Page 39 of Christmas in Kiwi Country

And I made good on my promise to show her all theperkshigh up in the sky.

“Do you have everything?” I ask as the wheels touch down and we eventually come to a stop. “They’ll bring our bags to the car.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’ll never get used to this.”

I shrug then lean in to kiss her cheek. “I’ll never get tired of spoiling you.”

“Mm-hmm,” she says as she sashays toward the door and then thanks the crew and wishes them a Merry Christmas before exiting the plane. I shake the crew members’ hands and do the same before following Gwen onto the tarmac.

Her hand shields her eyes from the sun, and I’m struck by the beauty of it all—her beauty. A woman so gorgeous inside and out that she was able to take a man like me and make him human again. A man worthy of love and being loved in return, and I can’t wait.

“Gwen?” I choke out as I pull the box from my pants pocket and drop to one knee. Her turn to face me is slow, like she could hear in my voice the magnitude of what was about to happen and things would never be the same.

Bright blue eyes fill with tears as her gaze meets mine. I don’t hide the emotion in mine as I clear my throat and open the box.

“I thought I could propose to you in New Zealand but it never felt right. Landing here at home—the first time I’ve ever really been home—is exactly where I want to be. With you. You’ve given me life, Gwen. You’ve given me love and the forgiveness I was unable to give myself. You’re fire and radiance and everything that makes me want to be the man by your side today and every day after.”

Swallowing, I go for broke. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

“A little cliché on Christmas, isn’t it?” she says through a watery laugh.

“Maybe. But you’ve made this the best day of my life. Sharing it with you and now being home to share it with our families. What do you say, Red?”

“Yes, Mr. Andrews.” She lets me slip the ring on her finger and then pulls me to stand. “I think I’d rather like bein’ your wife.”

Her lips are pulled up into a smile as they caress mine before I pull her flush against me and kiss the hell out of her.

“Ready to go tell the kids?” The kids—our own plus the Thayers. It promises to be absolute mayhem, and I don’t hate it at all.

“As long as you promise we can celebrate later.” She holds her hand out and wiggles her fingers, making the pink diamond sparkle in the sunlight. The oval cut sits perfectly on her long, slender fingers, and my mind is filled with a dozen fantasies of watching those hands wrap around my length.

“I promise to celebrate with you all night long,” I say, suggestion heavy in my tone.

Her grin is devilish. “You say the sweetest things.”

“You going to wear a dress for me?” Grinning like a fool, I take her in—my bride.

“A dress,” she muses, “but not white.”

“I’d expect nothing less, Mrs. Andrews.”

23

CULLEN

It’s quiet on the way to the way to the Thayers’. Christmas music plays from the radio, and a part of me misses some of the kiwi versions we’d heard in New Zealand. I’d been humbled by the beauty of the land and its people. We’d called Eve and Riley to wish them a Merry Christmas and to tell them we were headed home early.

They’d been knee-deep in holiday chaos and I couldn’t wait for that. Gwen’s hand rests on my leg, bringing me back to the present. Pride blooms in my chest at seeing my ring on her finger, and despite the jetlag, excitement courses through my veins at being able to share the news with our family.

We didn’t tell anyone we were on the way, and as we near the house, I wonder if that was a mistake. As eager as I am to see my daughter, I don’t need her going into premature labor.

“Are you all right?” Gwen asks from the passenger seat, and I nod even as butterflies in my stomach threaten to take flight.

I don’t know why I’m so nervous. Coming home was what I wanted, and maybe that’s the reason. I’ve spent so much of my life running from this exact feeling, and now that I’ve embraced it, it feels like I’m staring at a tidal wave.

Instead of answering, I wrap my hand around hers and bring them to my lips, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles before nodding.

The paved road gives way to dirt as we make the final turn, and Flora and Vincent’s house comes into view. The lights are on and we haven’t even parked before the front door flies open and I grin.

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