Page 52 of Surrendering His Heart (Buena Hills #4)

Late Saturday morning, Hallie carried a giant popcorn bowl in her arms on her way to the basement prior to the start of the family’s annual Christmas movie marathon. She passed through the Lucases’ entryway just as Tyler and Brad came through the front door.

“Where have you two been?” She shifted the bowl enough to grab the handle of the door leading downstairs.

“We were on an errand.” Brad glanced at Tyler.

“That was a long errand.” Hallie looked back and forth between the two, their guilty expressions triggering warning bells in her brain. “No one has seen either of you since yesterday afternoon.”

Tyler shrugged, though he struggled to hold back a smile. “Duty called, and we had to answer.”

Duty? What duty?

Before she could contemplate their strange behavior, tiny, erratic taps came from the front door, more like scratches than actual knocks.

“It looks like someone’s at the door.” Brad sounded like a bad actor in a low budget film. “I wonder who that could be?”

Tyler choked on a snort. “Maybe you should answer it, Hal. Here, I’ll take that.” He snatched the popcorn bowl from her arms before booking it down the stairs after their cousin.

What was up with them? They seemed eager that Hallie get the door for this mystery guest. But why should she care who it was?

Unless …

Had they magically talked Christian into driving all the way up here?

They didn’t.

Did they ?

Insides buzzing, Hallie yanked opened the door.

Christian wasn’t on the porch. In fact, he was nowhere in sight.

Yet her heart still burst at the two small figures bundled in thick sweaters and hats.

They each held a piece of paper, and Penelope also clutched the last few stragglers from Aunt Claire’s white daisies still going strong despite the late season.

“Hallie!” She shook with excitement, dropping her picture. The flowers were practically goners in her tight fist. Isla, though more understated in her reaction, smiled so big her brown eyes almost disappeared.

The warmth charging through Hallie threatened to bubble over, and she laughed. “I’m so happy to see you!” Crouching to the girls’ level, she took them both in her arms for a tight hug. “I’ve missed you both so so so much! What’re you doing here?”

“We surpise you!” Penelope squeaked.

“You sure did.” Hallie scrunched her nose, touching her forehead to the child’s. “This is the best surprise.” She sat back on her heels to study their angelic faces. “And you brought me flowers?”

“I pick them for you.” Penelope held out her fist with pride.

Hallie relieved her of the wilted bouquet, and the flowers fell over her hand. “That’s so sweet. Thank you.”

“We drew pictures too.” Isla bent to pick up her sister’s from the cement.

Hallie took both drawings, Penelope’s on top. It was only a series of multi-colored scribbles, but Hallie saw a priceless work of art she’d cherish forever. She gave the child another squeeze. “I can’t wait to go home and hang it in my room.”

She flipped to Isla’s picture next. Four stick figures took up most of the page.

Two small ones stood on the outside, holding the hands of the ones in the middle.

A slightly larger one with yellow hair and oversized blue eyes came next.

And the fourth was so long, Isla had run out of room for more than a tiny circle for the head at the very top of the page.

“It’s us. There’s me and Nellie, and you and Daddy.” She pointed at the indecipherable words written in crayon along the side. “And this says thank you for being my forever friend.”

Hallie didn’t think her smile could grow any bigger. “I’m so happy to be your forever friend. Awww, you’ve even got Princess Pumpkin in there.” She studied the brown doodle somewhat resembling the golden retriever. “I love it.”

The lopsided sketch of Christian caught her eye. Where was he? Hallie glanced past the girls, scanning the yard. Unless he hid behind the trees to the side of the driveway, he wasn’t nearby. “Where’s your dad?”

Isla turned over her drawing, pointing at the words scrawled across the back. “He left a note.”

Immediately, Hallie recognized Christian’s handwriting scrawled hastily in pencil.

Meet me at the creek in 10?

Hallie knew the exact spot. Nestled in the foothills of the San Bernardinos, the Lucases’ property backed a miles-long thicket of scrub oak with pine trees becoming denser further down the trail.

“The Woods,” as all the cousins called it when they were little.

They used to love taking the five-minute walk to the clearing where the small stream passed through, spending hours skipping rocks and splashing around the ankle-deep water.

How did Christian know about that? And what was he up to?

Tyler and Brad had to have a hand in this. No wonder they couldn’t keep a straight face.

“Come inside, girls.” She ushered Isla and Penelope into the house.

It took longer than ten minutes to get them settled in the familiar company of “Uncle Tyler.” She was anxious to discover what plan Christian had concocted, but she wasn’t about to leave the girls—especially Isla—without being completely confident of their comfort.

Once they were seated next to her brother on the couch with plates of snacks, eagerly watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas , Hallie slipped on a thick sweater and left out the back door. She weaved through the numerous tents set up in the spacious backyard until she got to the gate.

She hadn’t been to the creek in years, but she still knew the way by heart.

Her pulse pounded a jagged rhythm in her neck in time to each step.

The nerves buzzed stronger the closer she got to him.

After four days of silence, what could he possibly have to tell her that he couldn’t say over the phone?

It had to be something good. He wouldn’t drive the girls all the way up here, lavish her with hastily picked daisies and drawings if he planned to get back with his ex.

Right? The very possibility gave her pause.

What if everything had changed for him?

Light musical strains floated through the air to her, easing her doubts.

She knew that melody; had danced to Jason Mraz’s proclamation of not giving up on loving someone.

The sweet strains of the chorus brought her back to the night of that wonderful, glorious, beautiful dance she’d shared with Christian.

Peace spoke to her soul. Everything would be okay. They would be okay. More than okay. She increased her pace.

His back was to her when she stepped into the clearing. A small smile tugged at her mouth. “What’re you doing, Christian Gustafson?”

He turned, sliding his hands from his hoodie pocket as he approached her. “I was up all night trying to come up with the perfect grand gesture.” His voice was husky, uncertain.

Hallie held her breath, studying the glassy shine in his brown eyes, the way his brows furrowed like he was holding back emotion.

“I couldn’t think of anything that came close to being worthy of what you mean to me,” he said. “So, I’ve come here to ask this one question. Will you dance with me?”

Maybe it was the sweet reminder of that night.

Or the sincerity of his tone. Whatever the reason, the simple question spurred her into action.

She lunged at him, throwing her arms around his neck.

Burying her face into his chest, she breathed him in, already comforted by his familiar essence.

He pulled her into his strong embrace, holding her tenderly as though refusing to let her go.

They didn’t dance. The music drifted into the background, mixed with the breeze rustling the trees around them and the water bubbling in the brook. All that mattered was him. His embrace, his presence, his love.

“Christian.” She backed up enough to look at him. “Why did you need a grand gesture?”

His hands ran down her arms, tangling with her fingers. “I know I messed up, Hal. I shouldn’t have shut you out. I left you with doubts, and I wouldn’t blame you for deciding to walk away. But please let me explain. Not to make excuses, just to help you understand.”

Hallie led him to a boulder overlooking the tiny stream. She sat, pulling him down next to her before nodding for him to continue.

“Seeing Sabrina again really shook me.” Christian stared at their interconnected hands on his thigh. “It sent me right back to that guy desperately trying to fix his marriage only to come home to his wife gone and his world in pieces. I spiraled. I’m sorry. You have every right to be mad.”

“I was never mad.” Tears stung her eyes at hearing the agony of his last few days. “Just worried about you and the girls. I want you all to be okay. Even if that’s without me.”

Christian leaned forward to rest his forehead on hers.

“That’s the last thing I want. I don’t want to be that jaded guy anymore.

I don’t want to be driven by the bitterness over what Sabrina did, unable to see the love right in front of me.

You’ve shown me what a healthy relationship looks like, and you deserve that in a partner. ”

Hallie swallowed past the thickness in her throat.

“You told me once that every problem has a solution.” He brought his hand up to caress her neck.

“Hallie, you’re my solution. Not because I expect you to solve all my problems, but because I want to go through life with you.

The highs, the lows. Everything. I want to help you get your bakery and walk with you when you’re stressed.

I want to dance with you in the kitchen while we’re cleaning up dinner and relax on the couch together after the girls are in bed.

I love you. And I won’t give up until I become the man worthy of you. ”

“Oh, Christian.” She closed her eyes, savoring his soft caress. “You already are. I see the way you selflessly care for your daughters. And you’ve been nothing but supportive and kind to me. That’s why the last few days have been so hard. I was worried your ex coming back had changed everything.”

“What?”

Hallie blinked the moisture away. “I’m not the girls’ mom. I only recently realized that I wanted to be. But how can I compete with the woman who gave them life? That’s a leg up I’ll never have.”

Christian took hold of her hand again, resting it in his lap.

“You’ve been more of a mom to them in the last month than Sabrina has in their entire life.

They love you. Isla asks repeatedly when you’re coming back.

Penelope walks around the house, calling your name.

Even Pumpkin waits by the door for you.”

“Really?”

His mouth lifted in an ironic smirk. “Please come back, Hal. I can’t take her constant whimpers anymore.”

“I miss them,” Hallie admitted. “Even Pumpkin has grown on me. I never thought I’d say that about a dog.”

His chuckle sent happiness trailing down her spine before he sobered. “If Sabrina really wants a relationship with the girls, I’ll always have a connection with her. It’s just the way it is. But Hal, there’s no competition. You’re the standard that no one can ever match.”

“Is that what she wants? A relationship?” Hallie had suspected as much, yet it was still a lot to process.

“Yeah.” He blew out a heavy breath. “I’m not convinced she’ll stick around, so I’m being cautious about giving her time with the girls at this point. We’ll see what happens. But I doubt she’ll make it easy for either of us.”

Even a week ago, the idea of navigating a relationship with Christian while dealing with his ex would’ve made her run for the hills. But not anymore. She knew what she wanted. And she’d willingly walk through this trial if it meant being with him.

She repeated the words he’d said to her in his mom’s kitchen. “We’ll figure it out together.”

“I like the sound of that.” He kissed her forehead. “For whatever reason, my kids needed to come when they did, and I wouldn’t change that. But my heart belongs to you. I can feel it. And you’re the only partner I want with me to raise the girls. If you’re willing.”

Hallie touched her hand to his cheek and nodded. “I’m ready.” She no longer had any reservations about that. “But if this is going to work, you’re going to have to teach me to dance.”

“Of course.” Christian lowered his face to hers. Their lips hovering a breath apart, he murmured, “I’ll make a dancer out of you in no time.”

The kiss that followed was soft and tender at first before growing in urgency.

Hallie pressed into his embrace as his hand slid around her waist, drawing her closer.

Every caress of his lips echoed his devotion, sealing the words he’d spoken with sweet assurance that he knew—as she did—that this love between them was the kind that would last forever.

“Ew, Daddy! That’s gross!”

A giggle followed Isla’s loud pronouncement, as did a pair of bird caws and the flapping of wings. Hallie threw her head back in laughter. She turned to find both girls staring at the scene before them, with her brother standing in between, his face scrunched in disgust.

“I agree with Isla on this one.” Tyler shuddered.

Christian groaned. “I think we can take it from here. You can go.”

Tyler’s gaze darted from his friend to Hallie and back several times before they narrowed theatrically. “Fine. But remember, you might be together now, but she’s still my sister. And I’m keeping my eye on you, pal.”

“Oh, you’re looking for a show?” Sliding his hand around Hallie’s waist again, Christian pulled her closer, his smile full of mischief. “We’ve got more where that came from. ”

Hallie cackled, shoving him away playfully. Penelope giggled. And Isla shouted more objections.

“ Okay,” Tyler said, holding his hands up in surrender. “Fine, I’m leaving.”

Hallie grinned as she watched him turn in the direction of the house. Dating her brother’s best friend would certainly be interesting.

When he’d disappeared through the trees, Penelope climbed onto her lap, placing her small hands on both of her cheeks. “Are you my mama?”

Hallie’s heart melted at the sweet question. “Not yet.” Though her next comment was still directed to Penelope, she glanced over at the child’s father. “But hopefully soon.”

With one arm around Isla at his side, Christian leaned over and kissed Hallie’s temple.

Penelope snuggled into her. “Mama,” said said, resting her head on Hallie’s shoulder.

Warmth pooled inside of Hallie’s stomach, radiating outward until it had engulfed her entire body.

Mama.

There was no sweeter sound than that.

Christian’s arm came around her, and she leaned into his side, knowing this moment was the start of something life changing. They were together. She and Christian. The girls, who she’d grown to love so much.

Her family.

Always and forever.