Christmas on Main Collection

Epilogue

Epilogue

CHRISTMAS EVE

VAN

“Pivot. PIVOT!”

I roll my eyes but also can’t resist grinning. When Allegra offered to help me set up the tree in the town square, I had a feeling I’d be hearing a lot of that word.

I caught her watching clips of Friends on her phone when I got out of the shower—complete with its newly pressurized shower head—the other day. For someone who barely spent any time on social media until a few days ago, she’s quickly managed to put in almost as many hours as her sister.

If I’m not careful, she’ll have me recording dumb dances with her the same way Aurora roped Paz into doing hers. And I love her enough, I’ll do it without complaining. Well, without too much complaining.

Allegra has also put in a record number of hours in my camper bed. After she and Aurora decided to close up the shop early for the holidays she offered to “help” me with the tree lot. That quickly turned into her taking some much-deserved naps.

Of course, we did plenty of other things in bed. And the shower. And a couple of times on the tiny counter in the kitchenette…

Let’s just say Allegra has embraced leisure time with the same enthusiasm and stamina she has for everything else she touches.

Even if our leisure time sometimes leaves us more exhausted than ever.

It’s a sure sign life will never be dull with Allegra. And that’s a good thing to find in the woman I fully intend to marry. Just as soon as I can make her think it was her idea.

Allegra opens her mouth—no doubt to shout “Pivot” once more, but I cut her off. “We’ve pivoted enough, my love.”

She drops her end of the tree in wide-eyed astonishment. “What did you say?”

“Give a guy some warning.” I groan as I’m barely able to push the tree up and into position. “You could’ve taken me out there.”

“What did you say?” she repeats.

I lift a shoulder. “I said we’d pivoted enough. The tree looks perfect here.”

“No.” She shakes her head, blue eyes still wide open in astonishment. “After that.”

“After wh—” I cut myself off as I remember. I’d called her my love. Well, shit. I’d planned to tell her on New Year’s Eve when we celebrate privately at my house in Montecito.

The gift is already out of the wrapping paper now, so to speak.

I clear my throat. “I called you my love. Because that’s who you are. My love. I love you.”

“You love me?”

“Yep.” I fold my arms over my chest. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Well… I suppose there’s really only one thing I can do.”

Before I can ask what—or brace for impact—Allegra throws her arms around me and pulls me into a searing kiss. Though my lips are already happily engaged, I can’t help but smile.

“I take it you don’t mind?” I ask when we come up for air.

“Mind? Are you kidding?” She giggles, a sound that’s becoming more common lately and I’ll never get tired of hearing. “I’m thrilled. Because I love you too.”

“You do?” If it was possible, my heart would burst right now.

“Yep.” Then she kisses me again and for several moments, words are unnecessary. I love Allegra. She loves me. It’s the greatest gift of all.

Which reminds me…

“So,” I ask, brushing my lips over her forehead sometime later. “What do you most want for Christmas?”

“I can’t say.”

“Oh, come on. You can tell me. Whatever it is, I can pull some strings to make sure you get it.”

There are some perks of being the co-owner of a multi-billion-dollar holding company.

“I swear, I can’t.” She rests her cheek against my chest and squeezes me tighter. “Because I already have everything I could possibly ever want. Right here.”

Heart swelling, I wrap my arms around her feeling complete contentment. And more than a little smug.

See. I knew I’d be able to make her think spending forever with me was her idea. It didn’t even take a Christmas miracle to do it.