Page 50 of Holiday Hoax

A knock on the door interrupts us. Mia rolls out of my arms and onto the floor as if we were teenagers getting caught in a movie theater.

“Mr. Jameson, I’m Nina. I need to check your vitals and ask you a few questions.”

Mia sits down while I answer everything and get checked out. The nurse shows Mia how to turn the couch into a bed and shows her where the linens and extra pillow are. I’m dying to finish our conversation, so every second the nurse spends in the room feels like a lifetime.

“Get your ass off that couch and back over here,” I say as soon as we’re alone again.

She doesn’t hesitate and lays down beside me again. It takes a minute to make sure none of the cords are tangled around her, but once we’re set, she nestles in the crook of my arm.

“You said you were scared to pick up the phone. Why?”

“I just realized this morning how much I love waking up beside you. I was worried you didn’t feel the same way or that I’d grow reliant on you.”

“I want you to be reliant on me.”

She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine. I hope she sees the truth in them. “I realized on the way to the hospital that I’ve been scared because I love you. I love you in a way that’s different from anything I’ve felt before, and it happened so fast, you know? It wasn’t slow and gradual, it was like a free fall.”

“A good free fall?”

“The best. A free fall into calm, warm waters.”

Mia walks out of the closet in a scarlet sweater dress and a pair of brown leather boots while I put my tie on. I watch as she turns right and then left, smoothing the dress over her stomach and ass. She blows a piece of hair that’s fallen free from the twist she pulled it into out of her face.

“If you change clothes one more time, I’m dragging you to my parents in a pair of my sweats. You look just as beautiful in that dress as you did in the first dozen you tried.”

I’m sure our closet looks like a tornado went through it. Marta loves it. She constantly tells us how much she loves having Mia here. Apparently, she never felt like she was earning her paycheck because of my chronic tidiness.

She looks over at me like I’m the ridiculous one. “This dinner is important. Not only is it with the entire board, but also your parents. How are you not freaking out right now?”

“Because I know I got the job.” I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her waist, resting my chin on her head. “I also have the most beautiful, intelligent, and kind woman in Chicago wearing my ring.”

The four-carat, brilliant cut diamond sparkles on her finger. I didn’t think I’d propose so soon, but after my scare in the hospital and our shared declarations of love, it just felt right to take that next step. We’re set on a long engagement.

The dinner is being held at my parents’ house, like it is every year. I usher Mia to the elevator and help her into her coat. She swipes on one more pass of lipstick and tucks her hair behind her ear before looking at me to let me know she’s ready.

I love little moments like these with her. The way she immediately takes her shoes off when she gets off the elevator,the little moans she makes as I rub her feet every night. Watching her get ready makes me deliriously happy.

The evening goes better than I could have hoped. I’m officially named as the next CEO of Jameson Industries. But that’s not even the best news of the night. Stella and Nico announced after all the guests left that they’re very much unexpectedly expecting a baby in the coming year. Mom was over the moon, which will take a lot of heat off Mia, especially with wedding planning.

I lead Mia down the Christmas-tree-lined hall, her shoes echoing off the marble tiles while she takes in the over-the-top decor. My mother has always gone all out for all the holidays, it’s overkill, but my parents throw a lot of parties this time of year so it makes sense. Watching her quietly taking in the lights in my childhood home overwhelms me with gratitude.

“What’s that look for?” she asks, walking over to me and running her hands up my chest.

“I’m just the luckiest guy in the fucking world right now.” I reach down and cup her face. “Dream wife. Dream job. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

EPILOGUE

MIA

TWO YEARS LATER

Winter in Lake Comois more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. When Ian and I finally sat down to plan our wedding, I knew without a doubt that I wanted it to be in Italy. It feels like a full circle moment knowing the first time we spent a day alone together was here and it’s where the foundation of our friendship turned love was laid.

Ian has a friend from the UK who owns boutique hotels over Europe with a retired professional soccer player. Their property here was the perfect mix of opulence and coziness for a winter wedding. The village is lit up with thousands of Christmas lights lending the perfect backdrop.

“I’m going to hang your dress in front of this window and get a few shots of it backlit by the golden hour light glistening off the lake.” I watch from over the photographer’s shoulder as she pulls magic out of the mundane.

“I have to say just one more time how grateful I am that you stepped in to photograph the wedding for us,” I tell her as she focuses on her camera.

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