Page 56 of The Holiday Fail

He sawme. And he cared.

Levi’s exes were fools to have let him go, but I was thankful to them because now he wasmine. And I would never take him for granted.

“Staying here doesn’t mean I’m giving up my dream. I wanted to make something of myself, to prove that I was worthy. I found that here every single day with you and the small-town residents who acted like my food was the best thing on this damn Earth.” That made Levi smile. “So, staying here with you? Working at the B&B? I consider that a dream upgrade. Because now, I get to do everything that feeds my soul with the man I love by my side. I choose you and this life.”

Levi’s eyes were bright as he looked at me. “I think I fell in love again just now.”

Laughing, I kissed him right there in the middle of the dining room. Hoots and hollers rang in my ears, and the people who were focused on their food now had their full attention on us, but I didn’t care. Levi didn’t seem to either, and deepened the kiss, giving everyone a show.

There were stars in his eyes when the kiss broke. “Should we join my dads and get some food too?”

I groaned. “Oh god. I totally forgot they were here. They saw us kissing just now, didn’t they?” I said and peeked at where Henry and Peter were sitting. They were, indeed, watching us with amusement. I tried to hide behind Levi. “I can never show my face to them again.”

Levi chuckled and pulled my hand. “Now I can’t have that, because I plan to keep you around for a long time, and that means you’ll be seeing them a lot.”

“A long time, huh?”

“Yep. Told Felix you’d be my silver fox one day.”

Something settled inside me at the thought of being with Levi long enough that our hair was more gray than anything else. To have a relationship like his dads, supporting each other and being there for one another.

I wanted it all.

“So I’ll be your own personal Gomez?” I asked teasingly.

“No.” He stopped and spun around, looking me right in the eye as he said, “You’re my Andy. I don’t want anyone else but you.”

There he went, surprising me and stealing my heart once again. And I had a feeling he’d keep doing that.

Forever, if I had my way.

Epilogue

LEVI

Next Christmas

“Babe,” Andy called and popped his head into the kitchen. “Leave that there for later. Let’s eat first. The others are waiting for us.”

He came up behind me to where I was tackling some of the dishes after another successful holiday event and wrapped me in his arms. Even after a year of being together every single day, I never tired of this. These little moments where we just soaked in each other.

“Good job today,” he whispered and pressed a kiss into my temple.

I turned in his arms and stole a real kiss. “You too. I saw a lot of happy smiles and people contentedly rubbing their bellies out there.”

I wondered if the high interest last year was because of the novelty of the event, but Thanksgiving and Christmas this year proved that wrong. Just as many, if not more, people showed up.

I liked to say it was the rising reputation Andy had broughtto the B&B. In the past year, he’d really made a name for our restaurant, even bringing in food critics from around the world to travel to our sleepy little town to try his creations. I couldn’t blame them. Andy had spoiled me with all the dishes he’d created this year. I’d noticeably gained a few pounds, and even my pants fit a little tighter now.

The fame of our restaurant wasn’t the only change that had come to Fated Encounters B&B. We hired a few more permanent staff to help in the kitchen, as well as the B&B side of the business.

My dads had been serious about retiring to travel the world and as soon as they knew I could handle managing the place with Andy and our helpers, they went on their first trip overseas. They came back every couple of weeks to visit, which I was very glad about since I wasn’t used to being away from them for so long.

We walked hand-to-hand back out to the dining room. Colorful lights lined the walls with ornaments our guests made from the workshop we held last week decorated the sparse areas.

A large Christmas tree sat in the corner of the room. The neighborhood kids and the ones staying at the B&B had helped decorate earlier this month. It was a little chaotic but still perfect.

And of course, our signature Doves of Destiny—two doves kissing—sat at the top, watching over everyone in the room.

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