so I continue talking.
"After the bachelor and bachelorette parties, I was going to ask you to be mine for real. No more games, no more fake relationship. This has been real for me from the beginning. What I feel for you is deep and strong. Stronger than anything I've ever felt. I love you, Candy."
I pull out the ring I've been carrying with me and drop to one knee. "I want to marry you, and I’ll spend the rest of my life being worthy of you."
I look up at Candy, seeing the shock in her beautiful eyes.
"When I was texting with your dad, I talked to him about this. I have his blessing. Now, will you marry me, Candy Cane? Will you be my wife? Will you be my reason for getting up every day?"
"Yes," she says softly as my words finally sink in.
She holds out a shaky hand, and I slide the ring onto her finger. I could’ve done this at her dad's house, but I knew if I was going to propose, I wanted it to be here on the ranch.
I spend the rest of the day making love to my fiancée in every room in the house. We’re up bright and early the next morning for Christmas Day and head over to her dad's.
When we walk into Bill’s house, there's a huge smile on her face. Her dad and sister welcome me with open arms. It's like I'm instantly part of the family. I even sneak a few presents under the tree for them.
"Can we open gifts now?" Parker squeals like a little kid.
"Let's get some coffee, and then yes," Bill says.
I lean back on the sofa with an arm around my girl and watch them open their gifts. They're full of smiles and tease each other while laughing over memories of Christmases past. I can't wait to have kids and a family like this.
Parker jumps up, grabs a present, and brings it over to me. "This one is from Dad and me," she says, bouncing back to her place on the sofa.
I stare at them in shock. I wasn't expecting gifts from them. Bill and Parker have the biggest smiles as I open my present to find a beautifully detailed leather belt. It takes a moment to realize that my ranch name is engraved on the leather.
"This is beautiful," I say as I trace over the letters on the belt. "Thank you so much." I stand and give them both a hug.
"Okay, my turn. Keep in mind you weren’t my fiancé when I bought this," Candy says, handing me another gift.
"Anything you get me would be perfect because you gave me you this year, and that's all I need," I tell her honestly.
This gift is bigger than the last one, and my hands shake a little as I open it. What I find is a saddle pad with my horse's name embroidered onto it.
"This is perfect, thank you." I lean in and kiss her in front of her dad and sister.
It's not a long kiss, but enough to show her what she means to me. When I pull away, she has a beautiful blush on her face.
"Now it's my turn." I get the presents I tucked at the back of the tree and hand one to each.
I got her sister a gift card to the arcade, where Candy said she likes to go and relax right by her school. I got her dad the belt buckle Candy said he’d love, and she was right.
All eyes turn to Candy when it’s her turn. She smiles at me as she slowly opens her gift and gasps.
"Well, what is it? Don’t keep us in suspense!" Parker bounces in her spot on the sofa.
"It's an old leather-bound copy of Pride and Prejudice," Candy says as she runs her hands over the cover of the book.
"It's not an original, but it’s over a hundred years old."
Candy hugs me with tears in her eyes. "It's perfect."
After the gifts, the girls make hot chocolate and French toast bake for brunch, and we listen to Christmas music and talk. After brunch, I have one more surprise up my sleeve.
"Candy, I've got one more gift for you, but it was a little too big to get in the car, so it's at the ranch. I'm going to steal you away for a couple of hours, and we'll be back in time for dinner," I tell her, and a huge smile crosses her face. Her dad looks at me questioningly, and I wink. "I'm sure she'll send pictures. See you guys in a bit."
Candy is excited the entire way to the ranch, and as I pull in, I bypass the house and head straight for the barn.
"Okay, close your eyes," I tell her, placing a hand over them.
I lead her to the stall next to my horse and position her where I want her before removing my hand.
"Open them," I tell her. "I figured my fiancée needed her own horse on the ranch. This one is already saddle-trained. She's gentle and perfect for you. All she needs is a name and some love."
Candy squeals and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me into one of the best hugs I've ever received. "I love her!"
Candy walks up to the horse and pets her, and they bond almost instantly. "Since I got her on Christmas and our names are Christmas-related, I think we should keep up the tradition. What do you think of Jingle Belle? And we’ll call her Belle, for short."
Belle nods as if she can understand.
"I think it's perfect."
I've never been a huge fan of Christmas, but now I see its appeal. It's going to be our holiday.