Page 13 of We Wish You a Happily Ever After

“I always knew they were into each other. The way they looked at each other.” Bella laughed. “I don’t think they even knew what was going on, but…you can’t miss a connection like that, even when you’re too young to know what it really means.”

“Do you really think that?”

He caught her gaze and held it for a moment before turning back to the road. He’d happily look at her all day if he wasn’t trying to navigate a snowy logging road in four-wheel drive.

Did they have that connection?

He was no expert, but dammed if he didn’t think they did.

He knew they did.

“So you’re enjoying your time back in town?” He was digging, but he couldn’t help it. Maybe if she liked it here, she’d stay and then…

“I am.” She grinned. “There’s something absolutely magical about being in the mountains in the winter. I had no idea. It’s like living in a snow globe.” She laughed again, and the sound filled him.

“It’s like that all the time.” Jeremy slowed the truck and pulled it into a snowy clearing. “A pretty awesome place to call home, actually.” Before she could respond, he put the truck into park and killed the engine. “Ready to go find the perfect tree for your snow globe Christmas?”

* * *

Snow slid down between her leggings and the boots Bella wore, soaking her socks and chilling her toes as she followed Jeremy through the deep snow, but she didn’t care. They’d warm up, but she’d never get this moment back.

Your snow globe Christmas, he’d called it. She couldn’t have described it better if she’d tried. That’s exactly what it was like, being in Glacier Falls for the season. Absolutely magical.

And spending time with Jeremy was just an added bonus. Something about being with him was just—easy. It had always been that way.

Bella stopped walking for a moment and tipped her head back. The fat, wet snowflakes falling from the sky blanketed her face. Feeling like a little kid, she held her arms out and spun around as a giggle rose from deep in her throat.

She couldn’t help it; she spun faster and faster until finally she fell into the pillowy snow, her arms and legs outstretched. In the perfect position, she started to wave her limbs and make a snow angel.

“Having fun?”

She opened her eyes to see Jeremy standing over her, a gorgeous smile lighting up his face.

“So much fun.”

He didn’t wait for an invitation, a fact she secretly loved, but instead flopped down next to her and started to make his own snow angel.

“See? So fun.”

“It is fun.”

Bella turned her head to see Jeremy propped up on his elbow watching her.

“You’re going to wreck your angel,” she protested. “You have to get up slowly so you don’t—” Her words died on her lips. “What?”

“You have snowflakes on your eyelashes.” He reached out and for a second she thought he might try touching her lash. But instead, he held out his hand and in a swift move, hopped to his feet.

Bella accepted his hand and a moment later, Jeremy pulled her easily up from the snow and her angel and into his arms.

His mouth was only inches from hers. His arms wrapped around her and he held her close. “You look gorgeous covered in snow.”

And then his lips were on hers. He tasted of peppermint and cinnamon, and his kiss melted her. Literally. The snowflakes on her lashes turned to water dripping down her cheek.

Bella laughed and pulled away to wipe at her face, but when she was finished and her eyes once more locked with Jeremy’s, she found something besides laughter there, and it made her stomach twist into knots.

She should turn away. She should pick out her perfect Christmas tree and get it home to Papa.

But then again…what was the rush?

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