“It’s probably the best idea I’ve ever had,” Gabe countered.
Arianne had narrowed her eyes at her brother. “What do you mean, he and Tanner had a discussion? Do you two not understand that I’m a big girl now? I can take care of myself.”
Gabe couldn’t help it, he threw his head back and laughed. Both Waide siblings looked at him. He ignored David altogether and locked eyes with Arianne. “You can’t have it both ways, sweetheart. Is it the right of a loved one to interfere, or should they stay out of your private life and let you make your own choices?”
She fought a smile, sighing in resignation. “Damn. I hate it when other people are right. Dad, David, could we have a minute?”
Zachariah looked unconvinced, but David led their father away.
“Thank you,” Gabe said. “I would have said it in front of them if I had to, but this is better. Arianne, I love you.”
She pressed a hand to her abdomen, looking stunned by the bald admission. “But I’m bossy and interfering and too stubborn for my own good. I’ll drive you crazy.”
“I’ll learn to live with it,” he vowed. “Just like you have to learn to live with me withdrawing and being moody and needing time to adjust to an idea before I can embrace it as fully as you can.”
“I don’t know.” She plopped right down on the floor as if she were too drained to stand, and leaned against a shelving unit. “I feel like someone used my heart as a Ping-Pong ball, and I’m not sure I’m cut out for any more of that. A long-distance relationship-”
“Won’t be an issue. You were right when you said I like to work alone. I set my own hours, I don’t have to put up with an obnoxious boss, and I’ve already established a solid client base. I don’t think I have the patience to start over somewhere new at the bottom. I can be happy in Mistletoe…as long as I’m with you.”
“You’re sure I’m what you want?” she asked in a small voice.
He slid down next to her, taking her hands in his. “I know I said some hurtful things to you. I was angry, and you were pushing all the wrong buttons. I doubt it will be the last fight we have. But give me a chance to get better at this. I want to redeem myself.”
Actually, it was Arianne and her stubborn caring that had already redeemed him. He wasn’t the same man he was a month ago, and he was glad for that.
The happiness spread inside, until he felt lit up with it. He grinned at her. “You
She beamed at him unabashedly. “Now what kind of psycho with no sense of personal boundaries would do all that?”
“The kind I love,” he said against her lips.
“I love you, too.” And then she kissed him.
He’d been right-it was exactly like coming home.
Epilogue
At the end of the parade, people shook his hand and clapped him on the back, all wishing him a Happy Thanksgiving. Gabe acknowledged them politely, but was trying to find the short love of his life in the crowd. He was so focused on that that it took him a moment to realize that the person in his path was his father.
“Dad.” Gabe froze. “You come to the parade?”
Jeremy Sloan looked away. “Not every year. So you’re Man of the Year, huh?”
“Seems that way,” Gabe said, feeling painfully embarrassed. His father probably thought the whole thing was stupid.
Jeremy grunted. “Your mother would have loved that.”
Gabe was stunned, but not sure how to respond. Thank you?
“Well, have a nice Thanksgiving.”
“You, too.” Watching his dad go, Gabe almost called him back to ask whether he had plans for dinner. But he couldn’t quite voice the question. Not yet, maybe someday soon.
“Just for the record, I want you to take note of my standing here and
“Ari.” He spun around with a smile. “I was looking for you.”
“I was stuck in line at the concessions booth. You seemed sort of good-naturedly miserable during the parade and I thought this might cheer you up.” She held up a waffle cone loaded with two scoops of chocolate.
“Ice cream!” He bent to kiss the woman who understood him so well-and loved him anyway. “My hero.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tanya Michaels began telling stories almost as soon as she could talk…and started stealing her mom’s Harlequin romances less than a decade later. In 2003 Tanya was thrilled to have her first book, a romantic comedy, published by Harlequin Books. Since then, Tanya has sold nearly twenty books and is a two-time recipient of a Booksellers’ Best Award as well as a finalist for the Holt Medallion, National Readers’ Choice Award and Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award. Tanya lives in Georgia with her husband, two preschoolers and an unpredictable cat, but you can visit Tanya online at www.tanyamichaels.com.
