by Nomi Summers
“How did you…?” she asked, puzzled.
“I have my ways.” He winked and held out his hand to help her into the carriage. Once settled side by side, he opened the wool blanket offered by the coachman and placed it over both of their legs before putting his arm around her.
Growing up in Arbor Shores, Jordyn was used to seeing the horse and carriage rides in town. She’d always wanted to take one with a love interest, but never had. Her past boyfriends hadn’t exactly been romantic types.
Jordyn nuzzled closer to Luke and rested her head on his shoulder as they made their way slowly through town, the sound of clacking hooves on the wet pavement beneath them mixed with the soft sound of Christmas carols off in the distance.
Luke’s warm hand cradled hers underneath the blanket. She never wanted the ride to end and was thrilled when the driver did a full circle around town square before stopping to let them out in front of the tree.
Luke got out first, paid the driver, and then helped her down. When the carriage pulled away, the glimmer of the massive tree before them lit up the sky with multi-colored lights, and at the same moment, a sprinkle of light snowflakes began to drift down from the starlit night.
Luke looked up and his face brightened with awe. “It’s snowing,” he announced with the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning who had just discovered his presents.
“It’s perfect.” She took a step toward him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into him.
“Not yet,” he said.
“Huh?” She was puzzled.
“There’s only one thing that could make this moment any more perfect.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” she asked, catching the twinkle in his eyes.
“This,” he said with a grin, before pulling off his gloves and moving his hands to the sides of her face. He cupped her cheeks and pulled her mouth ever so gently to meet his.
His lips were soft and warm, holding the faintest taste of caramel still lingering from their dessert. Jordyn closed her eyes and pulled him closer, fully surrendering to her developing feelings for this man once and for all.
Time slipped away as they kissed under the light of the Christmas tree, snow gently falling around them. Though the day had started a bit rough, it ended as the best Christmas Eve she’d ever had.
Epilogue
One year later
“Are you ready?” Luke asked, popping his head into the art studio he’d set up for Jordyn inside their new Downtown Chicago high-rise penthouse. “We’re due at the jet in thirty.”
“Sure am. Just let me clean up here,” she said, putting down her paint brush.
“What’s that?” he asked, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist to get a closer look at her painting.
“It’s called Best Christmas Eve Ever,” she told him, shooting a smile over her shoulder.
He admired her artwork; she really was talented. She’d created a watercolor painting of the Christmas tree in town square in Arbor Shores.
“It’s magnificent,” he told her. “I say we hang it up.” If she only knew what he had planned for her this Christmas Eve, she’d understand just how meaningful this painting actually was.
“Maybe when we get home. Right now, we get to go enjoy our real Christmas Eve in Arbor Shores.” She turned to face him and rested her hands on his shoulders.
“Did you confirm our reservation at the resort?”
“Yep. Anna booked us in the same cabin you had last year. No Wi-Fi, just how I like it,” she told him with a wink and a playful smile.
“Sounds good to me. Do you have the gifts for your dad and Janice?” he asked.
“All packed in my suitcase.”
“What about your mom’s?”
“Mailed it to Florida last week.”
“You are on top of things. That’s one of the many reasons why I love you so much.” He planted a kiss on her forehead and led her by the hand toward the door.
As Jordyn gathered her coat and purse and checked to ensure she had all their last-minute things, Luke only had one thing to check.
And that was to confirm the box was in his pocket.
After a nice Christmas Eve afternoon visiting with her dad and Janice, it was time for Jordyn and Luke to head into town to enjoy their new Christmas Eve tradition: surf and turf at La Fresca’s, followed by a horse and carriage ride into town to admire the Christmas tree.
Dinner was every bit as good as they’d remembered from the year before, and the horse and carriage ride was just as romantic as it had been the first time.
Now in front of the tree, Jordyn admired the lights with the sound of Christmas carolers gathered around singing “Silent Night.” She closed her eyes to cherish the moment, as a blissful rush of Christmas spirit rippled through her chest. When she opened her eyes, Luke was down in front of her, on one knee, holding an open box with the most beautiful solitaire diamond she’d ever seen.
“Jordyn Jacobs, you’ve made this past year the best one of my life, and I want to spend the rest of my years creating even more traditions with you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife? Will you become Mrs. Jordyn Bradford?”
Hot tears welled up in Jordyn’s eyes. “Yes!” she exclaimed as she grabbed his face with both mittens, pulling him to his feet and wrapping her arms around his neck as she met his lips with hers. “Yes,” she whispered again as they embraced. “Yes,” she whispered one last time, just to be sure he’d heard her.
He pulled back and looked at her. “Are you sure?” he asked playfully, pulling off her mitten and slipping the ring onto her left ring finger.
“One hundred million times, yes,” she smiled, and he pulled her mouth to his, sealing their future with a final kiss as the crowd around them erupted in applause.
Just when Jordyn thought nothing could top last year’s Christmas Eve, this had moved into its place as the best Christmas Eve ever.
How would they ever top this one next year?
Want more of Arbor Shores? Check out the first book in the Christmas in Arbor Shores novella series, Christmas Getaway for Two.
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~Nomi xoxo
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Also by Nomi Summers
Knox Brothers of Arbor Shores:
Capturing the Heart of the Rock Star
Captivating the Heart of the Billionaire
Conquering the Heart of the Bad Boy
Catching the Heart of the Athlete
Christmas in Arbor Shores:
Christmas Getaway for Two
Christmas Break with the Billionaire