Page 48 of Frostbite & Mistletoe
“Still in denial?” Maggie laughed and handed her a sprig of mistletoe wrapped in a cheery red ribbon.“Here. You clearly need this. That man is head over heels in love with you. He’s spent the past few days moving mountains to make this party happen.”
Before Kymberlie could respond, the music stopped. The deafening chatter in the club faded away, replaced by expectant silence.
She and Maggie both turned to see Gabriel stepping onto the stage. He accepted the microphone from Rob Swanson with a nod of thanks.
The sight of him standing there—powerful, assured, yet somehow vulnerable—sent a flutter through her chest that had nothing to do with gratitude and everything to do with the connection that had been building between them for the past month.
“Hey, everyone, I’m not really a speech-making kind of guy,” Gabriel began, his deep voice carrying easily through the room.“But tonight is special. I wanted to thank you all for coming tonight and supporting The Hair of the Dog, and say a few words about why we’re all here.”
The crowd quieted further. Kymberlie felt herself holding her breath.
“The Hair of the Dog isn’t just a bar,” he continued.“It’s part of what makes Bearpaw Ridge home for many of us. When I first arrived, I hoped that someday I’d belong here.” His gaze found hers across the room, intense and unwavering.“And now I do. I need to thank Daniel Langlais and the rest of the Cougar Lake leadership council for that, but I also owe a lot to this place… and to Kymberlie.”
Something warm unfurled in Kymberlie’s chest, spreading outward until she felt it in her fingertips, her toes.
“I’ve seen a lot of businesses fold under the same pressure she’s faced,” Gabriel went on.“But not her. She’s fought for this day with determination and passion. I admire her refusal to give up on her dream even when things seemed impossible.” He paused, his eyes locked with hers, then continued.“She inspires all of us to fight for our dreams. And that deserves to be honored. And a big thank you to all the volunteers who stepped up and made tonight’s celebration happen. You make Bearpaw Ridge the special place it is.”
The words were direct—just like Gabriel himself. But beneath them ran a current of emotion that vibrated through the air between them.
He thinks I’m inspiring? Me? The hot mess who blamed him for stuff that wasn’t his fault and said some awful things to him?
Someone raised a glass.“To Kymberlie!” The toast was taken up around the room, a chorus of voices lifting in her honor.
But Kymberlie barely heard them. The crowded room seemed to fade away until there was only Gabriel on that stage, his eyes saying everything his careful words did not.
Her hand tightened around the mistletoe in her hand.Hell yeah, I’m going to use this the minute I can corner him.
He stepped down from the stage to thundering applause and made his way toward her through the crowd. People patted his back, shook his hand, but his focus never wavered from her.
When he reached her, Kymberlie realized she was crying again. She’d been doing that way too fucking much over the past few days. But tonight, her tears were happy ones as her gratitude and joy and love for him overflowed.
“Thank you,” she said, the words woefully inadequate for what she felt.“Not just for the party. For everything.”
Gabriel’s smile looked almost shy.“You’re welcome. And you deserve every bit. People love you, Kymberlie. I—” He cleared his throat.“Ilove you. You’re magnificent, and you’ve made Bearpaw Ridge feel like home to me.”
The band struck up again, playing a slow, romantic tune that sent couples drifting onto the dance floor.
Around them, the party continued, but Kymberlie stood transfixed, aware only of Gabriel’s presence, of the mistletoe clutched in her hand, of the desire humming between them like a perfectly tuned string.
“Dance with me?” he asked, extending his hand.
“Sure.” She placed her hand in his much larger one, feeling the warmth of his palm against hers like a promise.
Then she went up on tiptoe and dangled the mistletoe over their heads with her free hand.“But first, I’d like to thank you properly.”
Chapter Thirteen
Time seemed to slow, the noise of the fundraiser fading to a distant hum as Kymberlie lost herself in the intensity of Gabriel’s green-gold eyes.
Her wolf yipped happily inside her.Finally!
She traced the firm line of his jaw.“Gabriel,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Then she was kissing him, pouring everything she felt but couldn’t articulate into the joining of their lips.
Her emotions went far beyond mere gratitude for saving her club. He saw her… the good, the bad, and the weaknesses she tried so hard to hide.
And he still loved her.
