Safe in his Arms (12 page)

“Not a chance, Hawk,” Taylor said. “It’s Christmas morning and I want to open my presents.” She crossed her arms against her chest and stamped her foot, a mutinous scowl on her face.

“You’re not five anymore, Taylor. You’re twenty-three,” he pointed out.

“And you’re well past five, old enough to have set your alarm for the big family celebration. Anyway, I don’t care how old a person gets. If you’re not excited about Christmas morning, you just aren’t human. By the way, hi, Natalie!”

Smoked out. Natalie peeked over the covers, her face scarlet. “Hi, Taylor. Please don’t tell your mom,” she whispered, mortified at the thought of Maggie knowing she was in Hawk’s room, even if they were adults.

“Then you’d better get downstairs fast,” Taylor said with a satisfied grin.

Natalie was more than willing to agree to the demand, but the two stubborn siblings remained in a deadlock for several tense moments while Natalie’s head whipped back and forth between them. Finally, Hawk let out a disgusted sigh.

“Fine. We’re coming,” he said. “Turn around for just a moment, my darling sister.” He threw off the covers, yanked on the pair of sweats that he’d discarded nearby, and rose from the bed.

Natalie’s mouth dropped open at the sight of his naked back. It didn’t help that the sweatpants rode so low on his amazing hips. No matter how many times she saw this man half dressed, he still awed her.

“Close your mouth, Natalie, before you let in some flies,” Taylor said with a mischievous grin as she turned back to face them.

“I swear I’m not going to give you your presents if you don’t go away right now,” Hawk said, and he moved threateningly toward the door.

“Fine. But if you aren’t down in five minutes, I’m coming back,” Taylor said, before adding, “and I’m bringing Mom!”

Hawk shut the door in her face. He turned and winked at Natalie. “I can set up a barricade.”

“It’s tempting . . .” And she actually considered it. But the sound of more footsteps thundering down the stairs caused her to sigh and climb from the bed. “Nope. We better get moving,” she said as she floated to the en-suite bathroom after grabbing her clothes from the floor.

It was going to be tricky enough sneaking back to her room without being seen. No way was she doing it without a quick shower first. When she came out, Hawk grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her into his arms, letting her feet dangle in the air. “I love it when your cheeks are all rosy.”

“It’s been well over five minutes,” Natalie reminded him with a giggle. “We’d better go before they send out a search party.”

He kissed her and then set her back on her feet. Hand
in hand, they went to the door. And right there on the other side was Taylor with a perturbed look that made Natalie laugh in spite of herself.

“I’m sorry, Taylor. I took a really quick shower.”

“Most people wait till after the presents are opened to shower,” Taylor grumbled, but as it was Christmas morning, she forgave them both. Still, she wedged herself in between them to lead them down the stairs.

Natalie couldn’t help but grow excited herself when she found Hawk’s entire family and several other family friends all sitting around the giant living room with a huge tree taking center stage and so many gifts that it looked like a department store had exploded.

Soon, laughter filled the cabin as paper tore and thank-yous rang out. Natalie had to fight emotion as present upon present was thrust her way. She took her time with each one, not wanting to ruin the paper, and not wanting this moment ever to end.

She had never, ever received so many gifts before, and she felt guilty because she hadn’t been able to do nearly as much for this wonderful family as they were doing for her. She hadn’t expected to spend Christmas with them, but she’d still purchased a few items she’d planned on giving them after Christmas. What did you get a family that obviously had so much? When a tiny package was thrust at her, she was concentrating so hard on not ruining the paper that she didn’t notice how quiet the room had become.

She found a small jewelers’ box inside the wrapping, and the thought that she was about to get a pretty new trinket made her absolutely gleeful. No one in the room
could have missed the brilliance of that smile. But when she opened the case and found a magnificent diamond ring inside, she almost dropped it.

Lifting her face, she saw Hawk staring intently at her with a look of love so tender that she was grateful to be sitting cross-legged on the floor already.

“Natalie, I know this has been quick. I know that you’re probably terrified right now, and I know I should have done this more privately so you could tell me to take a flying leap if you wanted. But I love my family and I want them to be a part of this moment, because up until meeting you, I didn’t think there could ever be another person in my life who would make me feel the things you make me feel. Even though it’s only been a month, I know you better than any other person could, and I love that. I feel like what we have together is one hundred times stronger than anything I’ve ever felt before. I never thought anyone could make me as happy as you do. Everything that’s stressful in my life disappears the second I see your smile. I can say with one hundred percent certainty that you are my soul mate. There is a plan for everyone and I know that you are my only future. I will never let you go no matter what your answer is. Please marry me and make me the happiest man alive.”

He didn’t break the connection of their eyes, and though he’d shown her day after day that he wanted to be with her, this was something she would have never expected from him, not because he wasn’t perfect, but because she wasn’t. At least she wasn’t in her own eyes. Natalie didn’t know what to say.

Yes, this had moved quickly, and yes, she should try to think logically, but running over the last month in her head, she knew that she was happiest when with him, whether at the school, or in the gym, or just sitting and playing a board game at his parents’ place. Their love would only grow stronger from this day forward.

This wasn’t a part of her plans. This wasn’t even on the table, but love didn’t care. They had found each other and there was nothing that would change how they felt. Nothing.

“I love you, too, Hawk,” she whispered. And she didn’t even notice that her voice had wobbled. “I love that you care about me, insecurities and all. I love that you see me differently than I see myself, and I love that family is so important to you. I want a family; I’ve just always been afraid to ask for one. I thought I had a plan I needed to follow, but what you’ve taught me is that the best things in life aren’t planned—they’re discovered.”

“Will you marry me, Natalie?”

“Right this minute if I could,” she told him.

Soft sighs echoed through the room as Hawk moved forward, pulled Natalie to her feet, and drew her gently into his arms, where he sealed their promises to each other with a tender kiss. Love had found them this holiday season, and it had taken hold of both of their hearts. And it wasn’t about to let go.

Valentine’s Day

W
ell, what do we do now?” Eileen asked.

“I don’t know,” Bethel said with a sniffle. “We should be a heck of a lot more happy. That was a wonderful wedding.”

Maggie’s answering smile was accompanied by watery eyes. “Yes, I think Hawk and Natalie are going to make each other very happy.”

“Yes, they will,” Martin said. “They were meant to be.” Even he sounded a bit choked up.

Still, Bethel pouted. “But I’m bored now.”

“Well, Hawk isn’t the only single man in this town,” Eileen said.

Bethel perked up instantly. “That’s
very
true.”

“My boys are way past their time to find their brides,” Martin reminded them.

“I couldn’t agree with you more, Martin,” Maggie replied with a painful level of excitement.

“I just don’t know where to even begin,” Martin said.

“I know. It worked out really well with Natalie, but we don’t need any more schoolteachers,” Eileen said.

The four of them sat at a large table and watched Hawk and Natalie hold each other tight while dancing to Lonestar’s rendition of the song “Amazed.”

“I know that I’ve been more than ready for Jackson to settle down, but that boy avoids commitment like it’s a double-headed snake,” Martin groused.

“What do we do to change his mind?” Bethel asked.

Martin said, “I’m at a loss. I just don’t know . . .”

“Well, he does have that trip to Paris coming up. Any chances of a romance there?” Eileen asked.

“It
is
the city of love,” Maggie said.

“We need help!” Bethel insisted.

Martin grinned. “Maybe it’s time to call Joseph.”

“That old rascal hasn’t visited in too long,” Eileen said. “What is Joseph Anderson up to these days?”

“I know that he’s managed to create a large family for himself. He’s told me a little about how it all happened, so I know he had his hand involved,” Martin told them.

“Well, then. Let’s give the man a call!” Eileen pulled out her cell phone and punched his number from the contacts list.

“Hello?”

Joseph Anderson’s voice boomed across the line, and the meddling was only just beginning . . .