Page 26 of Under the Mistletoe

“I know,” Bentley muttered.

“I love you like family, but if you hurt her, you know I will kill you,” my father said, looking back at me.

“I’d kill myself first before I hurt her. I’m in love with her. Not in the way you’d want or hoped I’d love her, but I still love her, and I’d give up my very soul without hesitation to make sure she’s happy.”

Almost instantly, tears sprung from my eyes as I stood there. Relief washed over me knowing that I didn’t have to give him up and that my father had finally accepted my choice—reluctantly, but he had accepted us.

I wiped my eyes and made my way over to my father, throwing my arms around his neck.

“Thank you. You do not know how much this means to me,” I cried.

My father wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tightly. I knew things were going to be okay. I had my father, and I had Bentley. As soon as we parted, my father held out his hand and Bentley quickly grabbed it, shaking it.

“Now, your mother has a wonderful dinner made at the house, and she told me that if I came back without the two of you, I was going to be in the proverbially doghouse. The same one I’ve been in all day, and last night when I refused to heareither of you out. What do you say? Will you both return home and enjoy a wonderful meal with us?”

I glanced over my shoulder at Bentley, who gave me a smile and a nod.

“I’ll go grab the keys!” I shouted and ran up the stairs. I had my man, and I had my father and mother. All was right in the world on this wonderful Christmas night.

Sixteen

Noelle

I glanced at myself in the full-length mirror of our room and smoothed out my dress. Bentley had surprised me with this dress earlier in the week. It couldn’t have fit me more perfectly if I had picked it out myself. I grabbed a piece of white lint that had landed on the black silk material and gave myself another once over. Tonight was our one-year anniversary and Bentley had not only surprised me with the dress but also with a weekend away to this cozy little bed-and-breakfast about an hour away from home.

I smiled at myself in the mirror. The last year had been amazing, and I was so thankful to still have my parents in my life. It had been rocky, to say the least. There were many more disagreements after last Christmas, especially when we announced to them that we were moving in together.

Bentley had decided that it was time to stop living above Dripping Whiskey and we started searching for a two-bedroom bungalow in town. We moved in together in the summer andspent the rest of the summer furnishing the place. I’d started helping at the bar as well, taking on a lot of the office work. My father hadn’t been pleased, but he couldn’t complain because at least I was putting my degree to use.

I heard the shower shut off and glanced in the mirror to see Bentley step out of the shower and reach for a towel. My eyes washed over him and met his.

“Don’t get any ideas there.” He chuckled.

I couldn’t help but let out a loud laugh as I shook my head and walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, slipping my feet into my heals.

“Where did you say we were having dinner?” I questioned.

“It’s called Lumina Trattoria. Please don’t look it up. Anything more than that will ruin it.” Bentley called as I held my cell phone in my hand, the name of the restaurant half typed out on the browser.

“Why would you think I was going to look it up?” I questioned, deleting the name from the browser.

“Because I know you.” He said, poking his head into the room and winking. “Plus, I’ve worked hard to keep it a surprise for you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You know me too well.”

“Why don’t you pour yourself a glass of wine and relax?” Bentley said, nodding toward the small fridge in our room.

“Would you like one?” I asked.

“No, I got it for you, plus I’m driving.”

Bentley disappeared back into the bathroom while I got up and opened the small fridge, grabbing the bottle of wine he’d put in there. I opened and poured a glass, replacing the cap and placing it back into the fridge. Grabbing my glass, I wandered over to the large window and looked out over the field.

Christmas lights twinkled in every tree and bush on the property, lighting everything up. It looked so pretty as the snowfell and I softly smiled. Bentley had made me so happy this year and no matter what, there wasn’t another place I ever wanted to be. All the challenges with my parents had brought us closer than ever, and he had never faltered from his promise of being there for me in whatever capacity he needed to be. In some ways, I almost didn’t think I deserved him.

I caught his reflection in the window and turned to see him standing there. He looked as handsome as ever, wearing black dress pants and the black-on-black shirt I’d gotten him for our anniversary. The moment I’d seen it I knew I had to get it for him.

“You look beautiful.” He said, walking toward me as his eyes washed over my body. He placed his arms around me, pulling me gently into him.

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