I’d started working at the local high school. The people I worked with were amazing. Yes, they knew who I was from the news, but nobody made a big deal about it. My students were bright and eager to learn. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of kids.
Faith and Dominic got married two months ago and it was a beautiful ceremony. When they opened up the restaurant a month ago, they’d had a full house ever since. I even spent some of my weekends helping out there. I got to meet people from all over the world.
In other news, Grace was pregnant with twin girls. When Ian found out at the gender reveal party, you could see the terror on his face. Little did he know, he’d be wrapped around their fingers in a heartbeat.
“What are you smiling about?” Reed asked.
I giggled. “Just thinking about Grace and how Ian’s face looked when he found out he’s having twin girls.”
Reed chuckled. “Yeah, it was funny as hell. I pity those girls when they want to date.”
I never got the chance to introduce anyone to my father. He would’ve loved Reed. “Do you want kids?” I asked him.
Reed glanced over at me and smiled. “I do. You?”
Swallowing hard, I nodded, trying my best not to cry. It was my second Christmas without my mother. “Of course,” I murmured. “I just never thought I’d have a family without my mom. She always talked about how she couldn’t wait to be a grandmother.”
Reed reached over and held my hand. “From what you’ve told me, she would’ve been an amazing grandmother. And now, you have your journals. When we have kids, you can read all the stories to them.”
I tried not to smile, but it was hard not to. He said when we have kids. It took a second for him to catch on. He winked at me and laughed. “That is, if you want to have kids with me some day. Who knows? You might meet someone more handsome than me and have his kids.”
“Not going to happen,” I promised him. “I love you too much.”
We pulled into the resort parking lot and parked by the restaurant. “Happy to hear you say that.”
Reed got out and came around to my side to take my hand. I’d fallen at least ten times traipsing through all the snow. Guess he couldn’t trust me to walk on my own which was fine. I loved having him be my protector.
“What are you going to get to eat tonight?” I asked.
He reached for the door. “Don’t know. I think Faith put a special Christmas dish on the menu for tonight.”
Gasping, I couldn’t wait to see what it was. She never told me anything about it. Reed opened the door and helped me out of my jacket when we walked in. The scent of cinnamon and apples filled the air. It reminded me of my mother’s homemade apple crisp.
The hostess was one of my high school students. Her name was Jessie and she looked cute with her red top and black pants, wearing a Santa hat. “Hey Jess,” I said. “I’m surprised you’re not with your family.”
Her grin widened. “Actually, I am. They’re all inside.”
She winked at Reed and he chuckled. “What’s going on?” I asked, staring curiously at them both. Reed took my arm and guided me into the restaurant. The place was packed and there wasn’t an empty table anywhere. “Uh-oh, what are we going to do? There’s no place to sit.”
And that’s was when I noticed it. Everything went silent and everyone looked our way. The thing is, they weren’t just random people … they were all people I knew. Grace waved at me with the biggest smile on her face, holding a hand over her baby bump. Ian was beside her, along with Layla and Bryce and their little baby girl. At the table beside them was Glenn, John, Robyn, and Amy with her new boyfriend, Kyle. They met at a Carolina Cougars game after he accidentally spilled beer on her. Guess it was love at first sight. Then, beside them was Wade and his wife, Brina, and their kids. The rest of the restaurant was filled with my co-workers from the high school and most of my students.
“What in the world is going on here?” I said, waving at them all. Faith and Dominic stood across the room and she waved at me, but then she motioned for Reed to do something. I stared at him and pursed my lips. “Something I should know about?”
Reed placed his hand on my back and nodded toward the center of the room where the giant Christmas tree stood, all decked out in colorful lights and ornaments. “You’re about to find out.”
He guided me toward the tree and we stood in front of it. Then, he turned to everyone in the crowd. “Thank you so much for being here tonight. Merry Christmas.” Everyone shouted Merry Christmas back and I smiled. Reed clutched me tighter against him. “Not only is today Christmas, but it’s also a time for family.” He looked at me and smiled. “That’s why I wanted you all here. To hopefully celebrate something more. That is, if a certain someone accepts.” My heart stopped and I froze. Reed got down on his knee and reached into his pocket. What came out was a sparkling, round cut diamond ring with emerald side stones that matched his eyes.
“Oh. My. God,” I breathed, mouth gaping in shock.
Holding up the ring, Reed stared right into my eyes. “I love you, Kennedy. I wondered about how I was going to do this for a couple of months now. Then I thought it’d be good to do it like this.” He flourished a hand about the room. “In front of all your family and friends. With everyone who loves and cares about you. They wanted to be here today for you. And I’m here to hear you say that one little word that could change my life forever.”
Tears flooded my eyes. “And what word would that be?”
He smiled. “Yes. I want to hear you say yes that you’ll marry me. Yes, that you’ll be my wife. Yes, that you’ll one day want to start a family. And yes, that you’ll always be mine.”
Time stood still until Grace stood and waved her hands in the air. “I have the best idea ever!” she shouted. “You two can get married at the resort this spring. It’ll be gorgeous! A Chandler family tradition. The flowers will be in bloom, and …”
Ian stood, looking embarrassed and yet amused at the same time. “Sorry, she’s pregnant,” he announced to everyone. “The hormones make her a little more chatty than usual.” Then he moved closer to Grace, but we could all hear him. “Might want to wait for Kennedy to say yes first.”
The whole room broke out in laughter and I joined in. Grace slapped a hand to her mouth. “Has she not said yes, yet?”
Chuckling, Ian shook his head. “Not yet, sweetheart.”
I lined my hand up with the ring and slid my finger inside of it; it fit perfectly. “Yes, to all of them,” I cried. Reed jumped to his feet and lifted me in his arms. Everyone cheered and I cried with joy. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Yes, I’ll be your wife. Yes, I want to have a family with you. And yes, I’ll always be yours. I want it all more than anything in this world.” I kissed him so hard, not caring that everyone was there watching us. “I love you so much, Reed.”
Reed rested his forehead to mine. “And I love you. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy, to keep you safe, and be by your side no matter what.”
Sniffling, I laughed through my tears. “I promise to do the same.”
Reed lifted his hands to my face, his lips warm against mine. “So should we take Grace up on her offer? A springtime wedding at the resort?” he announced so everyone could hear.
I glanced out at the crowd and Grace nodded excitedly, clasping her hands pleadingly. “A springtime wedding it is,” I agreed. “It’s a Chandler family tradition, right?”
Grace shrugged. “Well, technically, only me and Ian are the only Chandler’s to get married there, but it will be a tradition when our kids get older. I thought it sounded neat to call it a tradition.”
“Hey,” Faith shouted. “I’m an honorary Chandler. That should count.”
We all laughed and Grace waved her off. “You count, my dear friend.”
Reed pulled into his arms and eve
ryone around us disappeared. “It feels good to belong to a family again,” I murmured. “I have you to thank for that.”
He winked. “Anytime. How does it feel to know that this spring, you’ll be mine forever?”
I brushed a hand down his cheek and kissed him. I couldn’t wait to be his wife “I already am,” I whispered. “Always.”
THE END
OTHER TITLES BY L.P. DOVER
SECOND CHANCES SERIES
Love’s Second Chance
Trusting You
What He Wants (Trusting You Prequel)
Meant for Me
Fighting for Love
Intercepting Love
Catching Summer
Defending Hayden
Last Chance
Intended for Bristol
ARMED & DANGEROUS SERIES
No Limit
Roped In
High-Sided
CIRCLE OF JUSTICE SERIES
Trigger
Target
Aim
In the Crossfire
ARMED & DANGEROUS/CIRCLE OF JUSTICE CROSSOVER SERIES
Dangerous Game
Dangerous Betrayals
Book 3 - TBD
Book 4 – TBD
GLOVES OFF SERIES
A Fighter’s Desire – Part One
A Fighter’s Desire – Part Two
Tyler’s Undoing
Ryley’s Revenge
Winter Kiss: Ryley and Ash
Paxton’s Promise
Camden’s Redemption
Kyle’s Return
SOCIETY X SERIES W/HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN
Dark Room
Viewing Room
Play Room
FOREVER FAE SERIES
Forever Fae
Betrayals of Spring
Summer of Frost
Reign of Ice
ROYAL SHIFTERS SERIES
Turn of the Moon
Resisting the Moon
Rise of the Moon – Coming Soon
BREAKAWAY SERIES
Hard Stick
Blocked
Playmaker
Off the Ice
STANDALONE NOVELS
Easy Revenge
Love, Lies & Deception
Going for the Hole
Anonymous
Love, Again
Fairytale Confessions
THE DATING SERIES W/HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN
A Date for New Year’s
A Date with an Admirer
A Date for Good Luck
A Date for the Hunt
A Date for Good Luck
A Date for the Derby
A Date to Play Fore
CHRISTMAS NOVELS
It Must’ve Been the Mistletoe
Snowflake Lane Inn
Wrapped Up with You – December 2020
MOONLIGHT AND ALEENA SERIES W/ANNA-GRACE DOVER
Moonlight and Aleena: A Tale of Two Friends
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything's sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it's with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that's why she's seriously addicted to chocolate.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children's book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she's also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you'll never see her without a smile on her face.
You can find L.P. Dover at www.lpdover.com.