Epilogue Natalie
One year later…
Snow fell softly outside, illuminated by the elaborate Christmas lights Jensen had strung on our new house and in the yard. It looked peaceful, the large flakes drifting lazily through the air. Nothing like the snowstorm last Christmas.
Thinking about that made me smile as I finished cleaning up the kitchen. It had been a harrowing experience. But also an adventure. And one that had changed the course of my life.
The nurse’s strike had ended the day after Christmas. And the day after that, I’d put in my notice. I still took shifts when they needed coverage, and working part-time at the hospital was great. I could keep up my skills and help out my coworkers. But only when I was in town.
Sometimes I was out hunting art thieves.
Jensen and I had successfully recovered several pieces that year, including an oil painting that had made its way to New Mexico, a statue in Prague, and several vases that we got by posing as buyers in Turkey.
I never knew where the next job would take us. And I absolutely loved it.
Jensen sidled up behind me and slipped his hands around my waist as I dried my hands on a dish towel. Leaning in, he placed a soft kiss on my neck.
“Merry Christmas, darling.”
I hummed with pleasure as his lips traced across my skin. “Merry Christmas.”
“Champagne?”
“I’d love some.”
After one last kiss, he got out a bottle and popped the cork.
We’d spent Christmas Eve with Jensen’s sister and her family, then come back to Tilikum for Christmas Day.
Nina and Dylan had been married for a few months—their wedding had been on a gorgeous sunny day in September—and it was their first holiday season as a family.
The girls had woken them up before five, so after our big breakfast of pancakes with sprinkles, we’d taken over so Nina and Dylan could nap.
After a leisurely day with my family, full of presents, food, Christmas movies, and lots of hugs from our excited nieces, we’d come home for a quiet dinner. The holiday had lacked the excitement—and danger—of last year, but it had been a wonderful couple of days.
Jensen handed me a champagne flute, then held his up. “Cheers.”
“Cheers. Merry Christmas.”
Taking my hand, he led me into the living room. The Christmas tree illuminated the room, and a fire flickered in the gas fireplace. Holiday music played softly, and while we had our own present mess to clean up, it was nothing compared to the chaos at Nina and Dylan’s.
Jensen pushed the wrapping paper aside with his foot, set our champagne on the coffee table, and gathered me in his arms. With one hand on the small of my back, he drew me close and took my other hand in his. We swayed to the music, and he leaned in to brush my lips with a kiss.
“You’re still the best Christmas present I’ve ever had,” he said.
“So are you.”
“Have you had a nice day?”
“It’s been great.”
“Did you get everything you wanted this year?”
I smiled. “I did. Although I never really made a list. How about you?”
“Not quite.”
“No? Did I miss something you wanted?”
“Not exactly.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “There’s one more thing I have for you.”
The song ended, and “White Christmas” began. We kept dancing for a moment until he released my hand and reached behind his back. Whatever he had for me must have been tucked into his pants.
He produced a small black box. There was only one thing that could be.
I gasped. Jensen grinned.
“Natalie, my love.” He opened the box as he lowered himself onto one knee. It held a vintage-style diamond ring. “Will you be my wife and make me the happiest man alive?”
Pressing my lips together so I wouldn’t cry, I nodded. I couldn’t seem to get a word out. Finally, my yes broke free. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
With that sexy grin that still made my stomach flutter, he took out the ring and slipped it on my finger.
“You didn’t steal this, did you?”
He laughed a little as he stood. “No.”
I threw my arms around his neck. He held me close, pressing me against him as he leaned in to kiss me deeply. He tasted like champagne and adventure and love.
It wasn’t long before the only thing I was wearing was his ring. Our bodies came together in the soft light of the Christmas tree, and it was every bit as incredible as our first time. Maybe even better.
Because now, we had more. We were madly in love and fiercely dedicated to each other.
I never would have guessed that the sexy and mysterious stranger I’d met the year before would turn out to be the love of my life. I’d more or less given up on that ever happening. But Jensen had blown into my life like a storm, and nothing would ever be the same.
He was mine, and I was his. We were lovers, partners, and best friends. And we were going to spend the rest of our lives together.
He was truly the best Christmas present ever.
Want another small-town Christmas romance set in quirky Tilikum? Check out How the Grump Saved Christmas. Turn the page for a preview…