Epilogue
TAJ - SEVEN AND A HALF MONTHS LATER
“Okay. I’m ready. What do you think?”
My eyes swept over the beautiful woman in front of me, scanning her from top to toe and back again. The way my gaze lingered, someone might have thought she was dressed to the nines or nearly naked. But that wasn’t the case at all.
I grinned. “I suspect you won’t need my coat this year.”
Olivia bounced on her toes. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for this since the last one ended.”
“Oh? I hadn’t realized you knew then that you were staying.”
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t know that night that I was staying in town, but I certainly had some encouragement to do so the next morning.”
I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around her. “Can you believe it’s been a whole year since I saw you standing at that Christmas tree in the park?”
“It feels like a lifetime ago. So much has happened since then.”
“It sure has. Would you say that your move to Rising Sun is official?”
Olivia’s arms were draped over my shoulders, and at my question, she nuzzled her face against my neck. “Where would I ever dream of going? I have everything I need right here.”
Driving my fingers into her hair, I tugged on it so she could look up at me. “Here, as in Rising Sun? Or here, as in this house?”
“Both, I guess. Because all I need is you, Taj.”
“I see. Well, that means there’s only one thing left to do.”
Her brows shot up. “What’s that?”
I smiled. “Convince you to move in with me.”
She blinked. “What?”
“I want you to move in with me, Olivia.”
For several long moments, she stared at me in disbelief. “Are you… Are you sure that’s what you want?”
It took immense self-control not to burst into a fit of laughter. “Why would I not want that?”
Olivia shrugged. “I don’t know. I just… I’m surprised.”
“Really? We’re always together as it is.”
Nodding, she murmured, “That is true.”
Concerned that there was something else holding her back, something she didn’t want to admit, I asked, “Is it… Are you worried you’ll lose your independence?”
She shook her head. “No. Not at all. I... You’ve never made me feel like I wasn’t my own person. I’m just in shock. It’s been a year, and you’ve completely changed my life. I’d love to move in with you, Taj. Can we do it before Christmas?”
Warmth spread through me. “We can do it this weekend.”
Olivia pressed her lips to mine and swept her tongue into my mouth. I happily celebrated the moment with her, fully aware things were about to get even better.
When she pulled back, she said, “You’ve made me so happy.”
“You’ve done the same for me.”
“Should we get going now? I promised the gang I’d have you there on time this year.”
Olivia was going to lose her mind because we were going to be late this year. I was fully prepared to have her there before the lighting, but it was entirely possible we’d arrive after Lark and Tessa.
“We can leave after I show you this one thing I need your help with.”
“What?”
“Once you move in, there’s a project I want us to work on together,” I clarified.
“What is it?”
Taking her by the hand, I said, “Let me show you.”
I led Olivia through the house and toward the doors that led out to the backyard. Once outside, I flipped a switch and illuminated the entire scene for her.
Olivia gasped.
For a few moments, I simply kept my eyes on her as she took in what I’d done. Then I tugged on her hand and urged her to join me in the middle of it all.
When we came to a stop at the spot where I wanted to do this, Olivia looked around. Her face was lit up by the Christmas lights surrounding us, and tears had filled her eyes. “Taj, what did you do?”
Taking her hands in mine, I said, “One year ago, I saw you standing in front of that tree. The next morning, after I’d delivered that box of clothes to you at the hotel, I went to my parents’ place and told them I met the girl I was going to marry.
And for the last several months, I’ve been working on my plan for how to propose to you.
I’ve spent these last couple of months doing everything I could to prevent you from seeing this.
I want to give you what you’ve always wanted, Olivia. ”
Tears spilled down her cheeks as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring box.
I got down on one knee, opened the box, and held it out to her.
“I had three hundred and sixty-five baby Christmas trees planted out here for you. One tree for every day I’ve known you were going to be my wife.
Will you do me the honor of accepting my proposal? Will you marry me?”
Her voice was barely a whisper. “Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes.”
I pulled off her glove and slid the ring onto her finger. Olivia practically tackled me to the ground as soon as I got it on her.
“I love you, Taj Blackman.”
“I love you, Olivia Thomas.”
She beamed at me.
Then, right there in the snow, we celebrated our engagement with a kiss.
We showed up late to the Christmas tree lighting and got a bunch of flak from our friends about it. But when Olivia pulled off her glove and showed them why we were the last to arrive, they forgave us.
And that weekend, Olivia and I moved her into what used to be just my house, and we decorated our Christmas tree together.