“How are you doing with the news about your dad?” Gavin asked, wrapping an arm around her hips to steady her.
After Luke’s call to reopen the investigation into Chris Chambers’ disappearance, his mother had shocked everyone by turning herself in for her role in encouraging him to leave. For helping him to steal that fourteen thousand dollars. They’d had an ongoing affair, apparently, and when her husband found out, he had vowed to kill her lover if she didn’t get him out of town, seeing the adultery as more than just a marital betrayal, but as an affront to the Harris family name.
At the time, Mrs. Harris had traveled frequently to Mexico for her job, and she’d warned Rachel’s father to leave Yuletide as fast as possible from pay phones scattered around Cancun and the Dominican Republic. She’d alerted him to the availability of cash in the town treasury and told him where to find the key. With eight years between her admission and the crime, the local judge could choose to be lenient—or not. Mr. Harris had hired the best attorney in the area to represent his wife’s case.
None of that brought Chris Chambers home, but it had brought Rachel and her mother some peace to know what had happened. He’d been stressed about the revelation of an affair. And from Rachel’s mother’s perspective, it gave her a new freedom from her old guilt about any role she might have played. “I’m glad I finally know what happened,” Rachel said honestly, lifting her head from Gavin’s chest to meet his gaze. “He was a flawed man, but not in quite the same way I thought. I like to think the side of him that he showed us—the side of him that he gave to Yuletide—was him at his best.”
Gavin was quiet for a long moment. “Sometimes, when I’m at a race and I get to the bottom of the hill, I’ll hear someone cheering, and for a minute, I’ll think that I see him.” He shook his head. “That makes no sense, I know.”
“In the future, you’ll have another Chambers at your races to cheer for you—don’t worry.”
Gavin laughed, his voice deep and rich. His happiness making her happy.
Everything about this Christmas was making her heart swell with love.
“I’d like that.” He kissed her nose. “I’m so glad you’re going to be there with me when I go for the gold.”
“You know my mom wants to use that money she saved up to go with me?” Her mother was buying Rachel’s ticket too, insisting on making the whole trip a gift.
“Awesome. I’d love to have her there.” He reached under the couch pillow and came up with a wrapped box. A very small wrapped box. “Merry Christmas, Rachel.”
Her heart stopped for a moment.
Then beat wildly.
“What is this?” she asked, looking over at the tree where he’d left a whole stack of gifts. Then back at the tiny box.
“Your Christmas present.” He eased her off his lap so they sat side by side.
The moment burned into her memory, from the Ella Fitzgerald song in the speakers—the same duet they’d done at the Garretts’ party—to the scent of pine logs in the fireplace and the feel of Gavin’s hand on her knee.
“Gavin?” She glanced up at him again, feeling unsure. They had talked about waiting until the summer to take the next step. “Is this an Olympic pin?” She knew the athletes got commemorative pins at each of the games.
He slid off the couch. Dropping to one knee. “Would I do that to you, Rachel?” His eyes were one hundred percent serious.
Her chest squeezed tight with emotion. She tore off the paper to reveal a distinctive turquoise-colored box.
On opening it, she found a fat round diamond in a platinum setting.
“Rachel.” He took her hand in his. “Would you do me the honor of being my wife? I love you with all my heart and I want you in my life forever.”
She knew how much he risked asking her now—before they’d finalized plans for their future or discussed marriage. He’d put himself on the line for her, giving her the most precious gift she could imagine. His trust with his heart.
“Gavin, you are in my heart forever, even without this ring.” She glanced down at the glittering diamond. “But I can’t wait to be your wife, and share your name and a home with you.”
His smile dazzled her even more than the ring. She would never forget this moment.
“I love you, Rachel. I got the ring when I was in Austria, and couldn’t wait another day to give it to you.” He removed it from the box and slid it onto her finger. A perfect fit. “The design is called ‘snowball.’”
Happy tears gave the stone even more rainbow refractions as she looked down at it.
“How perfect. It’s so beautiful, Gavin. I love you, too.” She flexed her fingers, admiring the gift and all it stood for.
“I hope you don’t feel rushed, Rachel. But it was eight years between that first and second kiss.” He rose, drawing her to her feet with him. “That was plenty of time for me to know how I feel about you by the time I got my second chance.”
“I don’t feel rushed,” she assured him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she stepped into his arms. “I feel perfect. Like the happiest woman in Yuletide.”
“Should we share the news yet?” He glanced out the window toward the happy holiday celebrations outside in the town square. “We’d have a captive audience.”
“Not yet.” She brushed a kiss over his lips. “I’m going to have to share you soon enough. Moments alone are hard to come by.”
Lifting her off her feet, Gavin brought her nose to nose with him, hands on her waist. “I like the way you think.”
“Enough to steal away with me upstairs for a few hours before Christmas dinner?” she whispered in his ear, her fingers toying with his hair.
His feet were already moving toward the steps, the white banister lights twinkling a path toward her happily ever after.
The End
The Road to Romance Series
When a popular life coach claims that making peace with your romantic past paves the way for romance in the future, the idea inspires a group of down-on-their-luck friends to follow the advice. As they set out to sever ties with the past, they are each surprised to find sexy adventure along the way!
Book 1: Last Chance Christmas
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Book 2: Second Chance Cowboy
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Book 3: A Chance Encounter at Christmas
View the series here
Don’t miss the newest series by Joanne Rock and Catherine Mann…
The Runaway Bride Series
Book 1: How to Lose a Groom in 10 days
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Book 2: The Wedding Audition
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Book 3: There Goes the Bride
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Book 4: Bride on the Run
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Enjoy an Exclusive Excerpt from
His Christmas Gift
Sarah Mayberry
Copyright ? 2015 Sarah Mayberry
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