He leaned in, needing to hear the words. “You can pick it out.”
She threw her arms around his neck and cocked her head to the side. “You mean it? None of this ‘it’s my money, so—’”
He cut her off with a kiss. Her arms tightened around him and she pressed her body into his, telling him she’d accepted.
A police siren went off, piercing the air and breaking them apart. Troy glared at Hank. “Nice timing.”
Hank shrugged. “We’re blocking traffic, people.” He rolled his hand over to tell them to speed up.
Troy ran his hands down Chloe’s arms. “Are you coming?”
She hid behind her hands. “We have to tell your family. I can’t—”
“I already told them.”
“You did?” She leaned into him. “Do they hate me?”
He chuckled. “They told me to bring you back or not come back at all.”
She stared up at him. “They did not.”
He made an X over his heart.
Her eyes filled with tears again. This time, she grinned as they fell softly down her cheeks. “I guess I’d better get you back so you can finish your toast.”
He put his arm around her and steered her back to the car. “I’m done toasting. The next toast I want to hear will be at our wedding.” He put his hands against the car, caging her in his arms. “You sure you’re ready to marry into this crazy family?”
She smiled up at him, grabbing hold of his tie and pulling him down until their lips were barely touching. “I’m ready to love you.”
He didn’t need to hear anything else. They came together and shared a kiss that kept him warm for hours.
The police siren blipped. “You good?” called Hank.
Troy kissed her once more. “I’m great!” He gave the guy a thumbs-up. Both Hank and Sheriff Carter dropped into their cruisers and turned around, heading back to Snow Valley. Troy waved as they left and then went right back to showing Chloe exactly how happy he was that she’d said yes.
Epilogue
December 25th
(Otherwise known as Christmas, or as Chloe liked to call it, the day she gave her heart away forever.)
Chloe
Chloe sat next to Troy on the couch in the Martins’ living room. Christmas was different this year because everything was different this year.
She and Troy had stayed over at his parents’ house so they could share a big breakfast with the family. Across from them, on the love seat, were Grady and Ronnie, fresh off their honeymoon and unable to be apart for more than thirty seconds. Brian was in the recliner, looking through the first installment of Hot Rod Magazine. Candace had gotten him a yearly subscription, and he eagerly pointed things out to Chloe’s dad, who had driven over from Billings to meet the family. Dad settled in easily enough. As the Martins had with Chloe, they took him into their family, and she could picture him spending many holidays in this house. He wasn’t much of an entertainer, but he’d brought a couple gallons of orange juice this morning. Teresa made such a fuss of his thoughtfulness that he beamed.
Speaking of Candace, she and Teresa were in the kitchen cleaning up from breakfast. They wandered in together a few minutes later. Teresa took the other end of the couch and Candace sat by the tree so she could hand out the gifts. She reached for a box that looked big enough to hold a shirt.
“Hold up.” Troy scooted forward and dug into his pocket. “I didn’t put this one under the tree.” He held up a green velvet ring box.
Chloe covered her mouth with her hands. He’d said he’d buy her a ring, but she hadn’t thought it would be this soon. They’d had conversations about things like how many children they wanted (3), where they wanted to spend the holidays (mostly in Snow Valley), and where they’d like to honeymoon (still up for debate). But the ring conversation hadn’t happened.
She narrowed her eyes. “I thought you said I could pick it out.”
Troy lifted one side of his mouth in that sexy grin that made her stomach flip every time. “I did.” He popped the lid open to reveal the ring that he’d thrown into the field.
“But …” She reached out to touch it and pulled her hand back at the last second. “I thought you threw it away.”
“I did.”
“But …”
“I found the store where you bought the first one and bought a duplicate and took that to the jeweler and had them make it out of a real diamond.”
Chloe’s eyes rounded. “That’s real?” The thing was huge! “Are you kidding me right now?”
The whole family laughed.
“Nope.” He looked so darn proud of himself that she simply had to grab his cheeks and kiss him hard.
“You’re a cheater.”
“I said I’d let you pick the ring. I didn’t say I’d take you shopping.”
She laughed and kissed him again.
Troy broke off the kiss and gave her a smolder that melted her into a pile of hormonal goo. That was so not fair to do in front of all these people.
He picked up her left hand and dropped to one knee in front of her. “Chloe Winston, will you be my real, factual, genuine, actual, true and valid in all 50 states fiancée?”
Chloe laughed at his proposal. Thankfully, so did the family. Once the wedding had died down and the bride and groom were off, they’d sat down with his parents and explained everything. Instead of being upset, they thought it was comical that Troy had gone to such lengths to remain single, only to fall in love.
“Prayer works,” Teresa had declared while slapping her palm on the table. “I think everything turned out just the way it was supposed to.”
Brian had agreed. Candace was a little less understanding, but she wasn’t upset for long. She agreed that getting Chloe for a sister-in-law was better than being stuck with just Troy for a brother.
“Yes!” Chloe threw her arms around his neck, and he kissed her cheek and then her lips.
The family cheered. Dad glanced away and blinked hard. Chloe could only imagine what this meant for him, seeing his only daughter get engaged.
She went over and hugged him with all her might.
“Are you sure about this guy?” he asked gruffly. His arms held her tight, promising to whisk her out of there in a moment should she change her mind.
“I’m sure. I love him.”
His hold relaxed. She squeezed him once before letting go. When she plopped back on the couch next to Troy, she rubbed her hands together. “Let’s open some presents.”
“Yes!” Grady lifted his arms. “I’ve been so good this year.”
They all laughed. While Candace distributed gifts, Troy leaned over and kissed just below Chloe’s earlobe, sending delicious feelings of love and wanting and belonging swirling up through her body. “How do you feel about a Christmas wedding?”
Chloe turned towards him, their noses almost touching. “I don’t know that I want to wait a year.”
“I wasn’t talking about a year from now. I was talking about tonight.”
She leaned back, considering him. “What are you thinking?”
He held up his phone. “I have Pastor John’s number on speed dial.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“And deny your mother the opportunity to plan another wedding? Never.” She turned so her back was against his chest and folded her arms. He nuzzled her neck. “But you might be able to talk me into Valentine’s Day.”
“Done.” He lifted his head. “Hey, everybody. We’re getting married on Valentine’s Day.”
All paper ripping, bow undoing, and box opening stopped.
“I just thought you should know.”
Chloe elbowed him in the gut for blurting that one out. She quickly held up her hands to stave off the panic building in the room. “A small ceremony, close family only. One-day celebration at most.”
The panic ebbed slightly. Teresa shrugged. “I suppose, after doing one wedding, a second would be easy. Especially if you really would like a simple ceremony.”
/> The tension released and the ringing in Chloe’s ears stopped. “The simpler, the better.”
Troy wrapped his arms around her middle and rested his chin on her shoulder. “All I care about is hearing you say ‘I do.’”
She reached her hand back and ran her fingers through his hair. “Me too.”
“And …” He dropped his voice. “Finding a supply closet sometime today.”
She turned slightly. “We could head back to Mistletoe Lane.”
He groaned. “They took the carnival down.”
“I think we can find some mistletoe around here somewhere.”
He nodded seriously. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“Just remember—” She held up her left hand, the diamond sparkling. “—you asked for it.”
He kissed her until someone threw a ball of wrapping paper at them. Chloe blushed, but it was more out of the joy of being surrounded by Troy’s arms, his kisses still tingling her lips, and having found her tribe. This Christmas she’d gotten everything on her list and so much more. This Christmas, she’d found a forever love in Snow Valley.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed your time in Snow Valley! It is a place that is near and dear to my heart.
If you want more small town romances, check out Lucy’s Echo Ridge Box Set available by clicking here.
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Now Available
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bestselling author Lucy McConnell.
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The Protective Groom
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Or, you can get the whole set of brides romances at a discounted price (FREE in KU) here:
Billionaire Marriage Brokers Brides Collection
The Snow Valley Series
Welcome to Snow Valley, Montana, where romance is always in season.
Blue Christmas
Love in Light and Shadow
Romancing Her Husband
Wedding Fever
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The Destination Billionaire Romance Series
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About the Author
Lucy McConnell has always been a reader and a writer. Once caught up in writing a story, she disappears into a cave until the first draft is done. She writes fantasy, clean romance, Christian romance, historical fiction, and cookbooks under the name Christina Dymock.
When she’s not writing, you can find her volunteering at the elementary school or the church; shuttling kids to baseball, soccer, basketball, or rodeo, depending on the time of year; skiing with her family; wake boarding; cycling; or curled up with a good book.
You can sign up for her newsletter by clicking here and can check out here website here: http://lucymcconnell.wordpress.com/
Now Available from Bestselling Author Lucy McConnell
Read on to discover more sweet romances from
bestselling author Lucy McConnell.
The Snow Valley Series
Welcome to Snow Valley, Montana, where romance is always in season.
Blue Christmas
Love in Light and Shadow
Romancing Her Husband
Wedding Fever
The Destination Billionaire Romance Series
Beautiful locations, handsome heroes, and romance.
The Reclusive Billionaire
Royal Distraction
Marrying Miss Kringle
Ginger
Lux
Lucy McConnell's Snow Valley Box Set Page 67
