Page 114 of The Mistletoe Kisser

“You’re going to feel like a jerk in about ten seconds,” Ryan warned her as they began to crest the hill. They were heading toward a neighboring plot of land that Sammy had her eye on for future expansion.

“I find that hard to be—”

Well, hell.

“Oh,nowyou’re quiet,” Ryan teased.

She was too busy feeling like a jerk as she took in the scene before them to answer. There was a gate in the fence where there hadn’t been one three days ago. Above the gate, carved in wood was a sign that said Down on the Farm. It was wrapped in fairy lights and evergreen boughs. Candles flickered in glass jars in the snow.

Sarge jogged out in front of them and turned around, his tail wagging.

“What is this?” she asked.

Ryan dismounted next to her, then reached up and plucked her off her horse.

He took her trembling hand in his and led her toward the gate.

“A year ago, I was fired. Depressed. Pissed off about having to fly across the country to this hippie holiday hellhole,” he said.

“I remember,” she said, not quite trusting her voice.

“A year ago I thought what I wanted was a partner. But I found something else. Something better than I ever could have planned.”

He stopped in front of the new gate and turned to face her. He was so tall and warm and wonderful. Beneath that broody exterior, Ryan Sosa had a soft heart.

“I found you, Sam.” He cupped her chin in his hand. “I found you, fell for you when I wasn’t even looking. When all my plans had gone to hell.”

“I was looking for a partner,” he said again. “But I found the love of my life.”

“Oh, crap,” Sammy whimpered, tears beginning to slip from the corner of her eyes. Her mascara wasn’t going to hold up to this.

He brushed the tears away one at a time.

“You took me for a ride and you changed my life,” he continued. “You changed my plans and my path and I’ve been grateful every day since.”

“Maybe I’m not the most romantic guy out there, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to build a plan together, grow together. So I got you this.”

Sammy was too bamboozled to be surprised when he didn’t get down on one knee. Instead, he pointed to the other side of the gate.

“Huh?” she sniffled ineloquently.

“That acreage you’ve been eyeing for the past eight months.”

More tears fell, scalding hot on her icy cheeks. “You didwhat?” This was better, more meaningful than any shiny bauble in a stupid jeweler’s box.

“Catch up, Sparkle,” he admonished. But his smile was soft. “I bought the land. More land means a bigger sanctuary, right?”

“That’s right,” she whispered, stepping up to the gate and picturing it. More land. More animals. He just kept making her dreams come true.

“I believe in you,” Ryan said behind her. “In what you’re doing. And I want to be part of it.”

She mopped at her eyes and turned around. The “thank you” died on her lips when she saw him kneeling in the snow, a stupid jeweler’s box in his hand.

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

Sarge darted between them, flinging fresh powder in all directions. Maggie softly whickered her approval.

“Samantha Ames, will you marry me?”