One Year Later

“Jack, have you finally finished slicing those apples?” I check my watch. “We’re so behind on these pies! The rest of the volunteers will be here any minute!”

Strong hands settle on my hips, gripping them tight. Jack’s muscular body presses against me from behind, his determined lips trailing a path down the back of my neck.

“You are so evil,” I murmur, melting into him. “We are really pressed for time, and all you can think about is—”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I think about a lot of things. Like the fact that you never told me what your Christmas wish is for this year.”

I twist around and lay my arms over his shoulders, cocking my head to the side. “I don’t recall you asking.”

“I am now.” His eyes gleam with a mischievous twinkle.

“It’s a little late, isn’t it? I mean, if you haven’t shopped for me yet, you’re really kind of screwed since it’s Christmas Eve and we’re expecting a boatload of people, not to mention the media, the governor, and an assortment of politicians from across the state.”

Jack smiles. “It’s amazing how much you’ve accomplished in the past twelve months. You’ve done so much for the local community, the state, and now you’re about to open two new Feedn Time centers. I couldn’t be prouder, babe.”

“That, and the fact that you’ve been with me every step of the way. I guess you can say I’ve already gotten my Christmas wish.” I run my fingers through his hair. “So you’re off the hook.” I turn back toward the pie crust I was preparing, but Jack’s fingers tug at my apron.

“You didn’t ask about my Christmas wish.”

“I thought you got it last year.” I smirk. “You think you’re allowed to get one every year?” I say in a teasing voice. “Don’t you already have everything you want?”

“No.”

He snakes an arm around my waist, drawing me close, so close I can smell his spicy scent, and it does things to my body that are going to seriously compromise my ability to get these pies into the oven.

“There’s something else I want.” He brings both hands to the sides of my face, his forehead grazing mine. “I would really love it if you’d…make me one of your super-special apple pies with the secret ingredient that only I know about.”

I swallow hard and paste a smile on my face. My heart damn-near stopped for a second. Is it stupid that I’d hoped something else would come out of his mouth? That his wish was something a little bit more substantial than a freaking pie, of all things? “You need a pie right now? When we have so much going on? Can’t I just bake one for you in a couple of days when things are back to normal?”

He shakes his head. “I’m disappointed. You’re trying to deny me a Christmas wish here! Bah Humbug!”

I grit my teeth and square my shoulders. It’s ridiculous to have these thoughts. We’ve discussed getting married, and I know it’ll happen when the time is right. I shouldn’t ruin the night because I have unrealistic expectations about our future. He’s still here in Cringle Cove because his company was smart enough to give him the promotion and let him build his portfolio without having to move across the pond.

I’ll make him the damn pie. I have to bake about twenty others anyway. If it’s what he wants, it’s what he’ll get.

He places a pan on the counter in front of me and hands me a can of whipped cream. “Your special secret ingredient, madam.”

My lips curl upward. “Um, we’re missing something else, babe. Something that’s pretty important to the overall integrity of the pie. Like apples!”

Jack snickers. “I think I saw a bowl of them sliced up in the back fridge.” One of the ovens along the back of the kitchen beeps, and he darts toward it with an oven mitt.

I sigh and pull open the fridge. A loud shriek escapes my lips, and I clap a hand over my mouth. Jack drops the pan and rushes over. “What happened? What’s in there?”

“You!” I turn toward him, shoving his chest with my hands. “You are insane, do you know what? I could have had a heart attack!” I shake my head, peering back into the refrigerator, right in front of the bowl of apples.

A Jack head stares back at me, grinning, those dimples making my knees wobble. As always. A conversation bubble sits over him, filled with four very special words.

Will you marry me?

Jack reaches into the front pocket of his apron and pulls out a tiny red velvet box before dropping to one knee. “I love you so much, Cam. More than you can ever imagine. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” I scream, throwing my arms around him, nearly knocking him over. “Oh my God, a million times yes!”

“Whoa! I haven’t even shown you the goods yet!” He flips open the box and a large, princess-cut diamond twinkles back at me. My heart thumps hard against my chest as he pulls it out of the pillow cushion, holding it up in front of me. “Jack, it’s so beautiful,” I breathe. I hold out my hand to him and he slides the band onto my ring finger.

A perfect fit. Just like us.

Always and forever.