Page 66 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“Then what is it?”
“Your surprise.”
The trees slowly gave way to a small clearing and the illuminated object came into full view. Kade slowed Obie with a small tug on the reins. The horse snorted with what sounded like resignation then stopped.
“What is this, Kade?”
The little tree in the center of the clearing glowed with hundreds of lights.
“I was thinking about what I could get you as a gift this year,” he said. “And I couldn’t come up with anything for the longest time.”
“You know what I think about Christmas gifts.”
“I know. But then I remembered your one-and-only tradition when you were young.”
She looked back at the little tree blazing away in the dusk and swallowed the lump crouching in the back of her throat.
“It’s not like the tree your grandfather had in his yard,” he said, staring at it. “I didn’t want to replicate that memory anyway.”
He wrapped Obie’s reins around the iron spring underneath their seat then jumped down from the sleigh. Kade held out his hand to help her out too, steadying her body against him before she regained her balance on the ground. Even after a year his touch still thrilled her, changing the rhythm of her pulse. She couldn’t imagine that would ever change.
They walked toward the tree, their boots crunching the snow underfoot, his gloved hand clutching hers. Fallon noticed the solar charger nestled under the boughs of the tree to power the lights. Kade thought of everything.
The tree was beautiful in its simplicity. “It’s adorable. I love it.”
Kade studied the tree, his brow wrinkling with earnest. “I took a hike around the property a few months ago and found it here. It sounds silly, but I felt like it had grown here just for me. A sign.”
He pulled his scarf away from his mouth and faced her. “I’m going to break ground for a house right over there,” he said, nodding to a spot behind her. He looked back down at her with the lights from the Christmas tree dancing in his eyes. “Forourhouse.”
His words stunned her. The bone-chilling breeze whispering through the boughs waving next to them, the shifting of Obie’s feet, and the soft chatter from the turkeys now somewhere nearby—it all stilled as if to catch the meaning behind what he’d said.
“Marry me, Fallon,” Kade said, taking something out of his parka’s pocket. “And make me the happiest guy alive.”
A little sob escaped her as she gazed down at the red box in his hand. As he struggled to open the lid with his heavy gloves, they chuckled through happy tears until he whisked his gloves off and dropped them at his feet in the snow.
He laughed, a joyous sound in the quiet of the forest. “I’m so nervous and cold, I forgot to open the box first and then ask.”
She choked on the emotion bubbling through her and took off her glove, giggling herself. “A thousand ‘yeses.’ Of course I’ll marry you.”
She barely registered the frigid air on her bare skin as he slipped the ring on her finger and kissed the top of her hand. Kade wrapped her in his warm, nerve-tingling embrace, and kissed her,reallykissed her until her head swam with stars and her body seemed to be liquifying. Soon she’d be a puddle at his feet if he kept it up.
When he pulled away, he chuckled. “If you could see yourself now, how tempting you look.”
“It’s all your fault.” It came out in a hoarse whisper. She could barely speak.
“Don’t blame me if I don’t take that to heart then,” he said, nibbling on her lip. “I’m not going to change if it means you won’t look at me this way anymore.”
His kisses were magic, stirring a fire within her body to the point where she pushed off the hood of her coat so some of the heat could escape.
“I love you, Kade Behar,” she said.
She felt his mouth curve into a smile. “I love you, too, future Mrs. Behar.”
They made it back to the house a short time later. Fallon was ready for a thermos full of hot chocolate to warm her bones. She and Kade stumbled through the front door and were met with cheers and whistles. Someone blew a horn. She was surprised to see Kade’s brothers back at the house so soon until she realized everyone had been in on the whole proposal plan except her.
“Tell us you said yes,” demanded Tyler as soon as Kade closed the door behind them. Tim and his family, as well as Fred and Elaine, quieted.
She looked at Kade. “Did I say yes? I don’t remember.”
