He stood and then held out his hand to help her to her feet. When they were both standing close, he stared into her eyes. “Alina, you’ve shown me what’s important in life. And it’s not business or making a name for myself, it’s so much more than all of that. It’s having people in your life that want to spend time with you—people that are there for you through the good and bad. And most of all, it’s people like you that give me time to figure out that I’m wrong.”
“What were you wrong about?”
“Love. I thought that having a successful career meant having to choose it over love. But you showed me that it’s not an either/or proposition.”
She smiled. “I did all of that?”
“You did. I love you, Alina. And I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
“I love you, too.”
He pulled her close and claimed her lips with his own. Her heart soared. This was the best Christmas ever. Her feet felt as though they were floating.
He pulled back, ending the kiss much too soon. “I have one more present for you.”
He moved to his jacket and withdrew a wrapped box from the pocket. The breath caught in Alina’s lungs. Could it be?
She told herself that she was getting too carried away. But she couldn’t stop herself from hoping they would be together forever. Even then, it wouldn’t be long enough.
He turned back to her and held out the gift with the tiniest gold bow. “This is for you.”
It wasn’t until she accepted the box that she noticed the tremor in her hands. Her mind raced for all of the things that could fit in the little box. Each time she thought of a diamond ring, she pushed aside the thought. It had to be something else. Maybe a bracelet to match her snowball necklace.
With her hands not quite cooperating, she obliterated the wrapping paper. Inside she found a little aqua box. As she read the name of the famous jeweler printed on the lid, she gasped.
She lifted the lid and found yet another box. But this box was made of black velvet. Tears of joy rushed to her eyes. She blinked them away. For a moment, she just stood there staring at the little box that fit in her palm.
Graham reached for the box. “Perhaps I should take it.”
Her gaze met his. She had so many questions but her mouth totally refused to work. Of all the times for her to be speechless.
Graham opened the box. The overhead light caught the brilliant diamond and made it sparkle. Her heart was beating like crazy. Was this really happening?
And just to prove it, Graham got down on one knee. “Alina, I didn’t know it for so long but you are what I’ve been searching for. You are the morning sunshine that lights my days. You are the comfort I seek after a long day. And you are the best friend that I’ve ever had. I love you with all of my heart. Will you marry me?”
Tears of joy splashed onto her cheeks as she nodded her head because she was afraid her voice would fail her once more, but she tried to speak, anyway. “Yes. Yes, I will.”
He drew her back into his arms and this time when he kissed her, it was so full of love. She’d never been happier in her life.
And she knew that no matter where she went in the world that her home would always be with Graham. It wasn’t a building. It was the memories. And they would make plenty. And it wasn’t the hallways or the rooms. It was the love in her heart that had room enough for everyone she cared about...most especially her real-life Prince Charming.
EPILOGUE
Two years later... Toliver Tower
HOME AT LAST.
Alina Toliver placed the last table setting on the long row of tables that stretched from her living room into the dining room. Graham had had his people deliver the tables and chairs from his office the day before and now it was all set for this evening’s Christmas Eve dinner.
Prince took a bit to adjust to his new surroundings, but now he thought he was in charge. He rubbed over Alina’s ankles as she straightened each place setting. She smiled at how everything was at last falling into place. She hoped everything would go perfectly this evening. After all, this was their first Christmas in their new home.
In the past couple of years, the Stirling residents had been split apart as there was no one place available in the city to accommodate so many dislocated residents. She had dearly missed her friends, b
ut Graham had kept her distracted planning their wedding. She glanced down at her sparkling diamond engagement ring. One month ago to the day, she’d received the matching diamond wedding band. It wasn’t the ring’s beauty that meant so much to her, it was the promise it carried—Graham would love her forever. And she him.
“Still admiring them, I see.” Graham’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
She lowered her hand to her side. “I was just thinking that today’s our one-month anniversary.”