Page 12 of One Last Gift

My mother clapped her hands in delight and pointed above us. “Oh look, you’re under the mistletoe. You have to kiss now!”

Kane’s eyes trailed over my face, and there was something different in his expression. I couldn’t quite place it, but it made me nervous as hell.

“I’d like nothing more,” he stated, pulling me against his chest.

He gave me a kiss that was definitely not family-friendly, and I tried to resist him for all of two seconds before giving in. When he finally finished with me, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and I knew they were all waiting eagerly to see what happened next.

“What are you doing here?” I croaked.

His face was still close to mine, his eyes roving over me. He looked around again, and I knew everyone was still listening. Typical Keller affair.

“Well, that’s a good question, Aspen.” He cleared his throat nervously and pulled me against his side as he spoke to my family. “I contacted your mother yesterday, and she gave me directions and an invite.”

I shot a quick glance at my mom, and her over the top happy expression confirmed it. They’d planned this. How weird.

“He said you ran out on him yesterday,” my mother chided. “And he wanted nothing more than to spend Christmas with you.”

“You did?” I blinked up at him. “But why?”

Kane smiled and looked back at the room full of people. “As most of you may know, it’s true that Aspen has been my assistant for the last three years. But she’s also been so much more than that.”

His eyes found mine as he continued. “My morning doesn’t officially start until you walk into the office,” he whispered. “It’s the best part of my day. And the reason I make you work so much, is simply because I hate it when you aren’t around. But I realize that things need to change.”

“They do?” I croaked.

“They do,” he continued, bending down on one knee. “There’s a different role that I’ve had in mind for a while. And I know it’s going to sound completely crazy…”

He reached into his pocket and produced a little black velvet box. I thought I was going to faint.

“But when you know, you know,” he explained. “And I’ve known for the last two years. I’ve been too much of an idiot to admit it. It took you leaving for me to realize I can’t ever lose you again.”

My mother choked up beside me, and there were tears streaming down my own face now.

“So, Aspen Keller, would you make me the luckiest bastard on this planet by agreeing to be my wife?”

He didn’t even get a chance to pop open the ring box before I said yes. He laughed and pulled me into his arms, kissing me all over the face as my family erupted in happy applause.

“Is this really happening?” I murmured.

He kissed me long and hard, and I didn’t even care who was watching anymore. “It’s really happening, Aspen.” He squeezed me in his arms. “I love you. So don’t ever run off on me again.”

I clasped his cheek in my palm and smiled. “Never,” I agreed.

***

The End