It was snowing hard and Hayley almost hated to leave her cozy apartment, but it was seven o’clock on New Year’s Eve, and Josh would be arriving any minute to pick her up. He’d surprised her a couple weeks before with tickets to the New Year’s Eve bash at the Pioneer Hotel, and she’d been looking forward to it ever since. She’d even gone back to Venus and Vixen at the mall to pick out a new dress for the occasion, which she now zipped up with a happy wriggle. It was body-hugging black, knee-length, with a deep sweetheart neckline and crocheted long sleeves that showed flashes of skin in just the right amount.

She finished her getting-ready routine with glittering chandelier earrings and a spritz of perfume, right in time for Josh’s knock on the door.

“Hey, you,” she said.

Josh’s appreciative gaze roving up and down her body told Hayley that she’d made the right choice with the dress.

“Let’s not go out,” he said. “I want to stay here, in bed, with you.”

“Mmm,” she said. “I have to admit it’s tempting.”

Josh grabbed her around the waist and nuzzled her neck, sending pleasant shivers through her. “You’re tempting.”

“But we’re meeting Maggie,” Hayley reminded him. “She wanted a last hurrah before she leaves.”

Maggie Barnes had decided she’d had enough of the Alaska winters, and she’d taken Hayley up on her offer to sign up with a traveling nurse program. Maggie had a job lined up in Idaho, and while it wasn’t the balmy tropics, it did have a months-shorter winter and plenty of sunny days, and Maggie’s best friend had moved there a couple years earlier. While Hayley was sorry to see her go, she was glad for the obvious enthusiasm Maggie had shown about the change. She knew about fresh starts, and how sometimes it was just what a person needed.

“Maggie will have other friends at the party,” Josh murmured against Hayley’s skin. Then he kissed her neck once and pulled away. “But okay. There is a part of me that wants to show you off to the world so everyone can see how damned lucky I am.”

Hayley beamed at him. A few days ago, she and Josh had sat down with a film crew and talked about their success story. The folks at Devotion.com had loved the “started as a dating coach” angle, and while Josh’s profile would no longer appear on the singles area of the website, Hayley knew the heartfelt story of how he’d fallen in love with her was way more of a draw. And damn, had he looked good on camera. Her heart filled with pride and gratitude every time she thought about how Josh—normally so private—had opened up about his love for her.

She put on her snow boots, stowed her heels in her bag, and pulled on the new fur-hooded North Face down parka that Josh had gotten her for Christmas, all sleek and technical and as flattering as a winter coat could be. She’d protested—meekly—against the expensive gift, but he’d told her with a cheeky grin that instead of spending his money on the Iditarod, he had to spend it on something.

The walk to the Pioneer was short, and despite the hard weather, the streets were filled with bundled-up revelers. It seemed like most of Golden Falls was out to celebrate, and Hayley sent a quick thought of support for her friend Elizabeth Armstrong, bartending at the no-doubt-packed Sled Dog Brewery.

The foyer of the Pioneer Hotel was decorated with gold lights, fresh white and yellow chrysanthemums, big hanging starburst decorations that looked like fireworks, and the antler chandelier sported a banner saying “Happy New Year.”

“There’s Maggie,” Josh said, waving at his sister across the room.

“And Jack,” Hayley said.

Josh looked at her quickly. “Jack’s here?”

Hayley bit her lip. “I hope it’s okay. I told him we were planning to be here.”

For a moment she wondered if she’d overstepped her bounds. Girlfriend she might be, but she knew family dynamics held a gravity of their own. She just hated to see Josh at odds with his brother, and she knew that in spite of whatever issues were going on with their father, Josh and Jack really cared about each other.

Josh’s face showed tension, but then he regarded Hayley and his look softened. “I’m glad you did,” he said. “Let’s go say hi.”

They made their way through the crowd, hand-in-hand, and reached the nook where Maggie and Jack stood.

Hayley hugged Maggie first, then Jack. “Happy New Year!”

Josh gestured to the drink in his brother’s hand. “Cognac?”

“You know it,” Jack said.

Maggie took Hayley by the arm. “Hayley, want to come with me to the bar? You guys need drinks, and first round’s on me. I owe you one for setting me up with the traveling nurse program.”

“Sure. But only if you let us get the next round.”

“They have an amazing Fireball concoction,” Maggie said as they walked to the bar.

“Fireball!” Hayley looked at Maggie, who waggled her eyebrows mischievously. “Sounds dangerous. And delicious. Just my thing.”

“I’ll pretend you’re not referring to my little brother.”

Hayley giggled. While they waited for the bartender to make the cocktails, including one for Josh, Hayley kept an eye on him from across the room. She saw him deep in conversation with Jack, both brothers with a serious look.

“What do you think happened to cause the rift between your dad and Jack?” Hayley said. “I mean, you must have a theory or two.”

“I don’t,” Maggie said. “The way I remember, we went from being a big, loving family to having this animosity overnight. It was around the time our mom died, and it was so bad that whatever it was, it made Jack quit the police force just to get away from him.”

“Jack was a police officer?” Hayley’d had no idea.

“He was a rookie, and I thought he really liked it, but then he quit, stopped talking to Dad, and got on the fire department instead.”

“It’s so weird,” Hayley said. “I like your dad and Jack so much, and neither seems unreasonable.”

“Families are weird,” Maggie said with a shrug. “You should see the things I see at work.”

“It’s interesting that Josh followed in Jack’s footsteps—as a firefighter, I mean—rather than your dad’s as a cop,” Hayley said.

“Josh is a healer,” Maggie said. “I could never see him as a cop. Besides, despite the friction, Josh adores Jack. As he should, because Jack’s always been an awesome older brother. He’s always made time for Josh, and sometimes he’s the only one who can get our stubborn little brother to listen to reason.”

Drinks in hand, they returned to where Josh and Jack stood. Silence followed, an awkward silence that warned Hayley the brothers may have been having a quiet argument.

“We come bearing gifts of Fireball,” Hayley said to lift the mood. She handed Josh his drink and kissed him on the cheek. “And Jack, I hope your New Year’s resolution includes letting me find you a woman.”

Jack smiled indulgently. “We’ll see.”

“I think my big brother likes his bachelor life,” Maggie said. “Sitting around in his big old house drinking cognac, pretending to be a classy lad.”

“He probably smokes a pipe, too,” Josh added with a grin.

Jack laughed. “I do, occasionally. But no, I’m pretty sure there’s no one in town for me. Or if there is, I haven’t met her yet.”

“Guys like you are exactly why I’m starting the ‘Bring Your Heart to Golden Falls’ campaign,” Hayley said. “I predict you’ll be married within a year.”

“Maybe I can snag a guy in Idaho and then we can all be married within a year!” Maggie said.

“Engaged, anyway,” Josh said, and Hayley’s heart raced as Josh raised his glass for a toast. “Here’s to happily ever afters for the Barnes family—both looking for, and found.” At the word found, Josh looked down at Hayley, and then pulled her into a quick kiss.

Hayley felt like she was on a cloud of happiness.

Mayor Walters came up to say hello, his eyes twinkling above his magnificent white beard, his petite wife by his side. Hayley and Josh then went to mingle for a while, and for the first time, the first New Year’s Eve, Hayley felt at ease with herself in a way she never had with previous boyfriends at previous parties. It wasn’t just that she knew half the people in the room, or that she’d established herself as a businesswoman in her own right, although that was part of it.

It was having Josh by her side, and the intensity of his love for her that radiated out from him, warming her with every glance and every touch. It was the complete lack of doubt that this was a forever love.

As they made their way around the room, they greeted common friends and introduced each other to strangers. Josh introduced Hayley to Fred Moran, the fire chief, and Doc Bauer, who ran the community health clinic. In turn, Hayley introduced Josh to Gazette editor Alice Abbott and Clyde Harrison, the Gazette’s gossip columnist. She took a special satisfaction in introducing Josh as her boyfriend to TV anchor Michael Driessner, who not that long ago had told her she sucked as a woman.

Near the food table they came across Claire talking animatedly to a small group of people, including Jack and Andrew Blake, who hugged Hayley and gave Josh a hearty handshake.

“Your dad was in for a haircut the other day,” Andrew said to Josh. “It was good to see him up and about. He said you’re not racing the Iditarod this year?”

“Nope,” Josh said, with an easy acceptance that Hayley wouldn’t have believed two months ago. “I’ve raced the Iditarod twice, finished it once, and while it was a rewarding experience—despite my last-place finish last year—it’s a big commitment. I’ve got other priorities now. Much sexier ones.”

When he grinned at Hayley, she felt a spark of lust. She loved that he called her sexy—in public, no less!—and she thought ahead to the private celebration they’d later share. Back at her place, they’d drink champagne in front of the fireplace and get busy on the bearskin rug.

“Josh sold his dogs to a kennel down near Anchorage,” she told Andrew. “They run a tourist business in addition to racing, taking visitors out on rides, so his dogs will be happy and busy even after their racing days are over.”

“Yep, and I’ve got plenty of friends with kennels who’ve said I can run their dogs any time I want. So all’s well,” Josh said.

“Well, that’s great,” Andrew said.

“Thanks,” Josh said. “Not to mention, Hayley’s got so much going on with her matchmaking business that I want to be available to help her if she needs it. Are those mini pies?” Josh peered past Hayley at the delectable buffet-style spread. “I’m going to fill my plate.”

“Go for it,” Andrew said. “The lamb meatballs are fantastic, too.”

Both Hayley and Josh perused the buffet, made their selections, and rejoined the group just in time to catch the end of something Claire was saying.

“—and it’s never been found!”

“What’s never been found?” Hayley asked.

“The half a million dollars Nate Armstrong stole from the police evidence room way back when,” Claire said. “It still irks me that he’s got that money hidden away somewhere.”

Hayley felt a pang of sympathy for Elizabeth, daughter of the town’s criminal pariah. No wonder her friend never wanted to talk about her family life.

She noticed that Jack’s jaw was clenched and his hand held his cognac glass so tightly that Hayley worried it might shatter.

“Everything okay, Jack?” she said.

“Peachy.” His tone was strained.

Mystified, Hayley shared a glance with Josh, who gave her an almost-imperceptible shrug.

“Bruce mentioned Nate Armstrong and his upcoming release from prison the other day, too,” Andrew said. “He thinks Armstrong is innocent of the theft.”

Claire looked surprised at that, but it was Jack who spoke up.

“Oh, he’s saying that, is he?”

“If Nate didn’t take the money, then who did?” Claire said.

Andrew said, “Bruce had some theories—”

“Excuse me,” Jack said. “The Steeles are here. I should go say hi.”

“You’re right, old crimes are no subject for a New Year’s Eve,” Claire said. “And I need to get myself to the dance floor.”

“I’ll join you,” Andrew said.

“Stay away from Mayor Walters,” Alice Abbott said jokingly. “Or else you three will be in violation of open meeting laws.”

“Ha!” said Clyde Harrison. “I’m stealing that for my gossip column.”

After Hayley and Josh finished eating, they headed to the dance floor themselves. Josh held Hayley close against his body as they swayed together in time to the music, a fun mix of classic rock pieces and danceable swing. His heady masculine scent of wintergreen made Hayley want to tuck her head into his shoulder, which she did. Everything about Josh was intoxicating, arousing, and yet she felt all kinds of secure in his arms.

He loves me back, she thought, and she knew the years ahead would never fade her wonder at the thought, or her desire to love him back just as fiercely.

The music stopped. The countdown began. Hayley looked around her at the sparkling ballroom, at the bright faces of her friends and neighbors.

She watched in astonishment as Andrew spun Claire into a dip and kissed her—deeply—ten seconds premature while everyone else was watching the projector countdown screen.

What the heck? Claire and Andrew!? Hayley barely had time to register it. The kiss must have been spontaneous, because now they were laughing about it.

Then the countdown reached zero, and there was confetti and cheers and hands holding glasses of champagne thrust into the air, but most of all there was Josh, his lips meeting hers, and the rest of the world faded as the passion built in their heated kiss that went on and on.

It was a kiss that spoke of true love and shared holidays and bubble baths at the end of long days apart.

It was a kiss that promised forever.