EPILOGUE
ZANDER
It had been two years since I met Holly on the plane heading to Texas. Two years full of more love and joy than I’d ever been able to imagine. Tomorrow we’d cut the ribbon on the landmark Holiday Hotel we’d built right next door to my Christmas Village shop. We were already booked solid for the next twelve months. Turns out there are a hell of a lot of people who want to enjoy the Christmas spirit all year long.
But tonight was for family and friends. Holly didn’t know it yet, but I’d planned a surprise party for her thirty-fifth birthday. My brother Grant had paid to fly Mama Mae and the boys up here this year, and a bunch of my grown brothers who’d been on their own for years were coming in town for a mini family reunion.
“Are you almost ready?” I stopped in the doorway of the bathroom and let my gaze drift over the woman of my dreams.
“Five more minutes. It takes time to look like this,” she teased.
She could have been wearing a burlap bag, and I’d still think she was the most beautiful, amazing woman I’d ever seen. The deep, dark green dress brought out the color of her eyes. I stepped behind her and wrapped my arms around her middle, then met her gaze in the mirror.
“You’re always the most beautiful woman in the room to me.” I didn’t want to mess up her makeup, so I pressed a kiss to her neck.
She leaned her head back against my chest. “You say the nicest things.”
I chuckled and slid the strap of her dress to the side. “Are you wearing your Christmas gift?”
“Yes.” She lifted the hem of her dress to show me the red and white lacy lingerie. “Are you?”
“Candy cane boxer briefs are in place.” After our first year together, we’d taken to giving each other matching holiday underwear every year. It was just one of the little things we did that I loved. One of the little things that made us a couple that fell deeper and deeper in love with each passing day.
“I think I’m ready. It’s just a few friends. I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
She’d probably been feeding off my energy for the past couple of weeks. The closer the soft grand opening came, the more my nerves jingled and jangled. The hotel opening was a big step, but the question I wanted to ask her in front of my family and our joint friends was what had me riled up.
I took her hand and led her to the biggest conference room we had. The doors opened and just as I’d directed, everyone yelled out “Surprise!” when we walked into the room.
“What’s this?” Holly turned to me, her hand splayed over her heart.
“It’s your birthday party.” I spun her back around to face the room. “Mama Mae and the boys came up from Texas. Avalon and Dirk just got in this morning. Your mom’s here somewhere, but I haven’t had the chance to meet her yet.”
“You did all of this without me knowing?” Her grip on my hand tightened.
“I wanted the grand opening and your birthday to be special.” As I looked out over the crowd of smiling faces, of the people who’d gathered to help us celebrate the opening and honor Holly’s birthday, a sense of gratefulness swept over me.
“You’re amazing. This was already going to be the best birthday and Christmas ever. You’ve just outdone yourself.” She turned in my arms and kissed me.
I kissed her back, deep and slow, hoping she could sense how much she meant to me. Then I pulled back and dropped to one knee.
“What are you doing, Zander?” She still held my hand, her grip growing even tighter.
I wasn’t a man of many words, especially when I had to say them in front of an eager crowd. So I kept it simple. “I love you, Holly. Love you with my whole heart, my entire soul. You’re the one I’ve been looking for but never thought I’d find. Will you marry me?”
I pulled a ring box out of my pocket and flipped it open. She stared down at the large ruby framed by alternating rubies and diamonds.
“It’s a Christmas engagement ring.” She reached for it and slid it onto her ring finger.
“Is that a yes?” I joked. “Usually, the guy gets a yes before the woman takes the ring.”
She laughed, a sweet sound that sent waves of goosebumps over my skin. “Yes, it’s a yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!”
Our friends and family clapped as I stood and kissed my fiancé for the very first time. When we pulled apart, I gazed into her eyes. No doubt we’d have some ups and downs over the years, but with Holly by my side, I knew we’d get through them. I was sorry her father couldn’t get out of his own way to be the man she needed him to be. To be the man she deserved to have as a dad.
“Are you sorry your dad’s not here?” I touched my forehead to hers.
“No. Everyone I love who loves me and supports me is in this room. Maybe someday he’ll join us, but you’ll always be enough for me, Zander. I love you so much.”
“I love you too. Now go cut the cake so my younger brothers can get their sugar fix and go hop in the pool. I promised them they’d be able to swim and float on candy cane loungers and they’ve been driving me bonkers asking when it would be time.”
Holly laughed, a deep throaty laugh full of life and happiness.
Then she linked her arm with mine and we headed toward the cake table, stopping to hug each and every person who’d come to share in our joy along the way.