Page 113 of The Mistletoe Makeover

“Then I’m going to put mistletoe all over my house,” Jace says with a mischievous look. “Until you’ve changed your mind.”

I lift an eyebrow, wrapping my hands around his neck. “Merry Christmas to me,” I whisper as he pulls me close and kisses me.

I already know it’s true. I don’t hate mistletoe any more.

Epilogue

One year later

Jace

As soon as I drop my luggage in the foyer, Mia sees the surprise I arranged for her. “You decorated for Christmas already?”

The entire living room is decorated in evergreen and lights, thanks to my housekeeping staff. Since I started touring almost a year ago, I’ve hardly been home. But now that it’s December, I’m planning on taking a couple of months off to write more music and spend time with the woman I can’t get enough of.

Mia points at the mistletoe hanging above her. “Is this based on our conversation from last year?”

I arch an eyebrow. “I don’t forget things.”

She walks over to me and lazily wraps her arms around my neck. “Just so you know, I’ve already changed my mind about mistletoe.”

I lean in, whispering in her ear, “Just in case you weren’t thoroughly convinced, it’s in every doorway of this house.”

Her lips curl into a smile. “You never do things halfway.”

“What would be the point?” I kiss her forehead. “Just for the record, neither do you. You’re the one who gave the entire town a makeover last year.”

I know Mia is eager to see if the festival is the same as last year. Since she’s been working for me, she officially retired from her position as event planner and gave all her planning documents to her mom, who took over Mia’s job. Now that the town agreed to pay Cora, she’s actually able to cover her bills without Mia’s help. It turned out to be a win-win for everyone.

I smooth a strand of hair behind her ear. “As much as I want to kiss you under the mistletoe, I wonder if we could head to the barn?”

She crinkles her nose. “And run into Cal? No, thank you.”

“You won’t run into him today,” I promise.

“How can you be sure?” she asks, frowning.

“Just trust me,” I say, winking.

A few minutes later, we’re driving the winding roads through the snow-covered hills and finally arrive at the barn, which looks spectacular against the deep blue winter sky.

Inside, the piano is still sitting on stage, the Christmas lights draped across the rafters, twinkling above us like stars. We sit on the piano bench together, and I play a few chords, remembering last year’s concert and everything that’s changed since then.

The piano echoes across the cavernous ceiling, and I can’t wait to tell her any longer. “When we danced together last year on this stage, it was like something shifted inside me. I realized I hadn’t been this happy in so long. You are everything I’ve ever wanted—someone who has shown me how to have fun again. How to love with your whole heart.” I stop playing, and look over, pulling a small box from my pocket, wrapped with a red bow.

She glances from the box to me, then slowly unties the ribbon so it falls to the floor. For what feels like an insanely long moment, she opens the lid and pauses.

“Jace? Is this...?” She’s too choked up to finish and too scared to ask me the question I know is on her mind.

I take her hands in mine. “I want you to be my wife, Mia. You’re the only one I want to spend my life with. There’s nobody I’d rather make dinner for, or talk about my day with, or go on the road with than you.” I kneel. “Please, Mia,” I ask in a soft voice. “Will you marry me?”

This time, she doesn’t make me wait. “Yes,” she says, her eyes shining.

I slide the square diamond set in a gold band on her finger, and then cup her face in my hands and kiss her mouth. This time, there’s no hesitation between us. I want to kiss her forever—right here and now.

She pulls away gently, searching my face. “How long have you been planning this?”

“That ring has been burning a hole in my pocket for months, but I wanted to wait until the other surprise fell into place.”

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