Page 53 of Knot My Secret Santa

We rounded the corner into the dining room to where the large picture window faced the backyard. Dozens of poinsettias sat on the snow surrounding the words painted in red dye:Will you marry me, Avery?

When she gasped, I fell to one knee and pulled out the box from my pocket. I opened it to reveal the ring inside. It featured an heirloom ruby framed by two tiny diamonds on a partially twisting white gold band with a snowflake design motif.

“Please do me the honor of marrying me, Avery.” My entire world rested in her. “You’re everything I’d ever wanted and everything I didn’t know I needed.”

The moment seemed to freeze in time. I didn’t feel like my heart could thump this hard. Everyone held their breaths.

One of the kids yelled, “Say yes already, Avery!”

The tension shattered and Avery laughed. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Avery threw herself at me as her family cheered. I kissed her, reminding myself to keep it G-rated for the our audience, and slipped the ring onto her finger.

“It’s so beautiful,” she gushed in a soft exhale.

“Not as beautiful as you.” I kissed her again. My world had never felt this right.

“How did you find time to do this? You were with me all morning.” Avery locked her arms around me and laid her head against my chest.

“I got Noelle’s sons to do it.” I smirked, and when her parents approached, I shook her dad’s hand as they gathered her up for a hug.

“He paid us twenty bucks each!” One of the teen twins shouted, and laughter erupted.

There were many hugs, kisses, and congratulations. When I finally had Avery back in my arms, I kissed her hand just under the ring. No one would be able to see the bite mark to know that I claimed her, but with the ring, everyone would know that she was mine.

“Best Christmas ever.” Avery beamed and snuggled against me. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I held her, with my arms, heart, and soul. And later, when she gave me my gift, I would show her how much I loved her in another way.

Damn, this dinner better go fast.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE – Avery

The work day ended with the most satisfying sound of the final tall picture window being installed. Most of our house was still bare bones, but we had windows now to protect us from the chilly September wind coming off Cougar Mountain. It was good timing too. The past week, I’d been feeling antsy. Things needed to come together.

I wandered through the house, waving as the workers packed up and left for the day. At the north side, the sparkling view of the city was framed like a work of art in our dining room. The city I loved full of people I loved. The opposite side of the house—where the windows had just been installed—faced the mountain and all the gorgeous pine trees.

Nathaniel and I had bought this five acre parcel of land early in the spring. We’d each designed a house, and when we presented our blueprints to one another, we had to scrap them both. His house was five times as big as mine. His too large for me and mine too small for him. So we compromised and worked on a design together. This was the house I currently stood in.

The house we made together. I was so in love with it. I hugged myself as warmth flooded through me.

My phone buzzed, and I checked the messages. Jessalyn had sent several more pictures of her posing in the beautiful autumn scenery of Massachusetts and Kennedy manor. She’d left Donner Designs after the new year and married in the spring. I’d never seen her look so genuinely happy than when she was with Piers.

The other message was from my cousin Stella asking if I could look after Kris’ dog as they were going away on the weekend. I had no idea they both were fans of the same ska band and following that band around on tour would be what brought them together.

I told Stella it would be no problem and sent Jess a bunch of hearts for her pics.

Someone knocked on the top of my hardhat, and I turned to find Nathaniel smiling that sexy smile at me. He was still dressed in his suit, but at least his tie was loosened. I flung my arms around him and kissed him. “When did you get here?”

“Just a few minutes ago.” He removed my hat as he kissed me back and pressed me against him. “Glad they’re on schedule for having the windows done.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, knowing I must have hat head. “Me too. We have plumbing, electricity, and now windows. With them up, the installation of the furnace, heating and cooling system, and hot water heater can go as scheduled later this week.”

“We’re getting there, beautiful. I think we can have most things done by Christmas.” He waggled his brows and set my hat down on the window sill as there was no furniture in the house.

But not enough done in time to host Christmas for my family. Though it was Noelle’s turn to host, I had hoped that maybe the house might be done. It only slightly disappointed me, because we’d be married on December first, and I had no idea how stressful planning weddings were. The whole wedding thing as well as building the house took up all my waking hours. “I cannot wait until December.”

Nathaniel chuckled and started to walk us around to the other side of the house. “When you’ll officially be Mrs. Avery Donner forever.” A little hum of satisfaction rumbled in his chest. “Right now, though, you need to relax. You’ve been going and going lately. I hadn’t expected this build to stay on schedule, but you’ve been pushing it hard.”

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