Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island 3)

Smiling, he took it from her and fed her arms into the sleeves. “Put your hands in the pockets.”

His eyes were warmth and darkness and she couldn’t look away.

She fumbled and drew out something from both pockets, a box from the left and an envelope from the right.

She heard Emily gasp and Brittany give a choked laugh.

“Go, Alec. Ignore the envelope, open the box, Sky.”

“The envelope is a ticket to Antarctica.” Alec took the box from her shaking hand before she could drop it and flipped it open.

Sky stared down at the huge diamond, sparkling like the lights on the Christmas tree.

“Oh—oh, Alec—”

“Do you have any idea how terrifying it is choosing jewelry for someone as talented as you??

??

“I love it. It’s stunning. But—”

“I didn’t want to propose to you in public,” he said softly, “but given that our friends won’t leave the room, I have no choice. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Y-you’re proposing?”

“Why would I leave?” Brittany grinned. “This is the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. And, Sky, if you don’t say yes in front of me I’ll never forgive you.” She snapped a photo on her phone. “I’m tweeting this to your hundred thousand followers, Alec. Tough, cynical Alec Hunter is now soft, marshmallow Alec Hunter.”

Sky saw his mouth flicker at the corners.

“Children are present,” Emily said hastily, and ushered Lizzy toward the kitchen. “Come and stir the cranberry sauce. We’ll be in the kitchen when you’re done. Brit, I need your help. Ryan, Zach—”

With a sigh Brittany rose to her feet. “Okay. I guess you’re right. But I want a full report later. No detail left out.”

Their friends melted away and finally Alec and Sky were alone with the flicker of the fire and the scent of the Christmas tree.

Alec took her hand. “When we went for that walk that day at my parents’ you told me that jewelry had meaning. That it was an expression of emotion.” He slid the ring onto her finger. “This tells you that I want a lifetime with you. It says I love you and that I want you by my side for every adventure life offers us. Forever.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. “Say something. Anything. As long as it’s not no.”

She felt the heavy, unfamiliar weight of the ring on her finger and the swell of emotion in her heart. “You really are proposing?”

“I’m telling you I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I don’t mind whether we make that official or not. It’s you I want, not a ceremony or a piece of paper. I don’t care about any of that. We’re going to be together because it’s what we both want. Because there is no one else we’d rather take this adventure with.” He stroked her hair away from her face, his eyes gentle. “Of course, if you married me it would stop your parents plotting your romantic future and it would make my parents’ day, but every decision we make is for us, not for anyone else.”

Us.

If any word had ever sounded as good, she couldn’t remember.

Her heart felt huge in her chest. “I like the sound of us.”

“I like it, too. I love it.” He smiled against her mouth. “I love you. And we’re going to make a great us.”

Part of her, the part that knew life didn’t usually turn out fantasies, still didn’t dare believe it. “I never expected to fall in love with you. I was having fun, that’s all, and suddenly in the middle of having fun, and talking to you, I realized I wanted to carry on doing it.”

“So do I.”

“Are you sure? You said—”

“I know what I said. And that was the way I felt to begin with. When Brit texted me and asked me to go to your exhibition, I tried to find a reason not to go.”

“I reminded you of Selina.”