Christmas, One Year Later

"Mom! We're going to be late!" Emily bounced agitatedly in her booster seat, her face pressed up against the window of Dane's truck as he turned into Chase's driveway. "Drive faster, Dane! They're going to start without us!"

"We're not even opening presents until after dinner," Jaimi said, twisting awkwardly around in her seat to grin at her daughter. The Christmas lights on Chase and Mira's house were twinkling, and she could see the giant, inflatable reindeer and Santa lawn decorations through the trees. Apparently, the inflatables had come at the request of their toddler, J.J., who had decided that no horse ranch would be complete without gigantic inflatable Christmas decorations, and Chase had agreed.

She loved it.

She loved everything about the Christmas season with the Stocktons. Christmas cookie baking with Lissa and the kids. Communal present-wrapping with homemade cookies and pies while the kids were having snowball fights. Going shopping with Erin and Taylor for Christmas decorations, and food for Christmas dinner.

And, most importantly, waking up every morning in Dane's arms, knowing that he was a part of her and Emily's life forever.

"Uh uh!" Emily protested. "Uncle Travis said that me and Ava could pick something first and open it right away. He said that he'd make sure we picked a good one!"

Dane grinned as he eased his truck along the snowy driveway. "Erin and Steen are behind us, so we're not the last ones."

"What?" Emily peered out the back window, and then waved frantically. "Aunt Erin is the best vet ever. I want to be a vet like her. Then I could take care of all our horses myself."

"All our horses?" Jaimi rolled her eyes. "We just have one."

"For now! Ava said that all the cowgirls have more than one barrel racer. When I get good enough, I'm going to need more!"

Jaimi gave Dane a baleful look. "This is your fault. Before we moved out here, her biggest passion was being able to witness carnage on the school playground."

He grinned, that same devastatingly handsome grin that won her heart a year ago, and every day since. "She loves it."

"I know." Jaimi smiled and leaned back against the seat, thinking about how amazing it had been to see Emily in her first barrel race. She'd been bold and jubilant, exactly like her Grandma. "I love watching her."

Dane smiled. "Me, too." He held out his hand, and she set her hand in his, smiling as he ran his thumb over the platinum wedding band on her left hand, an intimacy that had become a habit she loved. "And I love standing with you, watching her together."

"Me, too." Her heart melted a little bit more, as it did every time she saw Dane's love for Emily shining in his eyes. He hadn't just become her husband. He had become Emily's dad, in every way imaginable. The bond between the two of them was unbreakable, full of laughter, love, and support. It was Dane's coaching that had turned Emily's barrel racing dreams into reality, and he was a wonderful teacher who knew how to keep it fun, while still allowing her to challenge herself.

"It's Ava! There's Ava!" Emily pressed her face up against the window, waving frantically as Dane pulled up in front of Chase's house. He'd barely put the car in park before Emily had unbuckled herself, opened her door, and nearly flung herself out of the truck, shouting for her cousin.

Ava squealed and ran down the steps, meeting Emily halfway. The two seven-year-olds screamed, hugged each other, and then raced up the steps and into Chase's house, disappearing from sight.

Jaimi grinned, her heart feeling so full she couldn't stop smiling. "She loves her cousins so much. It's so beautiful. I didn't grow up with any, and she has so many already."

"Big families are great." Dane leaned over and took her hand. "Merry Christmas, our first as husband and wife."

She smiled. "Merry Christmas to you." He leaned forward and kissed her, a kiss that felt as beautiful and magical as their very first one, on that snowy fence at the festival.

"Hey!" Erin banged on the window, grinning at them. "Save that for home, kiddos. We have a Christmas celebration to help with!"

Jaimi's heart leapt at the sight of Erin. She loved all her sisters-in-law, but she had become especially close to Erin. "Hey!" She opened the door, grinning at the baby in Erin's arms. "Hey, Claire," she crooned. "Are you excited for your first Christmas?"

The little girl just gazed at Jaimi with her big blue eyes, Stockton eyes. She was wearing a green and red knit cap, and her jacket had little jingle bells on it. She grinned at Erin, recognizing the purchases from their most recent shopping trip. "They fit her?"

"A little big, but wearable." Erin glanced over at Dane. "When's Zoey moving back to town? I'm looking forward to meeting her."

"A few weeks." Dane's smile faded, and Jaimi took his hand, knowing how hard the last year had been for his sister, and how hard he'd tried to make it right for her, but he hadn't been able to. He'd wanted a different life for her than the one she'd left behind, but she was coming home, and no one was going to stop her. She'd hung in there for almost a year, since she'd first decided to walk away, but now, she was done, and on her way home.

"Do you need us to pick her up at the airport?" Erin asked.

Dane shook his head. "Ryder has already offered about six times, but she said she's all set. Thanks, though."

Jaimi's heart tightened at how everyone in the Stockton family treated Dane's sister as one of their own. They were such an inclusive family, drawing everyone into their inner circle without hesitation. She felt like she'd been a part of their lives forever, and already, the bond was so tight.

She loved her family, every last one of them. Thank you, Mom, for giving me the gift of my family. Somehow, she knew her mom was watching, smiling down from heaven as her solitary, independent daughter found the huge family she'd never realized she wanted or needed.

"How are you feeling?" Erin asked, shifting her baby to her other arm.

"Awesome!" She started to get down from the truck, but before she had begun to move, Dane appeared next to Erin, looking deliciously handsome in his cowboy hat, black jacket and jeans. He never failed to take her breath away. He just looked so incredibly rugged and strong, with kindness etched in every line on his face.

He held his hand out. "Let me help you, sweetheart."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm perfectly capable of getting out of the truck myself."

"I know, but I like to dote on you." He patted her growing belly. "Two kidlets in there isn't good for balance, not when there's snow on the driveway."

"Give the man a break, sis," Steen said cheerfully as he walked up, holding seven shopping bags packed with wrapped presents. "A pregnant wife brings out the protector in us. He won't be able to cope if you don't let him take care of you. Just go with it."

Erin rolled her eyes. "So true. They get worse the further you get along."

"Worse?" Jaimi couldn't keep from smiling. "You mean better?"

Dane grinned. "What? You like it when I go all he-man-protector on you?"

She smiled as she took his hand. "You know I do."

"Yep, I sure do." He slid his arm around her waist as she stepped down, pulling her into his arms for a kiss that made heat spiral through her.

She sighed and beamed at him, loving the feel of his arms around her. "I love you, Dane."

"I know. That makes me the luckiest guy in the world." He grinned, ignoring the shouts of greeting from the house as the other Stocktons noticed their arrival and came out to welcome them. "Because of you, I have everything," he said. "The Stocktons are actually my brothers now, I'm a dad, and, most importantly, I get to spend every day with the woman who fills my heart with love every minute of every day. Forever, my love."

She smiled and draped her arms around his neck. "Forever," she agreed. "That sounds perfect."

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