Page 65 of Mistletoe Kisses

“I still can’t believe Aimee beat me,” Eric said with a huff.

“She’s a tough little thing. Justin has his work cut out for him.”

As they neared the apartment, Eric’s hand twitched in hers. She hugged him around his middle and held him close. “It’s cold, huh? Too windy for such a sunny day.”

“Oh, what? Right.”

As they were walking into the complex, a faint glow stopped Holly dead in her tracks. Strings of lights lit the way from the sidewalk all the way up to her apartment.

“What did you do?” Holly asked, immediately knowing he was the culprit. Whenever he could, he surprised her with something. He’d been more frugal in the last year with his surprises, but that had only made him more creative.

She dropped her arm from around him and walked ahead of him. A few feet in front of the door, a few rose petals lay beautifully on the cement.

A big wreath of roses hung in a heart on the door, and when she entered the apartment, more petals decorated the carpet.

“But we just had a white glove check,” she said, turning around.

Eric was on one knee, a ring box held in front of him.

“Oh, my—” She covered her mouth as her throat constricted.

“Holly, I fell in love with you in this apartment. I fell in love with your cooking, your kind heart, and your beauty, inside and out. I can’t imagine my life without you. Would you marry me?”

Holly’s chest felt on the verge of exploding. “Are you serious?” she asked quietly.

He let out a burst of air, as if he’d been holding his breath. “Of course.”

She nodded just as a tear trickled down her scarred cheek.

He held a hand to his heart and sighed. “Oh, thank goodness. It felt like a close call for a second there.”

She gave him a playful pat on the shoulder as he stood and fit the ring on her finger.

“Oh, good. It fits. Now I see why people talk about this kind of stuff first.”

She reached out and held his face with both hands. “As if I could ever say no. I love you too darn much.”

He turned and kissed the palm of her hand before she slid both arms behind him to hold him close. It was their turn for a happily ever after.