Page 107 of Only for the Season

“You bought the land already? You’re pretty sure of yourself.”

“I told you I am not living apart from you. I figured I’d need some time to get you to fall in love with me but you already love me, so we’re good.”

“We’re good?”

“Yep. How many children do you want?”

“Whoa. You need to slow down.”

“Okay.” I nod. “I’ll slow down.” Not much, but I can pretend. “We won’t move into our new house together immediately.”

“Our new house?”

“I bought it today. Do you want to see pictures?” I dig out my phone. “It’s a Cape Cod with a wraparound porch.”

She gasps at the picture. “I love this house.”

“You know it?”

“Yeah. I used to bike past it on my way to school every morning. An elderly couple lived there and they’d be sitting on the porch drinking their coffee. If I recall, they died recently butnone of their children wanted the house. They all moved away from the island.”

“Have you ever been inside?” She shakes her head. “You’re going to love it. The first floor is all open concept. Wherever you are, you can look out of the big windows and view the ocean. The kitchen needs renovating. You’re in charge there. I want you to have everything you need to bake cookies with our children on Saturday mornings.”

“So much for slowing down on the kids thing,” she mutters.

I grin. “You need to know what the kitchen will be used for before you design it.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Crazy in love with you.”

She giggles. “Who knew Scrooge could fall in love?”

“And without those scary ghosts visiting me, too.”

She wags her finger. “It’s not Christmas Eve yet. Maybe they’ll still come.”

I groan. “You’re going to dress up as a ghost and scare me, aren’t you?”

“Not now since you figured out my plan.”

I dive for her ribs. She bats my hands away. “I’m not ticklish.”

“Maybe I haven’t found your ticklish spot yet. I’m willing to put in the work to find it.” I waggle my eyebrows.

Her breath hitches. “We’re really doing this?”

“Planning a life together? Hell, yeah, we are.”

“But we’ve only known each other a month.”

“Don’t care. When I know what I want, I go for it.”

“And you want me?”

I kiss her hair. “I love you, Princess. I want to spend my life with you. I want to spend every night wrapped around you. Spend every morning drinking coffee with you. I can’t wait until you agree to move into our house. Although, I need to add extra smoke alarms first.”

She slaps at my chest. “I don’t cause fires all the time!”