Patrick dragged Jennifer to his side, Grant’s father wrapped his arm around Hazel’s shoulders, and Grant tucked Faith into their own little corner and pulled her close.
Faith relaxed into his arms and smiled up at him. “Do you want to grab a drink before the ball falls?”
“Nope.” He lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “My mouth is going to be busy in other ways far more pleasant than drinking.”
God, her chest ached with the pressure of the love filling her. “You’re amazing. I have no words to tell you how incredible the last two weeks have been for me.”
Grant’s gaze rested on hers, soft and sweet with all the love he returned. “I have to tell you, baby, there was nothing like playing and winning at my home rink, knowing you were right there watching. Absolutely nothing more fulfilling or settling or thrilling than coming out of that locker room after the game to find you there, this gorgeous smile on your face.” He shook his head. “I never knew I could love like this, and I know everything has happened cyclone fast, but I can’t imagine ever being without you.”
She leaned into him, tilted her face up, and slid her hand around the back of his neck. “You’ll never need to. I’m not going anywhere.”
Grant lowered his forehead to hers as the crowd started the countdown. But neither Grant nor Faith were interested in looking at anything but each other as the count reached one and he took her face in both hands.
Cheers and horns and bells filled the pub. But before Grant kissed her, with his lips a breath away, Faith said, “I love you, Grant Saber.”
He paused. “And I love you, Faith Nicholas.”
They were both smiling when they kissed, surrounded by the rowdy bar.
His lips were warm, his kiss soft and filled with emotion. Everything in Faith’s world righted and filled. And when she pulled back, Faith discovered romantic love wasn’t the only love destined to enter their lives in the New Year.
Hazel and Martin asked them over for breakfast the next morning. Patrick and Jennifer asked them to go out to dinner the following night. Grant had already promised Caleb a guys-only movie day so Faith could check in on the store and grab some quality time with Taylor to talk business.
Their short time back in Holly before they returned to DC, Grant’s hectic schedule, and Faith’s new career venture was packed. But it was packed with good things.
After making dates for the following day, Grant wrapped an arm at her waist and whispered, “Ready to take this celebration to a private location?” Faith knew she’d found that kind of love. The kind that fulfilled and supported and gave her a new perspective on life. A perspective that allowed her to stretch to become who she was meant to be.
She leaned her head back against Grant’s shoulder, looked him in the eye, and said, “My dad would have really loved you.”
A moment of confusion passed before he smiled, kissed her temple, and squeezed her tight. “And I would have loved your dad, because he created the most beautiful woman in the world—inside and out.”
She turned in Grant’s arms and linked her hands at the back of his neck. “Let’s get this year started off right.”
On their way toward the door, they said a few good-byes and stepped outside, where Holly’s quiet, snowy night wrapped them in the familiar arms of what the town had always offered, those timeless gifts of the Christmas season three hundred and sixty-five days a year: hope, love, and the promise of miracles.