Page 88 of Yuletide Acres

“I’m going to have to stop you right there.” He holds up his hand. “You said you’re not compromising. But I disagree. You are because you want more. I can’t know that fact and just leave it lying there.”

Oh my God, what is he doing? “I told you. I want you. I want Marissa. I need you both in my life in whatever capacity. That’s all.”

“That’s not acceptable.”

I swallow down the unease, praying that Dylan isn’t going to morph into some Yule monster and humiliate me publicly. “So, what is acceptable?”

“I have a few yes or no questions for you. I need them answered.”

“Right now?” Breathe, Poppy, it will be okay. “Please tell me you’re not asking me terrible things in public.”

“Have a little faith,” Dylan chuckles, pulling out a piece of paper. “Do you want to be with me?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to help raise Marissa?”

Didn’t we just go over this?

“Yes.”

“I have a few from Marissa now.”

“Okay.” So far, so good. This is painless.

“Will you cook breakfast every morning?”

I chuckle, nodding at his daughter’s beaming face. “Sure, with your help, Marissa.”

“Will you live with us?”

“Um...but—”

That smile. It will always hold me captive. “Yes or no?”

“Yes?”

“Is that an answer or question?”

“An answer. Easier to cook breakfast that way.”

Dylan releases a slow exhalation, and I gear up for the worst. “Will you have children with me?”

“Wait, but you said—”

“Yes or no, Sunshine?”

“Is that your question or hers?”

“Yes or no?” Dylan links his fingers with mine, the holiday lights dancing in his brown eyes. “Please don’t say no.”

Then, for the first time, I see it all in his face. He wants this as much as I do. I don’t know if he changed his mind or if I’m finally seeing the truth. All I know is my answer. “Yes.”

Dylan beams at me, balling up the paper and tossing it over his shoulder. “Thank God, because now I can ask the one question I’ve been waiting on a decade.”

He sinks to his knee, pulling out a small box, and my heart threatens to implode, right then and there. “Oh, wow,” I whisper, my entire body trembling.

“I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I’ll give you everything. We can buy a different house. I’ll give you those six kids, and as many animals as you want. But I have my own request. I want to lie with you under the Christmas tree and watch Marissa open gifts on Christmas morning. I want to kiss you at midnight on New Year’s Eve and buy you a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day. I want to drink green beer with you at the pub and hunt Easter eggs with my two best girls. I want to watch the fireworks and the leaves change and then do it all again. Because with you, it’s always new. Will you marry me, Poppy Mills? You’d better say yes, because I had the ring sized and everything.”

I’m so glad I’m not wearing makeup as the tears stream down my face. But nothing can erase the giant smile as I stare down at my twin flame. “You know it, Dylan West. I would love to be your wife.”

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