by Caroline Lee
He felt a little lost in the conversation, but he was clear on a few things Doc had said. Taking Christa’s hands in his, he smiled gently. “You are a godmother, darling. And I’ll be thrilled to introduce people to my wife, the Fairy God—”
“No,” she interrupted quickly. “We aren’t fairies. And we mustn’t speak of our roles to anyone else.”
“I’m glad she read the manual,” whispered one of the ladies behind her.
But Andrew just shrugged. “My love, we can do whatever you’d like. I’ll keep your secret and be happy to work alongside you to bring happiness to others—I am a rather good godfather, I fancy. Assuming, that is, that you still want to marry me?”
She took the time to glance over her shoulder at the gathered godmothers, then around the hall. He followed her gaze, smiling when he saw Ian Crowne bouncing baby Ariel on his remaining knee and laughing at his son’s attempts to dance with Ella. And there was Arabella Bellini, swaying back and forth, as she stood at her husband’s side while he played the beautiful music everyone was enjoying. And Jack and Meri Carpenter, involved in what looked to be a good-natured argument with Dmitri and Zelle and Max, while Snow and Reverend Woods chatted happily with a woman who looked as if she might be Snow’s sister.
And in the middle of the rest of Everland’s people, darting here and there, were the members of Andrew’s family; the orphans he thought of as his grandchildren, and Antonia and Freddy, and Rojita, Hank, and Penelope. And Micah, his beloved son.
Here in Everland, Andrew had found a home. But more than that, he’d found happiness.
So, holding his breath, he met Christa’s eyes. “Marry me,” he repeated in a whisper. “Share all this, and more, with me?”
Slowly, she smiled. “I love you, Andrew Prince. I feel as if I’ve loved you forever. I am so glad I don’t have to choose between you and my place as a godmother. I will happily—joyfully—marry you and spend the rest of our lives here in Everland, making the world a better place for everyone.”
At her acceptance, joy bubbled up from his chest, spilling from his throat in a sort of gleeful cry, which she met with a laugh as she pulled him down for another kiss.
“I love you,” he murmured again against her skin, vowing to say it a hundred times a day.
Her pale eyes sparkled with joy. “Merry Christmas, my love. Now dance with me.”
And he was all too happy to do so, and as he did, he introduced her to her new home.
Everland was lucky to have her, and so was he.
And they lived Happily Ever After, of course!
You’re wondering what will happen to Max DeVille in Scotland, aren’t you? Well, you’re in luck! Check out my new fairytale series (which ties in with my Hots for Scots series), Highlands Happily Ever After!
The first story, The Lass Who Lost a Shoe, is a fabulous retelling of Cinderella, staring a snarky heroine and our beloved (and long-awaited) Max!
If you’re new to the Everland series, you can start at the beginning with Little Red, which is free on all retailers. Enjoy!
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas reimagining, I want to offer you a personal invitation to my reader group, and also sign up for my mailing list, so you’ll never miss a thing, and you’ll get a free book to boot! If you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll consider joining Caroline’s Cohort Facebook Group, where I post all the best book news first, and you’ll be able to get to know me personally. These are my biggest fans, and are instrumental in helping me name characters and choose covers, so stop on by!
About the Author
Caroline Lee has been reading romance for so long that her fourth-grade teacher used to make her cover her books with paper jackets. But it wasn't until she (mostly) grew up that she realized she could write it too. So she did.
Caroline is living her own little Happily Ever After in NC with her husband, sons, and brand-new daughter, Princess Wiggles. And while she doesn't so much "suffer" from Pittakionophobia as think that all you people who enjoy touching Band-Aids and stickers are the real weirdos, she does adore rodents, and never met a wine she didn't like. Caroline was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2006 (just like everyone else) and is really quite funny in person. Promise.
You can find her at www.CarolineLeeRomance.com.
Other Historical Westerns by Caroline Lee
Want the scoop on new books? Join Caroline’s Cohort, an exclusive reader group! Or sign up for my mailing list by texting “Caroline” to 42828 to get started!
The Sweet Cheyenne Quartet:
Love for all seasons in nineteenth-century Wyoming.
A Cheyenne Christmas
A Cheyenne Celebration
A Cheyenne Thanksgiving
A Cheyenne Christmas Homecoming
The Mothers of Sweet Cheyenne
Where They Belong
Sunset Valley
(Black Aces prequel)
Lucas’s Lady
Verrick’s Vixen
Abigail’s Adventure
Black Aces
Ante Up
Three of a Kind
Wild Card
Everland Ever After:
A fairy-tale town set in the wilds of the old west!
Little Red (FREE!)
Ella
Beauty
The Stepmother
Rapunzelle
Briar Rose
Rose Red
The Mermaid
The Prince’s Pea
Snow
Click here to find a complete list of Caroline’s books.
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