Chapter 4
JASPER
Over A Year Later
The soft glow of the Christmas tree fills the living room, casting warm, flickering shadows on the walls. The scent of cinnamon fills the air and Max sprawls out on the rug in front of the fireplace gnawing happily on a reindeer-shaped chew toy. Max is still wearing his new plaid collar and Christmas sweater despite trying to get out of it three times.
Avery sits cross-legged on the couch, her oversized sweater hanging off one shoulder, her hair tied in a loose bun. She looks effortlessly beautiful, her cheeks flushed with happiness. In her hands, she’s holding the last gift she opened —a mug with my face on it, grinning stupidly.
She lifts it and pretends to examine it critically. “I don’t know if this captures your essence quite right. It’s missing your serious ‘power play’ face that’s on all your Tornado merch.”
I laugh, leaning back against the couch and taking a sip from my cup. “That’s why it’s special. What do you call these?” I hold up the socks with hockey pucks on them that she gave me. “Not exactly stylish.”
She gasps in mock offense. “Those are high fashion! I expect to see you wearing them to practice.”
“Yeah, I’ll get right on that,” I say, shaking my head.
We keep trading presents, most of them silly —a keychain shaped like a hockey stick for me, a tiny framed picture of Max in a Santa hat for her. Max gets the real haul, with new toys, treats, and even a stocking full of his favorite chews.
The pile of unopened gifts grows smaller until there’s just one left under the tree. I glance at it, my heart thumping a little harder. This is it.
“Hold on,” I say, getting up. I retrieve the final present and call Max.
Max perks up instantly, his tail wagging as he trots over. I attach the last gift, a small velvet pouch, to the hook on his new collar. He tilts his head, curious, as I pat him on the head.
“Go to Avery,” I say softly, nudging him forward.
Max bounds over to her, his tail wagging so hard it shakes his whole back end. “What’s this?” she asks, her brow furrowing as she reaches for the pouch hanging from his collar.
Her fingers tremble slightly as she unties the ribbon. She pulls out the small jewelry box inside and I watch her expression shift. Her breath catches, her hand flying to her mouth.
When she looks up, I’m already on one knee in front of her.
“Avery,” I start, my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. “This past year with you has been the best year of my life. You’ve shown me what it means to have a home, a real home, filled with love and laughter. You make every day brighter and I can’t imagine my future without you in it.”
Her eyes shine with unshed tears. She lowers her hand, her lips parting slightly.
“I love you,” I continue, holding her gaze. “And I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. Will you marry me?”
For a moment, the world feels suspended. The only sound is the crackling fire and Max’s tail thumping excitedly against the floor. Then she nods, a tear slipping down her cheek as she laughs. “Yes, Jasper. Of course, yes!”
Relief and joy crash over me as I slide the ring onto her finger. It fits perfectly. She throws her arms around my neck, pulling me close, and I can feel her smile against my cheek as I hold her tightly, her laughter mingling with the sound of Max barking in the background, sharing in the celebration.
“You’re a good boy, Max,” I manage to say over Avery’s shoulder, but my focus is all on her. She pulls back slightly, her cheeks damp with happy tears, her eyes locked on mine.
“This really is the best Christmas ever,” she says softly, her voice trembling with emotion. Her fingers brush my jaw, and the way she looks at me —like I’m her whole world— makes my heart feel like it’s about to burst.
I cup her face, my thumb tracing the curve of her cheekbone. “Best Christmas yet,” I whisper and then I kiss her.
The moment our lips meet, it’s like that first time the day we got Max. Her hands slide up into my hair, and I tighten my hold on her, pulling her closer, desperate to feel every inch of her. Her lips move against mine with a hunger that matches my own. Our kiss deepens, growing more passionate, more urgent.
I tilt my head, angling the kiss, my hands sliding down to her waist to hold her steady. She lets out a soft sound, a mix of a laugh and a sigh, and it only spurs me on. The fire crackles in the background, but all I feel is her warmth, her softness, her everything.
When we finally pull apart, both of us are breathless, her cheeks flush, her lips swollen from the intensity. Her forehead rests against mine, and she smiles, her fingers still tangled in my hair.
“I love you, Jasper,” she whispers, her voice steady and sure.
“I love you too,” I say, kissing her again, softer this time, but with no less feeling.
As I pull her back into my arms, holding her tightly, I glance at Max, who’s still wagging his tail like crazy. “We love you too, Max,” I tell the dog that brought us together.
Avery laughs, her head resting on my shoulder, and at that moment, surrounded by the glow of the tree, the warmth of the fire, and the love of the woman who just said yes, I know I’ve never been happier.
Lena Cove writes short, sexy romances that will leave you feeling giddy. She loves nothing more than a good love story with lots of kissing. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably hanging out with her husband, playing with her grandson, or binge-watching Law & Order SVU.