Page 25 of Christmas Rings

“Like my father was.”

“Weird, right?” He flashed her a sheepish grin. “I’ve never said that out loud.”

“It’s not too late,” Alissa said. “You could go back to school.”

“I’m thirty years old,” he said. “I want to settle down and have a family. Going back to school would be a definite derailment, not to mention the loss of income. And anyway, that was a dream from a long time ago.”

“You could become a high school English teacher. That wouldn’t take as long.”

He gazed into her eyes for a few seconds. “How would we live on two teacher salaries? Especially here?”

“We could move to somewhere cheaper. Like the town I grew up in, for example.”

He played with a strand of her hair, tickling her neck with it like a painter with a brush. “You have this way of making it seem like there are endless opportunities.”

“Not endless. But there are other ways to live your life. If you’re unhappy with the path you’re on, there’s no reason why you can’t change.”

“Except that I’m a dutiful son. And, honestly, that was just a fantasy from a long time ago. I love working at the company. I’m proud of how I’ve grown our market. And I’m spoiled.”

She nodded. “Being poor is no fun. I’d hate to see you have to take up stripping.”

He laughed. “I don’t think anyone would pay me to dothat.” After a second, he added, “Is it time for you to leave the club?”

“I’d planned on working through the summer, at least.”

“Why? Sophie’s back on her feet.”

“I don’t know. I guess I like the extra money. It makes me feel safer to have a savings account.”

“I understand,” he said. “But I’d like to spend time with you on the weekends. You work until one a.m., then you’re dead tired the next day.”

“I didn’t know it bothered you.”

“Not the work, but not being able to take you anywhere on the weekends does.”

“Thank you for telling me,” she said. “I’d love to be done.”

“Do you see a future for us, like I do? Like one where we’re married?”

She teared up at his earnest expression. “Yes, I see it.”

He smiled. “Good to know.”

“Give me until the end of the school year,” she said. “That’ll give me a few months to save.”

“For what?” he asked.

“If we were to, say, get married, my mom will insist on paying for it. I’d like to have some saved to contribute.”

“I don’t suppose there’s any way to talk either of you out of that idea?” he asked.

“Not a chance.”

Chapter 5

Early spring turned to summer. They developed a happy routine together, spending the nights splitting the time between his place and hers. In the evenings, they cooked together and talked about their days. Things settled down between Jed and his parents. He hadn’t mentioned a change of career paths since the night they’d talked, so she didn’t bring it up either. She figured if he wanted a change, he would make one. All paths seemed to lead elsewhere, however, as his father had spent the last few months grooming him to take the CEO position.

Since they’d talked about marriage, neither of them brought it up again. Knowing Jed and his romantic heart, she suspected he was planning a special proposal. She wanted to be surprised, so kept herself from asking any details, knowing he would do it when he was ready.

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