“I’m so sorry I left,” I started.
Bryce shook his head. “No. I’m sorry I tried to make you stay. I said I wouldn’t.”
“You didn’t,” I insisted. “Not really. I didn’t give you a chance to change my mind, but I should have.” I stepped closer, looking up at him. “I should have stayed.”
“No. You needed to go. Your dream. Your movies.” He pulled back. “Wait. What about your movies? Aren’t you supposed to be in Pennsylvania?”
“I convinced Ronny to give me a long weekend. I drove all night to be here and win you in the auction. Maybe try to win you back in the process,” I added with a shy smile. “I think it’s time to chase some new dreams.”
Over the last week, I’d had the stark realization that achieving my dreams didn’t mean nearly as much without the most important person in my life to enjoy it with me. If redefining my dreams meant I could do them alongside Bryce, then that was fine with me. I would build new ones.
Bryce wrapped his arms around me, and I tipped my face up to his. The kiss was sweet, steeped in the revelation that this new future meant we could be together. I poured into the kiss how much I’d missed him and how sorry I was that I hadn’t realized it sooner. Grasping the hair at the nape of his neck, I pressed into Bryce. All the doubts and questions and the ache of longing that had filled the past week bloomed into a perfect sense of relief and completion.
His grip tightened. “I’m so glad you came. And not just because of Gladys.” He chuckled.
I grinned and kissed him again. His hand came up to cradle my face, and I leaned into the contact.
* * *
BRYCE
I’d never imagined that the auction would end with Krystal in my arms, and I wasn’t going to waste a moment of it. I deepened our kiss and filled with satisfaction as she hummed her approval. My fingers tangled in the waves of her long brown hair as I explored the feel of her lips under mine. Soft and sweet and precious.
My heart soared higher as the reality that she came back hit me fresh again. I softened the kiss, tenderly drawing the contact to an end with a few more gentle kisses before pulling away completely.
“I don’t want you to have to give up your dreams for me, Krys.” I was ridiculously happy she was here, but seeing her made me a touch regretful. I never wanted to hold her back. She was too talented, too impressive for that.
“The way I see it, I’m gaining far more than I am giving up. I’ll finish this movie and finish my contracts. Then I’ll come home to Minden.” Her green eyes sparkled with happiness in the spring sunshine. “Back to you,” she added.
I couldn’t help but capture her mouth in another kiss. It sounded like heaven.
I shook my head. “I have to admit, I want that more than anything. But you should take the opportunities you have. Film your movies and show people stories of love and the gospel. And come back to me when you can.” I shrugged. Actors didn’t all live in LA, did they? “People do that, right? Live wherever and then just travel to the filming location?”
Krystal’s eyes softened, and I saw moisture fill her eyes. She sniffed and wiped under her eyes.
I felt a wave of panic. Tears were my kryptonite. “Oh, Krys. Don’t cry! What did I say?”
She laughed and shook her head, even as the tears flowed faster. “I’m okay. I just love you so much!”
I pulled her in and wrapped my arms around her, swaying back and forth as I held her. “I love you, too. We can make this work. Somehow.” I pressed a kiss to her hair and tucked her back against my chest. I felt her nod in agreement.
“Yes. Even if I have to give up acting.”
“Not a chance,” I said. “Even if I have to move to Los Angeles and work for LAFD,” I corrected.
She pulled back slightly to look up at me, her expression serious. “I don’t want you to do that. I love you. But I also love Minden. I want to live here and raise kids here with you and be Mrs. Captain Bryce Storm. And if I can do that and still act? That would be a miracle.”
My head spun as she painted a picture of a future together I hadn’t even allowed myself to entertain. Kids? Marriage?
As though she could see the thoughts behind my eyes, she laughed. “Am I scaring you off?”
I shook my head. “Not even a little. It all sounds perfect to me.”
“There were so many times during this past week that I wanted to call and talk to you about my work.”
“What’s the movie you’re filming, anyway?”
She laughed. “Funny you should ask. It’s calledA Firefighter for Christmas.”