Marshall couldn’t remember a better Christmas since he’d been a child, and it was all thanks to Tally. Having her at his side—in his life—as he’d spent the day with his family had made the day complete.
And he couldn’t think of a better way to finish off the holiday than lying together on the fur rug in front of the fireplace after making love. The peace in his heart and this amazing woman by his side were the best gifts of all. The future stretched ahead of him, and for the first time in too long, he allowed himself to live beyond the moment.
The tree they’d decorated together glowed with lights, the golden shimmer bathing her creamy body. He stroked along her spine, their legs tangled in the aftermath of their lovemaking. He fluffed the pillow under her head, making her smile.
Seeing her happy only multiplied his own pleasure.
She tipped her face toward his, her hair teasing along his arm. “Today was magical. Thank you.”
“It’s the first of many.” He could see himself beside her for the long haul. No more hugging the wall.
“I like the sound of that.”
The day after the fund-raiser, they’d celebrated by moving her things into his room and begun making plans for the future. She’d told him of her plans to apply for the scholarship to return to college to become a counselor. He’d offered to help her, but she’d been insistent about making her own way. He hadn’t argued. For now.
Nugget stretched and wandered over, making himself comfortable on the blanket between their feet.
Marshall combed his fingers through her silky red hair. “I have a gift for you.”
Sighing, she leaned into his touch. “But you already gave me a Christmas gift when you brought all those presents to the hospital, and the beautiful statue today.”
He’d given her a sculpted stone statue of a mythical sea nymph in honor of her mermaid charm. The pleasure on her face, the gentle way she’d caressed it, had made it well worth the search.
Bringing her joy brought him joy.
“I wanted to save this for when we were alone.” He lifted his hat off the chair where he’d placed it to cover the small box, a piece of his past he wanted to share with her. Only her. He passed over the necklace box. “It was my mother’s.”
“Oh, Marshall...” Her voice quivered as her hand went to her mouth. “Are you sure you want to give this to me? Is your family okay with it?”
“Absolutely. I got it from my father today with his blessing.” He creaked the box open to reveal a delicate platinum chain with a diamond heart.
“It’s beautiful.” She looked at him with tear-filled eyes. “Are you sure you want to—”
He stopped her. “Yes, I’m sure I want you to have it, and I’m certain my mother would, too.”
“Thank you.” She cradled his face in her hand. “I’m honored to wear it.”
He pulled the chain from the box, unhooked the clasp, and placed the necklace on her, the heart nestling at the base of her neck. He could feel his mother smiling on this moment. She would have liked Tally and her gentle, take-charge way. She had already signed up for an Al-Anon group. She’d said she wanted to support him in every way possible. He didn’t know what he’d done to be lucky enough to have her in his life, but he wasn’t letting her go again.
She trailed her fingers down his arm, along where his cast had been removed just before Christmas Eve. “Now that you’re healed, will you take me riding tomorrow?”
He didn’t see the need to tell her he’d been riding with the cast on. “I would like that, very much.”
“And I like the way you look in that cowboy hat of yours.”
“Ah, so the ride is to fulfill a fantasy?” He dropped his Stetson on her head.
“You could say that,” she answered playfully, wriggling closer.
An invitation he fully intended to accept.
He looked forward to a lifetime of making all her dreams come true.
Passion and turmoil abound in the lives of the
Alaskan Oil Barons!
Nothing is as it seems.
Will they confront Milla Jones?
Is Uncle Lyle involved?
Why has Breanna stayed away from her family?
Find out the answers and so much more
in the final two stories
starring the Steeles and Mikkelsons!
The Billionaire Renegade
(available January 2019)
The Secret Twin
(available February 2019)
And don’t miss a single twist in the
first six books of the Alaskan Oil Barons from
USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine Mann.
The Baby Claim
The Double Deal
The Love Child
The Twin Birthright
The Second Chance
The Rancher’s Seduction
Keep reading for an excerpt from A Christmas Proposition by Jessica Lemmon.
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