I flick on the windshield wipers, but the snowflakes fall faster than the wipers can shoo them away. The streets are slick with ice topped by a fresh layer of snow.

“I’m not used to this weather,” Cam lets out a breathless giggle as we drive back to Feedn Time two hours and a lot of crazy intense sex later. “And I also need some heavy-duty snow gear, too, if I’m going to survive here in Cringle Cove.”

I peer out the window. Visibility is near zero, and it’s not even dark outside. I didn’t realize the storm was scheduled to hit so soon. I hope it doesn’t impact the number of people who visit Feedn Time tonight and tomorrow. Cam will be crushed if she doesn’t have the crowd she was anticipating.

I also hope it doesn’t stop Dan Martin from stopping by. I thought it would be a long shot when I called him, but he’d been willing to make the trip, despite the weather threat. This is a big night for Cam and her family, and I want everything to be perfect.

I sneak a glance at Cam’s flushed face out of the corner of my eye, a bright smile plastered on her face.

I mean, even more perfect.

The ride back to Feedn Time takes twice as long, but I take it slow. We have time. Tessa has things under control. Supposedly.

Cam toys with her hands, shifting in her seat.

“Anxious to get back?”

She nods. “I just hope this weather doesn’t throw a wrench in our plans.”

“Everything is going to be great. You’ve worked really hard to make this a happy holiday for so many people, and they’re going to appreciate every bit of it.”

She places her hand over the one I have glued to the gear shift and a surge of warmth radiates through me.

How did I live for so long without her energy? Without her smile? Without her heart?

She squeezes my hand and I smile, maneuvering the car into a parking spot behind Feedn Time. I don’t intend to be without any of it ever again.

“We only have a couple of hours before Feedn Time opens.” Cam bites her lower lip. “I really hope it’s as big a success as we hope.”

“It will be. You’ve done a tremendous job in such a short amount of time. I can only imagine what you could do on a daily basis.” I drag a finger over her lips, tracing the outline of her mouth. She kisses it, sending a shiver down my spine. “You’re incredible, and you deserve all the good that comes with this, Cammy.”

“Thanks,” she whispers. “Come on, let’s go inside and see how Tessa is doing. I hope the volunteers haven’t all revolted!”

I cock an eyebrow and push open my door. “With Tessa, it’s a definite possibility.” I jog around the car and open the door for Cam, holding her hand so her feet land safely on the pavement.

I wrap an arm around her waist to keep her steady, and she nestles into my chest. “Are you ready for this?”

By this, I know exactly what she’s talking about, and truth be told, I’ve never been more ready. We walk around the corner to the front of Feedn Time and I pull open the door, the familiar jingle above my head letting everyone know that their fearless leader is back and ready to unleash her overabundance of holiday cheer on Cringle Cove.

Tessa appears in less than five seconds, wiping her hands on her apron. Cam grins. “Wow, so you really do know how to get your hands dirty.”

Tessa rolls her eyes. “I told you I could handle things.” With a wicked smile on her face, her gaze darts to me and to Cam, then back to me. She leans in, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. “I haven’t seen that just got laid look in a long time. Sure seems like you enjoyed your little break from Holiday Central.”

Cam gasps and claps a hand over her mouth, a dark red flush creeping up the sides of her neck. “Tessa, shut up!” she hisses.

Tessa grins. “So you don’t deny it, huh? Nice.” She narrows her eyes at me. “I hope you didn’t do her in the car, Jacko. It may have been romantic back in high school, but not so much now.”

“What about the car?”

I jump at the voice of Cam’s mother, and twist around. “The car…was cold. The, um, heat wasn’t working.”

“Oh, dear,” Mrs. Ellis frowns. “They don’t really take such good care of the rentals, do they?”

I let out a slow breath, feeling like I’m back in high school bullshitting my girlfriend’s parents so they don’t know I’ve just taken their daughter six ways from Sunday right under their noses. “No, they don’t. I should really have stuck with Uber, but I figured it would be good to get a car once we got here since we’d be doing a lot of back and forth driving in the bad weather.”

“Well, I’m just glad you’re both back, safe and sound. The weather is getting dicey. I just hope it doesn’t stop people from coming to our holiday dinner.” Mrs. Ellis waves a hand behind us. “Look at all of the wonderful work the volunteers did. I’d hate for it all to go to waste.”

Cam’s mouth drops open and she walks toward the buffet set-up along the perimeter of the space. The tables are covered with gleaming, stainless steel chafing dishes, accented by rich holiday greenery and tinsel and ribbon aplenty. Strands of lit garland cast a soft glow on the feast of turkey, stuffing, vegetables, breads, and scrumptious desserts. Every table is set with a festive tablecloth and a mini lit Christmas tree centerpiece.

“It looks amazing!” She squeals, hugging Tessa and her mother. “This is going to be the most incredible Christmas ever!”

She doesn’t know that to me, it already is.

“You did good work,” Mr. Ellis approaches us, his voice gruff. He nods at me. “I know you were here early with Cam. Thank you for helping her get things in order.”

“I just did what she told me to do. This is all Camryn. She led the troops. I just followed the orders.” I catch Cam’s eye and wink at her before she rushes to the office to peel off her coat and pull on an apron.

“I shouldn’t have attacked you like that,” Mr. Ellis grumbles, now that we’re alone. “It was wrong, for a lot of reasons.”

“You’re her father. I knew seeing you wasn’t going to be easy. And I don’t blame you for reacting like that.”

“You had your reasons for leaving. Cam told me everything. I…” He sweeps a hand over his head. “I didn’t know, Jack. I hate like hell that you had to go through that. I’m sorry.”

I shrug. “It’s something I dealt with, something I tried to put behind me. But I realized that freedom wasn’t worth letting go of Camryn. I thought putting distance between me and my dad would make my life easier. I figured I could just make something of myself and start over without that horror hanging over my head. I wanted that for myself. I wanted to be the best man I could for Cam. And then…” I shake my head. “I screwed up. Leaving made me worse off than living with my dad ever did.”

“It’s nothing a kid should ever have to deal with. I wish I’d known back then. I would have tried to help however I could.”

“I appreciate it, but I needed to handle things on my own. And I did.” I smile, catching Camryn’s curious gaze. “You know, I didn’t think I’d get a second chance to—”

“Hartley!”

I look up to see Ian stomping toward me, wearing a pink apron that I’m sure he tied on because Tessa gave it to him.

“Merry Christmas, Ian.” I grin. “Pink is definitely your color.”

“Screw you, asshole!” He shoves me backward. “You’re a real sneaky motherfucker, aren’t you? Well, I know everything now. And if you think you’re going to steal my clients, think again!”

Chatter and caroling in the room stop dead, and my brow furrows. I lean toward him, my voice low. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, but can we take this somewhere private?” I gaze around me to see many pairs of curious eyes drinking in the scene. Shouldn’t they be enjoying their holiday, for Christ’s sake?

“Why? I think everyone should hear what a scumbag you are, making arrangements to take our portfolio back to London and get a promotion out of it!”

Cam rushes over, her face pinched with confusion. “You guys! Really? Can you please handle this somewhere else?” She waves a hand behind her to the growing crowd. “Everyone, please enjoy your meals!”

The patrons slowly make their plates and spread themselves around the room at the available tables, still tossing stares in our direction.

“Ian,” I take a deep breath, struggling to keep my voice even because he’s attacking me in public for no good reason. In front of Cam and her dad, no less.

Mrs. Ellis and Tessa rush from the kitchen.

Fabulous. Now the whole family is here to witness the berating.

I grit my teeth. “What the hell is your problem? I’m not stealing anything from you!”

“We’re partners, Jack. I thought you’d always be straight with me. But you’re a selfish bastard who only cares about himself.” He pokes me with a finger, his face close to mine.” I got a call before from Cindy at the London office. She said they’d been trying to get a hold of you all day and wanted to share the good news that the promotion was approved and they’re excited to move you back to London early in the new year.” His face twists into a grimace. “So tell me again how this doesn’t make you a lying sack of shit.”

“Just when I was warming up to the idea of working with you clowns,” Mr. Ellis grumbles, shaking his head.

Cam’s mouth drops open. “Jack, is that true? You…you got a promotion? But you just told me—”

I put up my hands. “Wait. Everyone hold on.” I turn to Cam, taking her hands in mine. “I was honest with you, Cam. I have no intention of leaving you again. And Ian,” I turn toward him, and he recoils.

“Don’t even fucking think about holding my hand, asshole.”

I roll my eyes. “Listen, the home office wanted me to start up a different portfolio targeted toward telecommunications and media a few months ago. You knew I was working on it. That’s the client list Cindy was talking about. It has nothing to do with the social impact portfolio. That’s all you, Ian. And they asked me to keep the promotion thing quiet until it was finalized.”

His brows furrow, like he’s trying to decide whether or not to believe me.

“Dude, I’d never screw you over like that.” I cock an eyebrow. “But thanks for thinking so little of me.”

“So, you have to leave again.” Cam’s voice is filled with a heaviness, the same heaviness that has taken residence in my heart over the past five years.

Tessa’s eyes narrow in my direction, and Mr. Ellis looks like he wants to wrap a strand of garland around my neck and squeeze the ever-living fuck out of me.

My chest tightens. I’ve seen that crestfallen look on Camryn’s face before, and it has the same effect on me now, years later.

Except this time, I’m going to do something about it.

“Babe,” I whisper, pulling her close. Her body is stiff, resistant to what her heart wants. Her eyes dart in every direction but mine. I cup her chin, forcing her to look at me. “Hey,” I say softly. “I did apply for a promotion at my company. I figured I had nothing keeping me here in the States, and a new position in London would be the start of a new, hopefully happier, chapter for me.”

Cam’s lips tremble, her eyes filling with tears. Pink spots stain her cheeks, the top of her nose bright red. A pang assaults my heart. “I was wrong, Cam. There is something for me here…someone for me. The one who was always here, the one I let get away. I don’t intend to let that happen again. This is where my new chapter begins. With you. With us.”

Her shoulders quiver, the tears spilling over, streaming down her cheeks. I swipe them away with my thumb and forefinger.

“So now what?” she whispers. “Will they fire you if you don’t go? I don’t want you to lose your job on my account, but Jack, I just don’t think—"

I dip my head, my lips grazing hers. If I wasn’t sure about my decision before, I have zero doubt right at this second about what I want for the rest of my life. “I want you, Cam. I don’t care about the promotion or my job. If they want me, they’ll let me stay right here. And,” I grin. “If they know what’s good for them, they’ll do just that. My client list is pretty damn huge, and they’d be leaving a shit ton of cash on the table if they don’t let me run this portfolio for them.”

“But what will you do? This is your dream, Jack. I don’t want to be the reason why it doesn’t come true for you.”

“You’re the dream, Camryn. I can start my own investment fund any day of the week. I can’t replace you, though.”

She throws her arms around me, leaping into my arms. Her soft lips nuzzle my neck, her legs locked tight around my waist. “I love you so much.”

How’s that for a Christmas wish come true?