Sincerely Not Yours (Knitted in Love #1)

Bonus Chapter

The Ice Castle

As soon as Gigi stepped into the courtyard and laid eyes on Harris, she was at a disadvantage. Their gazes connected and her heart skidded to a stop. Her knees went weak. Gathering a bundle of velvet skirt in her gloved hands, she held tight, telling herself to be strong. She’d hear Harris out. She’d tell him what weighed on her heart. But if they weren’t on the same page, she’d force herself to turn around and leave, no matter how that would rip her heart to pieces.

This was the man she wanted to be with. Harris was it for her.

She wanted to spend Saturday nights cuddled up on the couch watching movies and laughing with him. She yearned to cheer him on and have him by her side. She wanted to share each and every part of her life with him.

But if Harris didn’t want that—if he couldn’t see a future with her—then she couldn’t risk her heart any longer.

Gigi repeated that last part to herself as she crunched across snow, focusing hard not to trip simply on the sight of Harris. Good God, he was handsome. Standing before the towering ice castle, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo, Harris looked like a GQ model…a prince…someone who might gobble up her heart and spit it out.

But the way he watched her said the opposite.

Longing, desire, admiration. It sat in his sea glass eyes, waiting for her.

And when he closed the distance between them and took her hand, every word that left his lips wrapped around her, like a warm blanket straight from the dryer, chipping away at her fears.

Harris supported her and believed in her. He wanted to move to Chicago and uproot his life, to be with her. He loved her.

He said he LOVED her.

“I love you too,” Gigi replied, the words bursting from her with such abandon that Gigi wondered if she’d been lying to herself. Had she’d already known she loved Harris? Had she only needed his reassurance to unlock her heart?

It was amazing how three little words could bring such immense relief and joy.

Harris mirrored her delight, his eyes twinkling with a laugh. Then he cupped her face, making her insides twirl.

“Thank you,” he said, leaning close. “For making this the best Christmas ever.”

Gigi went up on her tip toes, not wanting another second to pass without kissing him. “Best. Christmas. Ever,” she breathed, as their lips met in a kiss that went like a live wire through her body. It was a good thing his arms wrapped her tight, or she would’ve melted into the snow.

Easing back, Harris gazed at her. He ran a thumb slowly across her cheek. Then, with a playful smile, he took her hand and tugged her toward the ice castle. “Join me inside, my queen?” he asked, a boyish grin lighting up his face.

Gigi beamed back at him, nodding as she followed Harris through the open archway. But as they entered, her breath caught in her throat. Gigi stopped, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the moment. With her hand still wrapped in Harris’s, she took in the ballroom that stretched out before them, a glittering masterpiece. Something only dreams were made of, especially because Harris was there to experience it with her.

“Wow,” she uttered, not able to properly express her awe.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Harris replied, as she soaked it all in.

The ballroom was vast, yet intimate, with towering walls of ice glistening like polished diamonds. Intricate designs were etched into pillars—snowflakes, stars, and delicate vines. Scattered about were elegant ice sculptures of frosty swans and frozen roses. And above them, the ceiling gave way to the night sky. There was no roof to block the view, just an expanse of stars twinkling against dark, velvety sky. It was as if the night itself had opened up to greet them.

“Beyond beautiful,” Gigi breathed. “It’s like something out of a fairytale.”

“I thought it was fitting.” Harris squeezed her hand. “We’re writing our own fairytale, after all.”

She turned toward him, a soft smile capturing her lips. She wanted to kiss him again. “What happens next in our fairytale?”

“Dance with me?” he asked, and Gigi bit her lip, nodding without hesitation.

He led her to the center of the ballroom, where they joined other couples swaying to the music of a string quartet. The notes echoed off the ice, creating a melody that drenched them in enchantment. As Harris pulled her into his arms, warmth spread through Gigi’s chest, despite the frozen floor beneath them.

Leaning into his embrace, Gigi smiled. “Speaking of fairytales,” she began softly, “I used to think ‘happily ever after’ was something that just happened. Like once you found the right person, everything would just magically fall into place.”

Harris brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. “And now?”

She stared deep into his eyes, making sure he caught her intent. “Now I think ‘happily ever after’ is a choice. It’s something you create—together.” One side of his mouth tipped up, looking to agree with her sentiments. “It’s not about everything being perfect or easy. It’s about deciding, every morning when you wake up, to choose each other. To work through the hard times, to support one another, and to never take the good times for granted. It’s about choosing love every single day.” She rested her hand on his chest, right over his heart. “I realized I was waiting for a ‘happily ever after’ to happen to me. But it’s not something you wait for. It’s something you build. It’s something we build.”

Harris stared at her, absorbing every word. He cupped her cheek in his hand, his thumb brushing softly against her skin. “Gigi,” he said, his voice low and filled with emotion, “I’ve never heard anything more true.”

She smiled softly. “I want to choose you. Every day. I want us to choose each other.”

Harris pulled her closer, pressing his forehead against hers. “I want that too.” He kissed her, slow and tender, and she savored every second.

When they finally pulled apart, Gigi focused on the steady rhythm of Harris’s heart beneath her palm, syncing with her own. A quiet peace settled over her, the uncertainty that had gnawed at her moments ago now replaced with hope. The glistening ice, the twinkling stars, the music filling the air—all of it seemed to sparkle just for them. Harris twirled her slowly. The music swelled around them, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

And as they danced, she knew—this was just the beginning of their beautiful story.