Page 57 of Snowflakes and Sparks

But Old Pine Cove had never left my mind. Life was simple there, and I craved simple. When I told Kate about my plans to leave L.A. for good, she was nothing but supportive. The Old Pine Cove store had grown and could use a set of extra hands. I would run the store together with Pippa, the current manager, but only three days per week so that I still had time to write books.

Luckily, Heather was history. Her application to become store manager had been thrown out, and there wasn’t a single person in Old Pine Cove who had a good word left for her after what she did, forcing her to leave the town for good. Alex had sold the engagement ring I’d found in the bathroom, shouting “good riddance” as he left the jewelry store.

“Where do you want this?” Alex asked now, holding a box of books in his hands.

“Just put them in the living room for now.”

“Do you want me to put them in your bookcase?”

“No. I mean, that’s sweet, but you don’t know the system.”

He raised his eyebrow and laughed. “There’s a system to putting books in a bookcase?”

I put my hand on my hip. “As a matter of fact, yes. You can color code them or organize them by genre or height. There are numerous systems to choose from.”

He shook his head and threw me a smile. “Let’s just hope I don’t regret asking you to move to Old Pine Cove with me. Thank goodness you’ll be next door managing the store during the day so that I won’t have to witness too much of your craziness.”

I slapped him with one of the throw pillows I had brought back from our L.A. apartment. “Watch it, mister. You’re lucky to have me.”

He took my hands and locked eyes with me. “You’re right. I’m the luckiest man alive.”

“You are,” I said and kissed his soft lips before letting go of his hands.

“Don’t walk away, let’s make out on our new couch.”

I laughed and put the snow globe he had gifted me sixteen months ago on the mantle above the fireplace, right next to the one I had gifted him.

“I’d love to, but we have a lot of unpacking to do, and I promised Addy I’d grab a coffee with her later. We still have to celebrate my book getting published. Besides, I need to hear all the stories about the new guy in her life. But after I get back, I’m all yours.”

“All night?”

I laughed and spun around. “I’m yours for the rest of my life, Alex.”

He closed the distance between us and smiled. “Are you?”

I held up my hand, showing him my wedding ring, and nodded. “I promised when you made me Suzie Denverton last Christmas, remember?”

“I do. There’s no one I’d rather share my name with than you, Suzie.”

“And there’s no one whose name I’d rather have than yours,” I said.

He kissed me and I almost regretted making plans with Addy. It was okay though, since I was the luckiest girl in Old Pine Cove. Heck, I was the luckiest girl in the whole wide world. I got to go home to Alex Denverton every night for the rest of my life.

---