Chapter Nineteen
Willow finished the final touches of the decorations on the table.
Exactly how it happened she still wasn’t sure, but she was hosting the family’s Christmas Eve dinner in her house.
She didn’t really mind and had even made a few snacks they could have before dinner.
Her mom was looking so much better lately, but the mini stroke had made them all aware she was getting older, and she shouldn’t have to do everything herself like she used to.
Tomorrow’s celebrations would be at Hayden and Laura’s house. Willow’s sisters-in-law had been cooking up a storm over the last few days. Willow had helped as far as she could, but making actual meals was better left for the other family members who actually knew how.
She’d never before bothered putting up a tree, but yesterday she’d cut down the bare branches of one near her house, had painted it white and had dug out the Christmas decorations her mom had given her years ago. It wasn’t looking too bad, even if she had to say so herself.
Chuckling, she shook her head. She might just turn into a regular Martha Stewart if she wasn’t careful.
Checking her watch, she hurried to her room to put on the new dress her mom had bought her in Seattle. Oh, she wished Hunter was here to see her in it. The off the shoulder top fitted perfectly and the wide skirt ended just above her knees. He loved seeing her legs.
She’d been trying to call him all day to model the dress for him, but he hadn’t answered. Nothing was seriously wrong on his side, at least she knew that. His family were probably just busy preparing for their own Christmas.
Oh, how she missed him. As she put on a pair of drop earrings, she stilled.
Frowning, she put a hand on her heart. Was it her imagination or had her heart rate increased like it did when she was excited?
Okay, yes, she was looking forward to tonight, but this was not the usually looking-forward-to-see-her-family-kinda-excited. It was something different.
The sound of a car door slamming shut, reached her. Oh, my goodness, the first guests had arrived. They were fifteen minutes early. It was probably her mom wanting to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. Quickly, she combed her hair before she hurried to the front door.
She put out her hand to open the door but just before her hand touched the knob, her heart just about jumped out of her body. Hunter was here! It was his excitement she’d experienced.
With her breath stuck somewhere in her throat, she opened the door. Hunter with a slightly wary look on his face, was standing on her doorstep. Joy rushed through her body, making her slightly giddy.
He was really here. She didn’t care why or what it meant or if it meant anything, he’d been excited, she’d felt it. He’d missed her as badly as she’d missed him.
Smiling, she opened her arms. “I have so wished for you! Am I dreaming or is my fiancé really here?”
Taking off his hat and shoving his bag inside the house, he stepped over the threshold, closed the door behind him and pulled her into his arms. “If this is dream, I’m there as well.” He stilled. “You’re expecting people, the table …”
“The family is coming over for Christmas Eve.”
“How much time do we have before they arrive?”
“Ten minutes at the most.”
Shrugging off his jacket, he picked her up and strode toward her bedroom. “Well, I’ll only need five of those.”
“Really?” she teased, stroking his face. “Just five?”
“Maybe two will be enough. I’ve missed you.
” As he slid her to the ground, he lifted the skirt and pushed it out of his way.
“You look gorgeous.” With his eyes locked with hers, he unbuckled his belt and pushed down his jeans.
“I’ve been ready for you since I’ve left Bozeman airport,” he murmured against her lips.
“I want to talk to you.”
“It’ll have to wait.” As he crushed his mouth to hers, he found her heat. Within seconds a whirlwind of sensation hurtled over her. With a groan, Hunter found his way home, rocking her against him. “So good; so, so good,” he murmured before he captured her lips again.
It was a wild ride and didn’t last long. As their cries filled the air around them, they reached the peak simultaneously.
“I’ll never not want to be with you, babe,” Hunter whispered, burying his face in her hair. “I love you.”
Gathering him close to her, her heart settled. This is where she was supposed to be—in his arms. She couldn’t wait to tell him she’d move to Colorado to be with him.
Her front doorbell rang. It would have to wait.
Hunter was breathless as he fastened his belt. “You look like you’ve been thoroughly ravished. I’ll open the door.”
“You should maybe comb your hair before you appear in front of people,” she called after him, also still out of breath.
For a moment she closed he eyes. Hunter was here, weeks before he was supposed to visit her. She didn’t know what it meant, but like him, she was excited.
*
Except for Hayden and Becket, everyone else seemed happy to see Hunter. Cooper wasn’t quite as antagonistic as his brothers, but he clearly had questions.
Hunter waited until everyone was seated around the table. It was time to put all his cards on the table. He stood standing. “Before we eat, I have an announcement to make.”
Glancing at her brothers, Willow sighed. “You don’t have to explain anything to these two, seriously.”
He caught her hand in his. “I get how they feel.” Lacing his fingers with Willow’s, he turned to her family.
“I haven’t had time to talk to Willow about this, but I’ve spoken to my family and I’m moving back here.
Well, not this ranch, but I’m in the process of buying the one adjacent to the Weston ranch.
You all know I love Willow; I’m not going anywhere.
One of the first things she told me was that she wasn’t ever going to be anybody’s bride, so I know getting married is not on the table. ”
For the first time, he looked at Willow.
“I’m happy to settle for whatever arrangement works for you.
You can live with me, or if you want to stay here, I’ll live with you, provided of course your brothers agree.
I’m happy to pay whatever is necessary. I just don’t ever want to be without you again. ”
When he stopped speaking, the whole room had fallen silent.
Willow slowly got up and pushed back her chair. The next moment she was down on her knees, his hand still in hers.
A collective gasp was the only sound for a few seconds.
“What’s happening?” Luke whispered.
“Shush,” Laura said.
Stunned, Hunter stared down at Willow, not sure what she was doing.
Clearing her throat, she looked up. Her eyes were wet with tears.
“Hunter Weston, I love you. I never thought anyone would be able to love me. I mean, I’m so weird.
But you love me anyway, weirdness, baggage, issues, and all.
I’ve led you on a merry dance so I’m going down on my knees for two reasons: one, I owe you and two, I’ll be able to tell our kids one day I was the one who asked their daddy for his hand.
Will you please marry me? I’m difficult to live with, I don’t cook, I have to warn you, but I’d love to be your bride.
You also have to know you don’t have to move back here, I’m happy to join you wherever you are.
” Her last words were a mere whisper, but every single one went straight to his heart.
He blinked, wanting to make sure he wasn’t dreaming this, but when he opened his eyes, Willow was still kneeling in front of him.
His heart burst wide open. Pulling her up, he cupped her face.
“Now you tell me,” he said. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.
I don’t need a cook, I need you. You see, I love you and that means everything about you.
There is nothing I want more than to see you as my bride.
I have just one requirement: I’m not waiting. ”
“Oh, my goodness,” Arlene groaned. “Here we go again—another quick wedding on the Weston ranch. When do you want to get married?”
Hunter kept his eyes on Willow. “Your mother mentioned a Christmas wedding at some point, so what about tomorrow? The legal stuff can wait until later. Will you be my Christmas bride?”
“Yes, I’d love to be your bride!” Willow cried out before she frowned. “But what about your family?”
“They’re already here. They’re staying at Annie’s. I didn’t know we were getting married, but I wanted to show them the ranch and I also wanted them to meet your family.”
Her eyes were bright with tears. “That’s perfect.” She turned to her mother. “Mom?”
“But what about a dress?” Ellie asked before Arlene could answer.
“I’ve already made everything ready for Christmas dinner at our house, you can get married there.” Laura said.
“We should have enough food, even if you want to invite the O’Sullivan and the Millers,” Rose said. “There’s enough for a whole town and I have flowers. I’m sure we can bake a cake before tomorrow. That leaves only the dress.”
Ellie leaned forward. “Maybe we can go to Bozeman tomorrow early. I know it’s Christmas Day, but if we phone now …” She looked at her watch.
Laughing, Willow’s mom held up her hands. “No need, she has a dress. So, we’re having a Christmas wedding after all.”
“What dress?” Willow asked.
“Remember when we all went to Bozeman when Laura and Hayden were talking about getting married? Willow, you tried on … I don’t want Hunter to hear what it looks like, but you remember the beautiful dress you tried on?”
Hunter turned to Willow. “You’ve tried on a wedding dress? When?”
*
Looking into Hunter’s eyes, she finally knew why she’d tried on a wedding dress that day, not something she would ever have considered doing before. Her heart had already known way back then what it wanted. It had taken the rest of her all this time to figure out.
“I’ll tell you later,” she teased softly before she moved to her mother. “Mom! I don’t believe it. Really?”
Her sisters-in-law joined her and with her arms around them, her eyes bright with tears, her mother nodded.
“I’ve seen the way Hunter looked at you and knew it was just a matter of time and even though I’m not fey, it wasn’t hard to see how you reacted to him.
I’ve bought the shoes as well. You are going to be such a beautiful bride.
” Sniffing, she enveloped Willow in a warm hug.
“My baby is getting married, I’m so happy! ”
“Oh, Willow, it’s the best news, I’m so happy for you,” Ellie sniffed.
As Laura and Rose hugged her, Luke cleared his throat. “I’m hungry.”
As everyone laughed, Laura hugged him. “I agree, sweetie, I agree. The food is getting cold, people. Come on, Hayden and Becket, loosen up and slap Hunter the shoulder or whatever it is you men do and make up. He’s not going anywhere. I want to toast these two so that we can eat.”
All three her brothers got up but first went to Willow.
“He messes with you, you tell me, okay?” Hayden said gruffly as he hugged her.
“I’m watching him, too.” Becket finally smiled. “So happy for you, sis.”
As the two of them moved to where Hunter was still standing, Cooper gave her a hug. “You spoke to Walker?” he murmured.
She nodded, burying her head against his shoulder. “I did. It took me a while longer though to realize I’ve been using what I do as an excuse.”
As they took their seats, Laura got up, lifting her glass. “To Hunter and Willow. I’m so glad you’ve found each other.”
Amidst her family’s wishes, Willow’s eyes found Hunter’s. His looked suspiciously bright.
Leaning toward him, she stroked his face. “You crying?”
“Told you I cry easily.” He kissed her.
“Eeww,” Luke groaned. “Does this mean Hunter and Aunt Willow will be kissing all the time now too?”
“Oh, yes.” Hunter said, his eyes on her.
Leaning into him, Willow listened to her family talking. She still had many questions for Hunter about his plans, but there would be enough time for hashing out details later.
A loud knock on her door stopped the conversation. Her mother got up and walked to the front door. “Our party is about to get a whole lot bigger. I phoned Annie just now.”
She opened the door. Stunned, Willow got up slowly. Hunter’s parents, his sister and her fiancé, all the O’Sullivans, including Janice plus the Millers were standing on her doorstep, wrapped up in coats and scarves. Everyone was carrying something.
“Oh, my goodness,” Willow laughed and turned to look at Hunter. He had the same dazed expression on his face she probably had.
Her mom smiled. “I knew your family would also love to be here to celebrate with us, Hunter, and I couldn’t invite them and not our friends, could I?”
The next moment, her small house was filled with her family and friends.
Hunter pulled her closer. “They will all go home at some point, won’t they?”
“Of course they will. Now behave,” she teased him as they moved to welcome everyone.