Page 27 of Just One More Date
“You even what?” Cammie asked.
With a groan, he walked over to a foil covered tin. “Well, I took a crack at making cinnamon rolls. You know, so you’d have some on Christmas morning, like you used to make with your mom.”
“Oh, Leo. Nobody has ever done anything so thoughtful for me. Thank you.” She placed her hand on his arm, squeezing his bicep, then pulling him into a hug. “I think you finally do understand what’s so special about Christmas.”
He couldn’t help but agree. She’d opened his eyes and he knew the future was going to be merry and bright.
Epilogue
Bryant Park wasjust as mesmerizing now as it had been last year, when Cammie first brought Leo to enjoy the Winter Village. The crowds were expected, especially two days before Christmas with people scrambling to complete their last-minute shopping or cram in some fun before the actual holiday began.
She and Leo belonged in both categories. Cammie was shopping, looking for a gift for Leo’s parents, who were hard to shop for. What did she buy people who could afford anything they could ever want? She finally settled on a soft, handmade, crocheted blanket that matched their family room. Once she’d picked out her final gift, they could focus on the more fun parts of the Winter Village. This year’s tree was a little shorter than last, but it was still impressive.
Deciding to make it a tradition, she dragged Leo over to take a selfie in front of the massive evergreen. Though he grumbled under his breath, there was a playful edge to his complaining this year. She knew his attitude about Christmas had changed.
One year together and he didn’t just appreciate the holiday, hecelebratedit. He’d been the one who insisted they set up a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, taking her to a lot and walking around for nearly an hour before finally finding one that he deemed perfect.
She’d stood in front of it with her head tilted back to see the top. “Are you sure that’ll fit in your apartment,” she’d asked.
“Ourapartment,” Leo had corrected her, and she’d smiled.
She’d moved in two months ago, and referring to the space as his was an old habit, one she knew she’d break quickly since theplace already felt like home. It wasn’t just because he’d let her add girly throw pillows in the living room or that the Christmas decorations transformed the room into a completely different place than the one that she’d first seen three hundred and sixty days ago.
She’d found home in Leo. Anywhere he was, that was where she wanted to be.
Their apartment was closer to her new job. After Christmas last year, Jenny agreed to look at Cammie’s portfolio. Then she’d immediately agreed to interview Cammie. As Leo had predicted, she’d been impressed enough to overlook Cammie’s lack of a degree. She began working at the PR firm in January and she’d been there ever since. The job was perfect, exactly what she’d hoped it would be.
Although she’d left her barista job, she visited the coffee shop as a customer now, often accompanied by Leo, who still loved the peppermint mocha holiday special. Mona had been promoted to manager and now ran the place, always giving Cammie a friends and family discount when she came in. Her friend still liked to tease her about her obvious crush on Leo before they got together, but Cammie was too happy with the man to care.
Leo was the perfect partner. He didn’t just support her career goals; he’d adjusted his own work/life balance, cutting back his hours at the office so he could actually have a life outside of his job. He discovered he could make money but also have fun. He even ran a marathon. Most importantly, he was home every evening, spending time with her.
“Come on,” he said after she took their picture in front of the tree. “I told you I’ve got something planned.”
She smiled and let him drag her away from the tree, but they didn’t go far. Leo led them to the igloos set up by the ice rink, the clear plastic domes glowing with golden light from within.
Excitement bubbled up inside of her as he checked in with an attendant, who escorted them to a private igloo Leo had rented. Inside the heated space, there were six cushioned chairs around a table, but she loved the fact that they had the entire cozy igloo to themselves.
Leo pointed to the ice rink and a redhead with earmuffs on. “Did you see that woman’s jump?” Leo asked. The woman was gliding across the ice with the kind of form that only someone with training could pull off.
“That’s called a loop,” Cammie said. “It’s when someone takes off and lands on the same foot.”
They watched the skaters while eating Bavarian pretzels with beer-cheese dip and drinking hot apple cider. It was a relaxed yet incredibly romantic meal.
She dipped a piece of pretzel in the cheese and popped it into her mouth. She was so busy watching the skaters, especially the woman now doing an upright spin, she was shocked when she glanced at the table to find a small gift waiting for her and Leo’s dark eyes boring into her own.
The green box had a red bow on top. “What is this?” she asked.
“Open it.” He rubbed his hands together, but he couldn’t be cold. Not with the heater. So, what was wrong?
She lifted the top off the box and gasped at the beautiful Christmas ornament tucked inside in the shape of a hand-carved, wooden building. The painted sign above the door readSanta’s Workshop.
She lifted the ornament by the ribbon attached at the top, taking in the finer details, including small hinges along the side.
“The door opens,” Leo said.
She carefully managed to open it, holding her breath as she looked inside. A diamond ring sat on a tiny wooden table and her breath caught in her throat.
She looked to Leo, who knelt on one knee, and tears of happiness filled her eyes.
“Cammie, I think you know how you’ve changed me for the better and I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You’re my sunshine and my Christmas angel. And I hope one day soon, you’ll be my wife. You’re all I want for Christmas. Will you marry me?” he asked.
She was too choked up to speak so she threw her arms around his neck, peppering kisses all over his face until he was laughing.
Leaning back, he held her face in his hands. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he said.
“Yes,” she repeated, finding her voice again. “I’ll marry you, Leo.”
With a huge smile on his face, he rose to his feet and lifted her into his arms.
He’d already put money on the table to cover the check and the next thing she knew, he carried her out of the igloo and took her totheirhome.