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M ullens hadn’t quite convinced Athena to draw her name on his chest and add herself to his family tree. He understood her hesitation. It was a pretty bold statement.

She had, however, drawn a heart on the trunk, scrawling their initials inside. He might need to have that permanently inked in place, as he was serious about her being a part of his future. Right now, though, he needed to exercise patience.

While he waited, he would wine and dine her whenever he could, help out with her family and the store, as well as continue to publicly set the record straight about himself, his dietary habits and Athena’s upcoming cookbook.

But there was one more little thing he could do for the woman he loved.

“Is everyone ready?” he asked.

“She’s coming!” Meddy called from the doorway, quickly unlocking it, then scurrying back to her spot at a table shared with her parents.

Mullens had considered holding this party in Sweetheart Creek, but he worried that the secret would get out like a toddler trying to hold a wet frog.

So instead, he’d rented the Gingerbread Café, which was owned by Dak Morisette, the team’s charity manager.

He’d reserved the entire place and had instructed Dak to put everything on his tab, from the beautifully decorated gingerbread men the café baked year-round, to the lattes and cocktails, since the cafe was licensed. Not that he was going to drink.

Not unless he somehow ended up engaged to Athena tonight.

He shook his head. He needed to cool his jets.

She’d been hurt in the past, not only by Lonnie, but by himself as well.

He needed to strengthen her trust in him, and that required time.

Lots of time to overwrite all the crappy stuff he’d laid down over the past several months that made him seem untrustworthy.

He hadn’t been open about who he really was when they’d first met, because he hadn’t been honest about it to himself.

But he was working on that, thanks to her.

All he could do was continue to work on himself, on them, and hope she understood that the man she knew in her heart was the real Chad Mullens.

But tonight wasn’t about him. It was all about her. Meddy had convinced Jenny to take Athena out for a late afternoon snack, pretending she couldn’t make it to Athena’s birthday supper on the weekend.

There was no birthday supper on the weekend.

Well, maybe there would be, but not the one everyone told her they were holding. Because Mullens had planned a surprise party instead.

Athena’s family and friends sat with their backs to the entry, their chatter lulling as Meddy shushed the group.

Mullens took his spot at the counter, facing away from the doorway as well, a giant Happy Birthday banner hanging above him. When the bell on the door jingled, he spun to face his girlfriend.

“Surprise!” he called, sliding off the stool and making his way to Athena.

The room echoed with the greeting, people turning to reveal who they were.

Athena’s jaw dropped as she recognized her parents, her sister, her cousin Hannah, Daisy-Mae, Cass and Violet, along with their hockey boyfriends, and many more friends from Sweetheart Creek.

“Happy birthday.” Mullens pressed a kiss onto her cheek.

“You.” She shook her head and poked him in the shoulder, biting her bottom lip as she smiled at the crowded room. “You planned all of this?”

He nodded.

“Thank you.” She gave him a hug, and he risked dropping a kiss on her lips in front of everyone. To his surprise, she kissed him back all sexy and slow.

“Hey,” she said, breaking the kiss to gaze up at him curiously. “I thought you had a thing tonight. A commercial to film or something?”

“Nope. Just this.”

“You’re good,” she said, patting his chest. “Really good.”

“I like to think so.”

“By the way, I found a local tattoo artist who’s willing to add a little ink.” Her hand rested above his tattoo, and an eagle of hope soared through him.

“Yeah? What do you want to add?”

“A name.”

“Whose name?”

“Tina. Ever heard of her?”

He tossed his head back and laughed. Tina . “Is that her real name? Or is some jerk calling her that to get under her skin?”

“Well, he might be, but she’s totally crushing on him.”

“Is she?”

“She is. And while the nickname used to annoy her, she now realizes that he was just too afraid to show her how he really felt.”

“And how’s that?”

“That he loved her?”

“He does?”

“Yes, but it all works out because she loves him, too.”

“I should plan surprise parties more often,” he whispered when she snuggled in his arms, kissing him lightly and ignoring everyone around them. “Either that or you must have seen the release-day numbers for your cookbook.”

“That bestseller has nothing to do with my good mood. It’s all about the hunk on the book’s cover.”

He gave her another kiss, already wishing for a time when he could call her his wife and add many new branches to his tattoo.

“Come on, let the poor man breathe, Athena.” Mrs. Gavras tugged her away. “Let’s cut the cake.”

She was out of her wheelchair today, walking with her cane, her free arm looped through her daughter’s, both their smiles bright with love and happiness.

It was a good day.

One of many more to come.