Epilogue

JAKE

“ M erry Christmas, my love,” I murmured. We were cuddled up in bed on our sides, and I bent my head to whisper my lips over her bare shoulder.

Hannah wiggled around to face me, a bright smile on her gorgeous face, her light brown eyes bursting with happiness.

Warmth spread through my chest, and for a moment, I wondered if this was all real. Was Hannah really in my arms, or was this a Christmas fantasy I would wake up from at any minute?

No, this was as real as it gets. Hannah was back in my arms to stay.

“Merry Christmas,” she said softly.

“I have a present for you,” I told her with a sly grin.

She snuggled in even closer and sighed. “This—waking up in your arms—is the best present ever.” Her lips formed a smirk, and she added, “Well, it’s a tie with last night.”

A chuckle rumbled in my chest, and I ran a hand down the silky skin of her back until it was cupping an ass cheek. “I was happy to give you a demonstration of anything you might have forgotten from our wedding night.”

“I vote to make that a tradition.” She giggled.

“Seconded. But I still have another present for you.”

Her lips curled up into an adorable smile. “I love presents.”

“Actually, it’s two. One of them is more like giving you back something you lost.”

Hannah tilted her head back to see my face more directly, gazing at me curiously. “I’m intrigued.”

I laughed and reluctantly let her go to turn over and sit up. A shiver wracked my body when the cool air hit my heated skin. We’d lost power late that first night, and while the generator had kicked on, it was only supplemental, which meant minimal electricity. It kept the temperature in the cabin just high enough to keep us from freezing our asses off and heating the water. The fireplace and warm clothes made it a lot more comfortable. However, we’d been spending a great deal of our time naked, with a roaring fire and blankets piled over us.

I sucked in a breath when my feet hit the chilly wooden floor before I popped up and rushed to the fireplace to stoke it into a roaring flame. Soft, thick robes hung in the closet, so I grabbed one and put it on, then tossed the other to my wife.

She smiled gratefully as she stuck her arms in the sleeves and tied the belt. While she got settled, I shuffled over to my duffel bag and unzipped it. After digging through it for a minute, I found the gifts and hurried back to the bed.

“I would have wrapped them,” I told her as I climbed on and sat with my back against the headboard. “But as thorough as my sister is, she didn’t provide the cabins with wrapping paper.”

Hannah laughed and held her hand out, palm up, prompting me to place a small black velvet pouch on it.

She examined it inquisitively for a few seconds, then opened it and let the contents fall into her hand.

Three rings sparkled from the light of the fire, and she gasped once she realized what they were. “Our wedding rings?”

I nodded and took the little bag, setting it aside so her left hand was free. Then I picked up the diamond engagement ring and its matching band. “When I saw these in the envelope with the annulment papers, I almost sent them back as well. But I was worried that you might get rid of them, and I wanted you to wear the first rings I bought you rather than new ones.”

The little chapel in the hotel tried to think of everything a last-minute bride and groom might need. But I’d still been taken aback when they asked if we wanted to look at their selection of rings. I’d agreed, though I was skeptical because it was bound to be a very limited selection. It turned out the hotel had a jewelry store, and even if it was after hours, they opened for a bride and groom.

Hannah had bounced around the store, giggly and excited, since she’d still been buzzed on the alcohol. Then she came to a sudden halt and gasped. “Those are…holy cow. They are gorgeous.”

She had an expression of such awe on her face that I’d told the manager to wrap them up without looking at them or the cost. There was a matching band for the groom, so I’d purchased it, too.

Hannah’s eyes filled with tears as I slid the rings onto her fourth finger. “I loved these,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“I know,” I replied, bringing her hand to my lips so I could kiss them. Then I snickered. “One thing I appreciated about your inebriated state was that you were super honest.”

Hannah’s eyes widened, and her jaw went slack. “What else did I say while I was drunk?”

Grinning, I winked at her. “You were very clear about what you wanted me to do to your body…in deliciously graphic detail.”

Hannah’s face flushed with color, and she squirmed uncomfortably.

“I was taken off guard by your…breadth of knowledge,” I admitted. “Until you confessed that you’d always wanted to try the things you read about in romance books.”

“Oh my gosh,” she groaned, closing her eyes and hanging her head forward.

My voice was gleeful when I teased her. “I made a list.”

“Seriously?”

I laughed and cupped her chin, raising her head to stare into her beautiful eyes.

“Seriously. Now, are you going to put that ring on my hand, or are you waiting for me to start checking off the list?”

Hannah huffed, trying to look put out, but she ended up dissolving into giggles. “I love you.”

I leaned forward and took her mouth in a tender kiss. “I love you, too, baby.”

She sighed happily and quickly slid the band on my finger.

I kissed her again but pulled back before things got too heated and I forgot about her other present.

“You told me something else,” I murmured.

Her cheeks turned pink, and she peered up at me, her expression reticent. “Do I want to know?”

“I hope so because it has to do with your next gift.”

She sighed. “I wish I had something to give you.”

“I don’t need anything but you, my sweet little wife. But truthfully, these are really for both of us.”

Reaching back to the end table beside the bed, I picked up a stack of papers and turned back to face Hannah.

“You told me how you’d been all over the world but never had the chance to actually see it.”

The memory came to me while I held her the first night in the cabin. She’d been lying over me on the couch, fast asleep. Careful not to wake her, I slipped off the sofa and retrieved my laptop.

The signal had been spotty, so it had taken longer than usual, but I’d managed to get done with my task before we lost power.

“I did?” she asked, looking perplexed.

“You did,” I confirmed. “Look at the papers, baby.”

Her eyes scanned the first document, and her breath caught in her throat. Then she croaked, “You booked us a cruise around the world?”

Curling my arms around her, I dragged her onto my lap. “I’ve taken the time to really visit a few places, but mostly, I was in and out, just like you. Now, I’m glad because I wouldn’t want to see them any other way than through your eyes.”

Hannah launched herself at me and hugged me with all her strength. “Thank you, Jake.”

I kissed her temple and gently squeezed her back. “I love you, baby,” I murmured right before I sealed my lips over hers.

After all the years of feeling like I was living my best life, Hannah made me realize that my best life was just beginning.