The cabin was still dark, and either Hanna had gone deaf and could no longer hear the wind howling past, or the storm had calmed. Her heart went back to fluttering the instant she came fully alert and realized where she was. In bed, with Brad.

Brad, who held her as if she were precious. His big arms cradled her tight then tugged until she was draped over him.

“Merry Christmas,” Brad offered.

She wiggled—then froze as she realized the rock-solid bits of him included his cock, and she was right on top of it.

He brushed a finger over her cheek, that contented expression on his face that she was growing to enjoy far too much. “Such big eyes.”

Three words. A new record. “You don’t seem to be as grumpy as usual this morning,” Hanna teased.

Brad raised a brow. “You’re in my bed. That’s better than coffee.”

Hanna went for it, leaning in to kiss him, running her hands over him because she could. He groaned as she adjusted position, knees to either side of his body, her sex directly over his hard length. She undulated her hips a few times, and his breathing got faster. Tighter.

And when she leaned to the side and grabbed a condom, his smile widened.

Curses rang out—soft ones—as she slid his boxers down then went to cover him. Fumbling a little, working the edges of the condom over him with her hand until he caught her wrist in his and stopped her.

“Hanna.”

Begging. He was begging, and she was ready, and as she rose over him and guided him into her body, slowly, easing over his width, Hanna sighed with contentment.

Only once she was completely down, connected as one, did she lean forward. “Merry Christmas,” she whispered.

She kissed him as she lifted and lowered. Brad caught her by the hips and helped, moving together until they were both breathless and somehow he was sitting up as well and she was wrapped tight in his arms.

They came staring into each other’s eyes, and she was seconds away from telling him—

The wind rattled at the window, and they both glanced at the patch of sunshine on the floor. “I don’t think the storm’s done yet,” Brad warned. “We’d better head home before we’re trapped for the rest of the week.”

She stroked a hand over his face. “Other than the fact we’d scare Crissy, that wouldn’t be the worst disaster ever,” she confessed.

His smile set in place and didn’t vanish. Not as they cleaned up the cabin and packed up their things. They cleared off the sleds and headed out into the crisp, cold day. Sunshine sparkled blindingly bright against the piles of fresh powder.

It was exhilarating and wonderful, and in the midst of all of it, contentment rolled in, and Hanna knew.

She loved him. She trusted him, and when he did get around to asking, she was going to say yes, even though it might make no sense. They’d rushed forward so quickly after inching their way along the beginning of the relationship, but it seemed as if they were meant to be together.

He was the one she wanted. She wanted him for now and years into the future. She could just hear them in the future, talking about each other the way Patrick did about his wife, who’d been his other half.

They pulled into the barn, and Crissy came running, Patrick smiling behind her, leaning heavily on his canes.

Hanna held her little girl tight and kissed her. “Merry Christmas, sweetie.”

“Merry Christmas, Mommy. We made breakfast, Mr. Patrick and I.”

Crissy raced over to Brad to give him another hug and a kiss and to take Blackie from him, scolding the kitten as she carried it off to its mom.

“We’ve been fine,” Patrick assured Hanna. “Now if you’ve got an appetite, Crissy made enough for a horde.”

Everything seemed brighter as they walked into the kitchen. Crissy told them all about the stories Patrick had read the night before. How they’d waited for Santa to come down the chimney—

Brad lifted a hand and excused himself. “I’ll be right back,” he promised.

Hanna listened as her daughter shared excitedly. Brad passed by with a couple of brightly wrapped packages in his arms before returning to the kitchen where they ate themselves silly on pancakes, peaches and whipped cream.

Patrick stirred another spoon of sugar into his coffee. “My belly is full to the brim. I guess it’s time for a nap,” he said, stretching his arms lazily in the air.

Crissy quivered in her chair, concern on her face.

“Yep, that’s the best thing for a lazy Christmas morning.” Patrick nodded at Hanna then winked where Crissy couldn’t see it. “Can’t think of another thing I’d rather do.”

“We could open presents,” Crissy suggested casually.

“But naps are nice,” Hanna said with as straight a face as possible.

The fluttering in her belly became stronger as Brad exchanged glances with her before he spoke up. “Seriously? I have to agree with Crissy. I think we’d better open presents before nap time instead of after,” he said.

“But you still think today should include nap time,” Hanna teased.

His eyes flashed. “It’s good to have a bit of a rest after a lot of excitement. I think we should all have a lie-down later today.”

Her mouth went dry. Okay, then.

They gathered in the living room where the tree stood in the opposite corner to the fireplace, a small bundle of brightly wrapped packages at its base. Hanna recognized the couple that she and Crissy had picked up for Patrick and Brad, but there were a lot more.

Patrick motioned for Crissy to come forward. “Youngest person in the room is the elf,” he decreed as he put a red Santa hat on her head.

She paused with her hands on his knees. “Okay. I’ll be the helper this time.”

Crissy scooped up a present and brought it to Brad, and they all watched as he unwrapped a new picture frame—a present from his father.

One after another they took turns unwrapping surprises. Patrick opened a small group of boxes that came from his friends that contained new tools to use in his workshop. Crissy opened a package from Patrick that held warm slippers and a robe. In the pocket was a stuffed toy rabbit wearing a matching outfit, and she laughed with childish delight and gave him a big hug.

The next present was delivered to Hanna. It took some work because the box was heavy, and Brad ended up helping Crissy drag it across the floor to Hanna’s feet.

“It says to the Lanes,” Crissy informed her. “That means you and me, right?”

“It does. Want to help me unwrap it?”

Silly question. Paper flew in all directions. Hanna glanced up to see Brad watching intently.

Crissy had the lid pried off an instant later. Her jaw dropped, mouth opening in a wide, comical gasp. “My books!”

Hanna leaned in closer to discover the top of the box held a layer of children’s books, some paperback, some hardcover.

Familiar titles, all of them.

Crissy snatched up a book in either hand and jumped up and down excitedly. She whirled toward Hanna and shoved her hands forward. “There’s Andrew and the Wild Bikes, and The Secret World of Og, and—” She laughed, digging into the box again as Hanna’s heart filled with joy.

She glanced at Brad who was watching Crissy with delight. “Where did those—?”

“This isn’t a book,” Crissy interrupted, her face folding into a confused frown as she lifted away another layer of stories to reveal a sturdy plastic box.

Hanna opened the lid then lost her breath.

Inside were photographs. Pictures of Crissy as a baby—some in Hanna’s arms, some not. Crissy as a toddler, often with other children. As Hanna flipped through there were images from every stage of life since they’d come to Heart Falls. Even a few from before—

Everything she’d thought completely gone, destroyed by the fire. All those bits of memory were right there in front of her.

It was her turn to stare slack-jawed at Brad. “How? How on earth?” Her throat closed off, and she swallowed hard, her breathing turning ragged.

“I asked around. Teachers, friends. Everyone who might’ve had a shot of either you or Crissy. Projects from school that asked for baby photos. All your friends went digging this past week and made copies. You have to do the work to put together a scrapbook, but now you’ve got the pictures to do it. And one of the pictures showed part of Crissy’s bookshelf, so I blew it up and pulled the titles so I could order a few.”

Crissy raced over to hug Brad fiercely before darting across the room to Patrick’s side so he could admire her refound treasures.

Hanna’s hands shook as she carefully placed the photo box aside, sliding from her chair and moving across the room to stand before Brad.

Maybe the days on the calendar said it was too quick, but she was without a single doubt. This man who’d been so careful and gentle with her and her daughter—he cared. He cared enough to help them find a bit of their past. The sweet memories that would’ve been hard to let go.

This was the man she wanted to walk beside into the future.

She stood beside him as she attempted to find the words. He waited patiently— Of course he did, because he was Brad, and he was exactly who she needed in her life.

His smile slowly widened. “I’m glad you like my gift.”

“I love you.” The words escaped because they were pounding through her very soul.

The room went quiet, Patrick and Crissy suddenly motionless in the background.

Brad’s eyes fixed on hers.

She said it again, and this time it was easier and it felt even more right. “I love you. So much.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Soft and tender, his arms cradling her. He pulled back just far enough to whisper against her cheek. “I’m glad, because I love you too.”

She buried her face against his neck and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of him. Feeling his strong arms around her.

She must’ve been high on Christmas fumes or something, because as shocking as it was to admit to him how she felt, she didn’t stop there. “I don’t want to be your girlfriend anymore,” she said firmly.

He pushed her back and lifted her chin. “Ummm…”

“Crissy wants a daddy for Christmas, and I think Santa should deliver.” Barely above a whisper, but very, very clear.

She’d expected him to look confused, or shocked, but what he did was tip his head back and laugh. A deep, happy sound that rolled up from deep inside before he grabbed hold and squeezed her tight.

He kissed her cheek and whispered against her ear. “I’d be proud to be Crissy’s daddy, and very happy to be your husband.”

He kissed her again, and all the hurts that had been tangled around her heart—the rejection and loneliness—burned away, leaving her pristine clean like the snow outside the remote cabin.

Shining with love.

He’d never had presents under the tree like this, but Brad wasn’t about to ask why he’d been so lucky. Hanna was in his arms, and Crissy was sneaking forward with a confused but hopeful expression on her face.

“Why’s Mommy crying?”

Brad made room for Crissy to snuggle close. “Because she’s happy.”

“Oh.” She eyed Brad’s arms around Hanna, considered, then shrugged. “Okay.”

Crissy crawled up on his knee so she could lean her head against Hanna’s. “Don’t cry, Mommy. It’s Christmas.”

Hanna raised a hand so she could stroke her daughter’s hair. “I’m happy, sweetie, Brad’s right. Sometimes when really good things happen, it makes tears come.”

“Like being glad Blackie is safe?”

“Exactly like that,” Brad told her. He glanced down at Hanna, waiting for permission to share their perfect news.

She stole a tissue from the box beside the chair, taking a deep breath before turning to her daughter. “We have something special to tell you.”

Crissy tilted her head and waited.

Brad took a peek across the room at his father. Patrick had leaned back and was grinning in anticipation. There was no surprising that one.

“Your mommy and I are going to get married,” he told Crissy. “Because I love her very much. And I love you too.”

Her mouth hung open as she glanced from Hanna then back to him. “Seriously?” she demanded.

Hanna burst out laughing, delight dancing around the room like sparkling lights flickering off the shiny ornaments decorating the tree. “She already sounds like you,” she teased Brad before answering her daughter. “Yes, seriously.”

It took a while before all the hugs were finished, and there were a few more tears to wipe dry when Crissy suddenly realized this would make Patrick her grandpa.

Hanna got teary-eyed too as Patrick slipped an arm around her shoulders and held her tight, pressing a kiss against her temple.

They didn’t have to say the words. Brad knew how much it meant for her to have an extended family again.

Eventually they moved the party into the kitchen to serve up slices of Patrick’s cake. They were just about to sit down when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it.” Brad wondered who on earth would’ve dared the drive.

He opened the door to find his brother standing there, hat literally in one hand, the other holding a bag that held wrapped presents.

“You should slam the door on me, but I hope you won’t,” Mark said in a rush. “I know I’m stupid enough that I’ll probably say the wrong thing at some point, but I want to stop fighting. I want my family back, and I’m ready to apologize.”

Brad’s head was spinning, but he backed up and gestured his brother in. “We’re in the kitchen. Let me go warn Dad.”

But Patrick already stood in the doorway, leaning heavily on his canes as he stared in shock at his oldest son.

Mark hesitated. “Merry Christmas, Dad.”

Patrick’s face crinkled with emotion then he nodded his head firmly. “Merry Christmas, Son.”

He stood motionless for a moment before Mark stepped forward to give him a big hug, patting him on the shoulder before backing away with the pretense of organizing his gifts. “I brought a few things. Just trinkets, really, but I didn’t want to show up empty-handed.”

Brad paused, wondering if he should rush ahead to warn Hanna, but the chaos continued because she was there as well. Brad’s jaw nearly hit the floor when she snuck around Patrick to offer Mark a hug.

Post-hug, his brother escaped into the kitchen as if he wasn’t able to speak. Patrick followed, Crissy dancing between them, eager to be introduced to this new family member.

Brad caught Hanna by the wrist before she could disappear. “What just happened?” he demanded.

Hanna glanced over her shoulder into the kitchen then back at Brad. “It looks as if someone decided to put his head on straight.”

“From the looks of things, I should ask if you were involved in his straightening up.” He smiled as she tucked herself tighter against him, the pride on her face all too clear. “You, Hanna Lane, are one amazing woman.”

“I’m going to be Hanna Ford,” she reminded him. “We’re engaged, right?”

“You definitely get my name. You’ve already got my heart,” he told her before pointing overhead. “Oh, look, mistletoe.”

She glanced up. “I don’t see anything.”

“Strange. I do.”

Then he proceeded to kiss her the way he planned on kissing her for the next fifty years and more, whether there was mistletoe or not.

I hope you enjoyed Brad and Hanna’s story. The next book in the Heart Falls world will be , the third book in the Stones of Heart Falls series.