“This tree is the best one I’ve ever had in this house,” Braeden says as he folds me up in the crook of his arm. We stare, admiring our handiwork.

The lights shimmer and throw small twinkling shadows around Braeden’s living room. The ornaments I brought over from my small collection add to the sparkle factor. “It’s beautiful, but how many Christmas trees have you actually had in this house?”

He twists me around so I’m facing him. “This is actually the first one.”

“Wait, how long have you lived here?”

“Four years,” he says.

“And you’ve never decorated a tree?” It doesn’t make sense to me. No matter where I live, I have to have a Christmas tree, no matter how big or small. It helps me get into the spirit of the season.

He shakes his head and runs his fingertip along the side of my jaw. “Nope. Never. We always celebrate at my parents’ place. I never had a reason to until you came along.”

It’s hard to believe that he’s never had another woman in this house or celebrated Christmas here. It’s the perfect home for hosting get-togethers.

“Do you want to host a party here?” he asks, as if reading my mind.

“There’s only two weeks before Christmas. There’s no time to put together a party now.”

“How about for New Year’s?” He brings his hands down my lower back and starts rubbing. Such a kind gesture, since I tweaked something as I was putting the star on top of the tree, all the while sitting on Braeden’s shoulders.

“Now that sounds perfect,” I say.

“Wait here for a minute.” I watch him as he walks up the stairs. We’ve been a couple for four months now and he still gives me butterflies. Sometimes it’s a look or a gesture he saves just for me, or like now as I watch his strong body navigate the stairs two at a time.

He’s only gone a minute. “Come and sit down.” He’s wearing my favorite grin and holding an envelope.

“What’s that?” I take the seat next to him on his camel-colored leather couch. The cushions hug me and take all the strain away from my back.

“I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while about this.” His eyes are glowing with little flecks of gold from the tree lights.

“Okay.”

“You’ve been here almost every single night since September. I want you to move in with me. And if you think it’s too soon, I think you’re wrong. We love each other. And I don’t think there should be rules when you’re in love. What do you say?” His words rush out and his leg fidgets and bounces up and down.

I get a little flutter in my stomach. So many things are running through my head. He’s right. I have been here every night except for two, when I had an overnight with Fiona at the spa and one for work training. The rest of the time I’ve been playing house with Braeden. It’s been wonderful. “You’re ready?”

“I’m asking you. I’ve thought about it. Yes, I’m ready. What about you?”

“Yes. Technically, most of my things are here already.” I laugh. Almost everything I have has slowly made its way here as time has gone on. When my grandmother died, she left me her house in her will, but I’m not sure how I would feel about living in it without her there.

He kisses me and I part my lips to his. Our relationship has progressed quickly. We spend almost all of our time together. It’s the perfect time to take things to that level, even though I’ve been living with him unofficially for months.

“And then there’s this.” He hands me the envelope.

“What is it? I hope it isn’t a gift. It’s not Christmas yet,” I say.

“Open it.”

I break the seal and pull out two plane tickets. To Ireland. “I don’t understand.”

“We’re going back. During your spring break. You didn’t get a chance to finish your trip and see all the sites that you and your grandmother wanted to see. I want to cross all of those things off your list.”

A tear forms at the corner of my eye. It bubbles over and runs down my cheek. I wipe at it with the back of my hand. In all the chaos that happened when my grandmother died, it never occurred to me that I was going to be missing out on visiting the rest of Ireland. Sure, I was disappointed to be leaving early, but I figured at least I got to see it. “You are the most thoughtful man I’ve ever known.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it. I can’t wait to go back with you.”

I kiss him, but this time it’s full of gratitude and appreciation for the man he is and for all he does for me. He’s always got my back and looks out for me. He’s completely the opposite of any of my past relationships.

I used to think I knew what love was, but I had no idea. Not until I met Braeden. I couldn’t be more excited to officially move in with him and start planning parties with him. And now I get to go back to Ireland and finish what I started, for me and for my grandmother. She’d love Braeden if she’d had the chance to meet him. And she’d be happy to know I follow her advice every day and follow my heart. It hasn’t let me down.