How stupid was I to think I could come home for a little more than a week and leave Cringle Cove unscathed?

I mean, just look at him, with his handsome face, mesmerizing eyes, and sexy voice. The way he looks at me with those eyes—the ones with gold flecks swimming in chocolate. They see straight through me and they always have, delving into all the secrets I thought I’d kept hidden. Like right now with his “do you or don’t you love me anymore” question. I don’t even know how to answer that question for myself, much less for him.

On one hand, of course, I still love him. He’s been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. On the other hand, he crushed my heart into a million and one pieces, not leaving enough for anyone else to even attempt to put back together. Instead of a love of a lifetime, I find men with finger-like toes. Or nail fungus problems. Or they’re super-clingy and ultra-creepy. All this time, I’ve blamed Hunter for my bad luck with men.

Tonight, I have to really look at who’s to blame. Did I subconsciously pick guys who I knew wouldn’t live up to my standards to avoid getting close to anyone again?

Now that I’m here with Hunter again, I’m more confused than ever. Why? Because with him, I feel better than I have in years. But I also completely resent that feeling. He makes me want to make a life with someone by my side, but not just any someone. Him. The problem is, he doesn’t deserve any of that—not my love, my desire, or my future. After the way he took everything I had to give and threw it away without a second thought, he doesn’t deserve absolution.

“Maybe you’re right, Mallory. Maybe I don’t deserve you at all. But if you still have feelings for me, even just a little, don’t you think our love deserves a second chance?”

I look around me, not moving my head, but I can’t seem to stop moving my eyes. They roam everywhere but toward Hunter. I can’t bring myself to look at him. “Um. Did I just say all that out loud?”

“Yes, of course you did. How else could I have answered you?”

“Oh shit. That was supposed to all be in my head while I tried to sort out my thoughts and feelings before actually speaking any of it out loud. This is awkward.”

“You know, I’d really like to explore how your choosing the wrong guys to date is all my fault. Except, I don’t like to think about you dating any other men, so I’m all for skipping that part of it. We can focus the part about how no one else lives up to the high bar I set. If we stick to that fact and continue with that methodology, you have to agree that the only logical solution is for you to choose me.”

He holds my face in his hands, the warmth of his skin heating my cold cheeks. He stares deep into my eyes, holding my gaze and silently willing me to agree with him. To give in to him. To buy into the warning sign he should be made to wear at all times.

“Mistletoe not required.”

“Pardon?”

“You should have to wear that warning sign. You don’t need mistletoe hanging over your head to make me want to kiss you.”

“Mallory, you can kiss me anytime you want. There’s no need to ask or wait for permission. All my kisses are for you anyway.”

I physically hurt from how much I want that to be true…and wish it were easy to believe. Right now, I’m not ready for either.

“Hunter, I need to understand what happened before. How could you hurt me like that?” It’s my turn to search his eyes for the answers to the question that has consumed me for years. The one I’ve been afraid to ask and afraid to hear the answer to. But to move forward, we have to go backward.

“Can’t we just chalk it up to youthful stupidity and leave it in the past?” His plea sounds so earnest, I almost give in and accept that easy out.

But I know it’ll just come up again later, sowing the seeds of more distrust.

“Afraid not. This is one of those need-to-know situations, and I need to know.”

His resigned expression confirms he knows he has to spill the whole story, but the sadness in his eyes tells me he in no way wants to. “Okay, but you’re not going to like it. I’m not sure it’ll make you feel any better about our split than you do right now.”

“I’m willing to take that chance.” He still doesn’t know I overheard Gran that day.

“You remember my parents leased our old house, barn, and land through a property management company, right?”

“Yes. What about it?”

“At the beginning of your senior year in high school, your grandmother bought all of our land from them and became our new landlord.”

My stomach drops to my knees. Why do I feel sick all of a sudden?

“A couple of months later, she cornered me and gave me an ultimatum: either break up with you, or she would evict my family from her land. That land was where my parents had built their entire business. We had so many horses and the sleighs and no options to go anywhere else with them. If my choice forced my parents to lose what they’d worked their whole lives for, I couldn’t live with myself. Breaking up with you nearly killed me too, but I always thought we’d get back together somehow.

“When I heard you’d chosen to attend the University of Georgia, my whole world felt like it was imploding. I went to your grandmother’s house that day and had it out with her, trying to convince her that we belonged together. She threatened my family with everything she could think of, but her hatefulness only lit a fire under me. Starting that day, I designed plans for expanding the business and making it more profitable year-round. I busted my ass day and night to get out from under her thumb.”

“You bought the old horse farm outside of town.” That piece of the puzzle suddenly makes sense.

“That’s right. I bought that place. I bought the land across the street. Had my house built. Bought my parents their own house. I’ve worked harder over the last four years than I did the entire twenty-one years before that combined, and it’s all paid off. Santa’s Village has just as many visitors in the hottest part of the summer as it does at Christmas. Everything isn’t paid off yet, but I’m well on my way.”

“Santa’s Village? You mean your barn up there?”

He tilts his head to the side and draws his eyebrows down. “Not just the barn, I mean all of Santa’s Village.”

“Wait—you own all of it? That place is your creation?”

“Yes, I thought you knew that.”

“No, I had no idea.” I’m nearly speechless. From everything. The threats. The fights. The way Hunter has clawed his way to the top of the town totem pole.

The prominent display of the box I gave him suddenly makes sense. Mr. Beckett won’t part with it…because Mr. Beckett is Hunter.

“All I knew was I had to do something to get out from under Ernestine once and for all. After letting her rule my life once, I vowed never to give her the opportunity again.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve stopped her.” Maybe.

“That was part of her threat, of course. If I didn’t tell you exactly what she said to say, or if I told you she was behind it, all bets were off. We’d be out on the curb within a week. Now that I’m older, I know it doesn’t work that way, but I didn’t know that at the time. I also promised myself that I’d be successful enough to prove I’m worthy of you.”

“Hunter, she never thought my mom was good enough for my dad. I don’t even know if she’s changed her mind about that to this day. I wouldn’t waste any more time worrying about what that hateful old woman thinks.”

“I don’t care about proving anything to her, Mallory. My promise was to prove it to you, so we’d have a chance to be together again. So you’d understand there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make you happy. So you’d remember how much you used to love me. I’ve loved you my entire life. Nothing will ever change that. Not breaking up. Not your going off to college a thousand miles away. Not threats from Ernestine. Nothing.”

Now I truly am speechless. I react in the only way that makes sense. The only response a declaration like that from Hunter could possibly elicit. With the prowess and gracefulness of a drunk gymnast, I fling myself on top of him, landing with a thud against his chest. The rush of air from his lungs sounds a lot like “oomph,” but I take his arms encircling me as a positive sign.

Without another word spoken between us, I press my lips against his and inhale everything that is Hunter. His touch. His scent. My hands rest on his cheeks, lovingly holding his face when our tongues meet. His hands slide up my sides and back down again until he finds the hem of my shirt. When the warmth of his skin touches mine, my entire body ignites like an incendiary device exploded inside me.

Even though I haven’t admitted how much I’ve missed him until now, I know it without a doubt. Every cell in my body responds only to his touch, to his caress, to his kisses. He rolls me over onto my back, removing our clothes without a fight or a hitch as he lies at my side. He uses his tongue to make love to my skin while his softly whispered words of adoration make love to my soul.

He slides over, covering me with his now naked body, and I willingly give him free rein to do with me as he pleases. For the first time in almost four long years, we are together as one again. Tears well up in my eyes—so many tears. Tears of relief, from finally letting go of the carefree façade I’ve worn since losing him. Tears of happiness, from at last having the only man I’ve ever loved back in my arms again. Tears of love, freely given to Hunter again at last.

My first.

My last.

My only.

In the final throes of passion, it’s his name that falls from my lips as my nails dig into his back. He collapses against me, his body and the heavy blankets shielding me from the wintery wind and snow. He places soft kisses on my face—lips, eyes, nose, and cheeks—kissing away my tears while his thumb languidly strokes the sensitive skin of my neck.

“Mallory Alexandra Conner, you still take my breath away.”

“Hunter Alexander Beckett, I’m pretty sure that should be my line right about now.”

“What happens now?” His question holds much more meaning than the simple words would normally convey.

“From the looks of things, I believe you’re stuck with me for the rest of the night, Hunter. As hard as the snow is coming down and as cold as it’s been, the road down the mountain will be unpassable.”

“It’s my very own Christmas miracle. I got the perfect present.”

“What present did you want?”

“All I want for Christmas is you.”

“You know that’s a song, right?” I fight to keep from smiling, but one corner of my mouth keeps lifting against my will.

“Yes, I do know that. One I wrote about you and someone blatantly stole from me. I was plagiarized and robbed blind.”

“I’m certain Miss Carey would be more than willing to give you all the credit you’re due.”

“Nah, I can’t call her again. It ended badly last time. She cried, begged me to love her. Losing me nearly destroyed her.”

“How about that? I have something in common with a superstar.”

“You are my superstar, Mal. And just so we’re clear, maybe we were separated, but you never lost me.”

“Wow. That was a great line. It actually did work for me. In fact, I think I’m ready for round two now.”

“It’s about damn time. I was beginning to think I’d have to make a wish for next Christmas.”

We move back inside the barn before frostbite claims the protruding and most important parts of our bodies. We’re back inside the stall, checking on Blue, when my dad calls again.

“Well, is he still good, Mallory?”

“Um, what?” I’m about to have a panic attack. Holy. Shit.

“Is Blue still doing good? How are his vitals? How’s his pain management? Any new signs or symptoms I need to know about?”

“Oh, yes, Blue is still doing very well. His pain is well managed, and he’s still fairly loopy from the medication. He’s not pawing, biting, or rolling on the ground.”

“I’m glad to hear that because I was just checking on the roads and the weather, and it doesn’t appear either of us will be going anywhere tonight. I’m sorry, sweetheart. This is the first time you’ve been home for Christmas in all these years, and I send you up there to get snowed in away from home.”

“It’s all good, Dad. Don’t worry about me. The barn is warm, and there’s plenty of room to sleep or even get lost in here. They have a full kitchen with food, too, and Hunter already made our Christmas Eve meal. Hopefully Blue will be much better by the time the crews plow the roads in the morning. If not, at least they’ll be clear for you to come up here and see what I did wrong.”

“I watched you treating him, sweetheart. You didn’t do anything wrong. Blue will be just fine. It may take a few days for the colic symptoms to fully clear, but I think he’s well on his way.”

“How is Bear, Dad? I’ve been thinking about him all night. And poor Sam.”

“Bear has a longer road to recovery than Blue does, but he’s going to pull through. Your mom insisted on staying at the clinic tonight to keep an eye on him.”

“Is Amelia back from her date yet?”

Dad chuckles to himself. “Haven’t heard a word from her, Mal. Seems like she has really hit it off with Chad. Maybe she’ll make it back in time for Christmas dinner tomorrow. Call me in the morning and let me know how Blue is doing.”

My best friend is seeing Hunter’s best friend. That would be a fun double date. Again.

“Dad, before you hang up, there’s something I need to ask you.”

“Okay. What’s on your mind?”

“Gran.”

“Hmm.” His standard noncommittal response to stall the conversation for a moment while his mind whirls. “Funny how one word can encompass such a wide array of topics. What about her, specifically?”

I summarize what I overheard her saying and the whole story Hunter told me earlier to bring my dad up to speed with my racing thoughts. “How could she do that me, Dad? How could she be so cruel?”

“The best thing I know to do is to ask her directly yourself, Mallory. Look her in the eye and don’t let her use any of her tactics to get out of explaining herself. She has mellowed lately and sings a very different tune for the most part. But she hurt both Hunter and you, and she should have to explain herself for that.”

“You’re right. She should. I’m going by her house tomorrow morning before I come home, assuming Blue is well enough for me to leave by then.”

“Good idea. Stay safe up there tonight, sweetheart, and drive safely coming down the mountain. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night, Daddy.”