Christmas Therapy

She saw the tightness around his eyes, but he cleared his throat. “I had this planned in my head.”

“What did you want to say?” she asked, clutching the ring box in her hand.

“Nothing I haven’t told you before.”

“I wouldn’t mind hearing it again,” she said.

He stared into her eyes. “I love you, Heather Shaw.”

“I love you too.”

He stood to his feet and kissed her lips. She didn’t stop him. She’d been waiting to kiss him since he called an hour ago, reminding her of his surprise. Heather wrapped her free hand around his neck. Her pulse raced as her knees weakened, but he held her securely with his arms around her waist.

“Not what I planned,” he said against her lips.

“I loved the scavenger hunt. It was so sweet. How did you think of it?”

“Google.”

She pinched his arm, and he laughed. She barely grabbed his arm since his coat was so thick.

“I didn’t have a clue, so I researched it out. Sue me.”

She kissed him again. “I love you.”

“Marry me?”

Her body went still. He asked. He meant it.

Allen cupped her cheek, and his thumb grazed over her lips. “I didn’t think I would feel this way about someone again, but I love you. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’re the woman for me. I’ll be there for you no matter what. If anything or anyone tries to hurt you, they have to come through me. Your heart is safe with me. Will you marry me?”

Heather shivered and held the ring box. “If someone told me, I would fall in love, I would have said they were crazy.” Her eyes met his.

“But?” he asked.

“That was before you. I don’t know what you did other than being you, but I can’t imagine the rest of my life without you.” She bobbed her head. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He kissed her again, taking her breath away. She sank into his arms. His mouth claimed hers and she meshed her lips against his. His lips showered her with all the love he had to give.

Heather didn’t hesitate to give it back. To think she almost missed out on this amazing man. Fear wouldn’t hold her back again. Despite the wind picking up, and lacy snowflakes hitting her cheeks, warmth spread throughout her body.

Allen pulled away from her lips after one last peck. “Almost forgot.”

He removed her glove, grabbed the ring from the box inside her hand, and slid it on her finger. Heather shrieked and wrapped her arms around his neck. He swayed her back and forth only to pull away again.

“What now?” she asked, brushing some stray hairs behind her ear.

“I have another surprise,” he said. He clasped her hand, and she followed him to his truck. What he was up to, she didn’t know, but she would play along. He was never this spontaneous.

He had her wait as he opened the driver’s seat of his truck. Heather rubbed her arms, only for her lips to quirk into a smile, hearing Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “You’re All I Need to Get By.” She raised an eyebrow at her fiancé as he swayed to the music. Then he mouthed the words to Marvin Gaye’s part, the same way he did a year ago when he gave her a ride in his truck.

Heather giggled as he danced. He never danced in public before, but he would now at her bidding. She never forgot how he scooped her in his arms at the Christmas fair the year prior.

When the time came for Tammi’s part, Heather mouthed the words back to Allen. His eyes glowed. He took her hand and spun her around him. They mouthed the words together for the rest of the song, laughing in between.

One final spin, he picked her up off her feet and kissed her once again. She wrapped her arms around his neck, caressing his mouth with hers. She couldn’t decide which Christmas was better. Either way, it would always be her favorite time of the year.

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