Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

F ive hours later Ivy had a plan in place. Okay, so plans were her pitfall and her Achilles heel, but this one would work. It had to. Her future really did depend on this one.

“Joe, I can’t thank you enough.” She shook hands with the former Joe’s Christmas Tree Farm owner. A portion of his property connected to the B&B’s. During the summer it would be a wonderful hike, but in the winter the snow was too deep so she opted to drive.

“The pleasure is all mine, Ivy. I know you’ll take care of the place and I couldn’t be happier knowing the place is in good hands.”

“What will you do now?” She couldn’t imagine wanting to part ways with such a beautiful place. He must have his reasons.

“My daughter moved to Hawaii last year and I’ve always wanted to live at the beach.”

“Wow! That’s a big change. All that sunshine and white sand.”

“These old bones can’t take the winters up here anymore, you see.”

“I do. You’ll be happy and close to your daughter.”

“Yes.” He smiled, taking her hands in his. “Now you have a Merry Christmas and settle into the place. We’ll talk after the New Year’s again, of course and finish any outstanding paperwork. Give your gran a hug for me.”

She waved as Joe climbed into his truck and vanished down the long drive.

Alone, she took out her phone and paused, her fingers over the keypad. “What if he doesn’t answer?”

She didn’t have time for doubts. A couple of seconds later it rang and her heart wanted to jump out of her chest and melt all at once.

“Aspen!” she rushed out before he had the chance to say a single syllable.

“Ivy Sunday. Is everything all right?” He sounded tired.

“You need to meet me at Joe’s. It’s urgent.”

“Okay. I’m on my way. Give me five.”

A SPEN ROLLED TO A STOP OUTSIDE Joe’s red barn and eyeballed the large tarp over the sign that welcomed visitors.

Odd.

Up for a solid thirty-six hours, weary from the night, the second he heard Ivy’s voice his senses went on high alert.

He slid from the cab and started across the gravel parking lot when an angel walked around the side of the barn.

She came to a stop by the sign. “Aspen, you came.” Surprise lit her face and she looked adorable with her hair pulled back in a loose braid over one shoulder, her cheeks flushed from the cold.

“Of course, I came, baby. I said to call anytime you needed me and I would be there. Are you okay? I thought I’d missed you before your flight.”

“Everything is perfect. Or at least I hope it will be. Didn’t you get my messages?”

He walked over, no words, and took her in his arms. He needed more, wanted to pin her against the barn and just inhale her scent and then kiss the ever-loving hell out of her until he had his fill. Which would never happen.

“Sorry, baby. I didn’t. There was an accident up on the highway. A couple of trucks hit a bad patch of ice. It took up all evening and night to clear the wreckage. A miracle everyone survived.”

“Oh, God!” The raw emotion in her eyes warmed his heart. Part of his job dealt with people’s safety, injuries and worse. It came with the territory. But his Ivy Sunday had a tender soul and he saw it through how much she cared for those around her.

“Where is Joe? Lewis?”

“Joe is headed off to Hawaii and who cares where Lewis is.” She had a suspicious grin that alluded to something bigger, but he didn’t push.

As tired as he was, to hear those words come from her mouth perked him wide awake.

“Hawaii, huh?”

She waved a hand. “Come here. I have something to show you.”

He’d seen every inch of this place millions of times and knew it better than he did his own backyard. But he went along with her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, loving the way her dips melded to him.

“I have a lot to be thankful for. You, Gran, my meddlesome siblings, even Lewis.”

His eyebrows shot up at that last part as they came to a stop beside the barn.

“Yeah, I never thought I would be saying that either, but a lot of truth comes out when you stop to listen to your gut and reflect back on past actions.”

He focused on her words, the way her voice waddled ever so slightly. The way she tied her hands together in front of her and nibbled at her lip occasionally.

“You're nervous.”

“A little.”

He wound their fingers together and looked deeply into her eyes. “Don’t be. I’m here. Take your time and say whatever it is you need to say.”

“Okay.”

So much hope shone in her eyes it nearly fucking killed him to let her talk instead of kissing her worries away.

“Last night,” she began slowly, “after I told Lewis I didn’t want anything else to do with him and we came home. I had a long sleepless night and a very long talk with Gran and I realized something. Plans are worthless if they don’t make you happy and full. I want to feel full, Aspen.”

He opened his mouth to agree but she held up a finger.

“I had everything worked out, so I thought, and coming here showed me how wrong I was. You showed me how wrong I was.”

“And now? Are you wrong to be here? What about your job in New York?”

She pressed her lips together but she couldn’t hold back a broad smile that lit her entire face up like an angel’s.

“With the revelations of the sleepless night and morning coffee, a better idea occurred to me. The job in New York was a means to an end but didn’t make me happy. The security made me happy but not full. Does that make sense?”

He approached the sign. “Trust me, baby, it does.”

His gaze locked on her as she came to stand in front of him. “Aspen Kennedy, I love you. I’ve loved you since kindergarten. Since you pulled my pigtails in fifth grade and that first kiss on the football field and since the day you took me to bed and claimed my virginity. And even the day I walked out of your life. I’m sorry I hurt you, I know I’ve said that before but I need for you to hear it again. I walked out of your life and the day you walked back into mine with firewood and coffee, of all things, I realized you and I were meant to be each other’s soul mate.”

He gathered her face in his hands. The love she talked about radiated from her like a beacon to guide him home. “I’ve never stopped loving you, my angel. You’ve been my world and I could never get over you. You stole my heart on that field and I didn’t even know it. Hell, you took it that first day of school.”

“I have something for you. Us. Close your eyes.”

She pulled him to the side, not far from where he was standing to begin with. “You’re sounding nervous again.”

“I know. Just let me get through this. Okay? No peeking. Promise?”

He chuckled. She knew him well. “You have it.” The sound of rustling tempted a peek from him, but he kept his word.

“Okay, now.”

He had no idea what was under the tarp. Words didn’t come easy as he stood there and read the sign for the third, fourth time. “Ivy, what is this?”

“My new plan. Our new plan,” she added hesitantly.

He nodded toward the sign. “Aspen and Ivy’s Christmas Tree Farm,” he read aloud, still stunned by what they meant. The tension between his shoulder blades since walking away from her the previous night eased a notch. “Are you asking me on as a partner?”

“You can have your dream, Aspen and not do it alone. What do you say? Just the tree of us.” She giggled at her own pun.

He turned determined eyes her way. “No.”

Her shoulders dropped and a little crease formed across her brow.

Aspen grabbed her hand between his and took a knee. The surprise in her eyes nearly made him stand back up but he bulldozed through his doubt. This time he would not miss this second chance. “Ivy Sunday Winters, I want to be more than a partner to you. I want to be your husband. For now, forever. To love you, hold you and make so many happy memories together our grandchildren will hear of our happy tales and strive for the same happiness. I want you as my Christmas bride.” He paused long enough to take the ring box from his pocket. He popped the lid and took it out.

“Yesterday, or even this morning I couldn’t tell you why I still have this in my pocket, but now I know. Ivy Sunday, will you marry me?”

He pressed his lips into a firm line, and didn’t dare breathe. Tears trailed down her cheeks and he stood, wiping them away.

“Aspen! Yes! Aspen, I’ll marry you!” She threw her arms around him and he twirled her.

“It’s snowing!” Ivy raised her face skyward and he held her tight, protected her as she took in the moment.

He looked down at her as he placed her feet firmly on the ground. “The only thing we’re missing now is mistletoe.”

“I don’t need mistletoe,” she said, smiling.

“Oh, what do you need, Mrs. Kennedy?”

No words, just action. She pulled him down and claimed his mouth. She melted into him and feeling her fit against him so perfect had his dick hard as steel. That would come later. Right now he needed to have her in his arms, feel her warm breath across his face and see her sweet expression fade to pure happiness.

She was his home, his forever and pure, sweet heaven.

Tiny barking and whimpering broke the magical spell and she pulled back from him.

“What is that?” He turned, and Ivy pulled from his arms.

“Oh.” She laughed and ducked around the corner. She popped back out, but wasn’t alone. “This is the newest addition to our family. Aspen, meet little Ollie. Little Ollie, meet Aspen.”

He accepted the bundle of energetic fur. “Little Ollie, huh?” He smiled and struggled to hold onto the guy as he lavished them with sloppy kisses.

She nodded. “Merry Christmas, Aspen.”

“Merry Christmas to you, baby. When I get you home don’t expect to be wearing any clothes until after the new year.” He pulled her in for another kiss. “You’ve given me more than I could have ever dreamed of.” He touched the ring on her finger with a gentle touch. “Your heart will forever be safe in my care.”

“I know.” She looked at him with complete and utter awe so much so it squeezed his heart and he made a promise to himself right then and there. His Christmas bride would never feel alone or unloved again. Not while he breathed. He had a second chance and he would move heaven and hell to make sure this time around they lived their happily ever after.