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Mindy swirls up with a guy I don’t know right behind her. She’s in a gorgeous butter-yellow gown, and her date is in a well-tailored lavender suit. It’s clear they’re not together in a romantic way.

“Gorgeous.” She steps forward to kiss both my cheeks. “You look like a supermodel.”

“Thanks.” I hug her back, speaking close to her ear. “I expected you to be with Deacon.”

“He’s in Dallas.” She motions to her escort. “Noel, Taron, this is William. We met in art school, and he’s looking for a new roommate.”

“Nice to meet you, William.” Taron shakes his hand, and William’s eyebrows shoot up.

“Is this the hero I’ve been hearing about? You are wearing that suit, sir. Bravo.”

“Ahh… Thanks, I guess.” Taron pats his shoulder, and Mindy laughs.

“You have to learn to take a compliment, T.”

“Wait…” My brow furrows. “What’s all this roommate business? You’re moving out?”

“I’m thinking of moving to Dallas. I’ve got a job offer at a design firm, and well… I think it’s time for a change.”

“Nooo…” I hold her arm, but she pushes me.

“It is your birthday. Dallas is not that far away, and you can come see me any time. We’ll talk about it later.” She puts her hand in William’s arm and blows me a kiss. “Happy birthday. Have a ball!”

They sweep away, and I look up at my gorgeous man.

He looks down at me, and smiles, taking my breath away. “Shall we dance?”

The band plays a slow Christmas song about driving home for Christmas, and Taron pulls me close, placing his hand against my lower back and holding my other to his chest.

We sway side to side, and I’m lost in a magical place with his arms around me, the yellow twinkle lights glancing off his hypnotic eyes, and the heat rising from our bodies pressed together.

“I’ve been trying to decide what to get you for your birthday.” His mouth is at my ear, and the whisper of his breath across my skin gives me chills.

“You saved our daughter from drowning. That’s the only gift I’ll ever need.”

“That wasn’t your gift.” He kisses my cheek. “Saving Dove was for all of us. It’s why we all did it.”

My heart squeezes, and it’s so true.

“So I had a few things in mind. I think I’ve decided which it’ll be.”

Lifting my chin, I smile up at him. “It’s fun listening to you decide right in front of me.”

He tweaks my chin and pulls me off the dance floor. “Come with me.”

Our hands are clasped as he leads me quickly to the door. My lip goes between my teeth, and I’m proud and a little self-conscious following his sexy swagger through the room, I notice heads turning as he passes, and I think of the first time I ever saw Taron Rhodes. I thought he was a god. Now I know he’s all that and more.

We step out into the night, and the cold air hits me. “It’s freezing out here!”

He pauses to remove his tuxedo coat, putting it around my shoulders. I slide my arms in the sleeves, and he leads me a little farther to where a white gazebo is elevated in the middle of the park.

Christmas decorations light up the scenery in pretty shades of red, gold, and green. I’ve never minded being born on Christmas Day. The whole world is beautifully decorated, the songs are amazing, and it’s really hard not to feel the love in our small town.

Taron faces me, pulling me closer again. “I’ve wanted to talk to you about this for a while, but things keep happening.”

“Talk to me? Is something happening?”

“I hope so.” He reaches to his chest then stops, exhaling a laugh. “My bad.”