow of the fire casting a warm light over the room. There’s a peace here, a sense of belonging.

Jake pulls back slightly, his lips brushing my ear. “Think we should go rescue the kids before they turn into snowmen?”

I laugh, turning in his arms to face him. “We probably should.”

He leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips, and I feel lit—the warmth, the love, the quiet promise of everything that’s still to come.

Chapter thirty-four

Best Christmas Eve, ever

Charlie

The night air is cold, the kind that bites at your skin and turns your breath to mist, but the hot tub is warm and inviting, steam curling up into the dark sky. Snow falls lightly, dusting everything in white, and the cabin’s twinkling lights cast a soft glow over the deck.

The kids are finally asleep, and it’s just Jake and me now. I pull my robe a little tighter around me as I step outside, my bare feet darting over the frosty decking until I reach the hot tub. Jake’s already in, leaning back, his strong arms stretched along the sides as he watches me approach. His gaze is smoldering, tracking every move I make.

He doesn’t speak, just lets his eyes travel over me as I drop my robe. The ridiculous bikini I packed for this exact moment has his lips curling into a slow grin, his stare hot and possessive.

“Stop staring,” I say, stepping up to the edge. The steam swirls around me, warm and soft against my skin.

“Can’t help it,” he murmurs. “Get in here.”

I smirk, taking my time as I slip into the water, feeling the heat slide up my body. His eyes never leave me, dark with desire, as I sink down until the water bubbles around my shoulders.

“Tease,” he mutters, reaching for me and pulling me against his chest.

“Maybe a little.” I lean back into him, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my spine.His quiet laugh vibrates through me, making me feel more at home than I ever have before.

We sit with the quiet night wrapping around us, the only sounds the occasional crackle of the fire inside and the soft hiss of snow falling around us. I close my eyes, letting the tension of the past few months melt away.

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