Aria’s eyes widened. She studied his face and saw he was serious. “Is that a request or an order?”

A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Whichever will make you say yes.”

“Yes,” she said. “Yes, Eli. I’ll marry you. Please get up.”

He stood and slipped the ring onto her trembling finger. “I love you, Aria. I want to be with you, and I want to get to know you better every day. I need you in my life.”

“I love you too,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to. At least, not at first, But I do. I can’t believe you’d make such huge sacrifices for me.”

He took her hands and pressed a kiss into each palm. “As long as I have you, they’re not sacrifices,” he said. “As long as I have you, I’ll be happy.”

Aria moved forward until their lips were almost touching. “I want to be a family. You and me, Teri and the baby. I want to have some nights where we cuddle all night long and others where we can’t keep our hands off each other.”

Eli grinned wolfishly.

“But most of all,” she continued, “I want forever. I’m a forever girl, Eli.”

“Deal,” he said. Then he swept her into a kiss meant to last a lifetime.

EPILOGUE

Christmas, later that year

“Isn’t she precious? She’s going to be a real looker one day.”

Aria accepted baby Lauren back from her uncle Cooper and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “My little Laurie-the-looker.”

“You don’t think we’ve gone overboard for baby’s first Christmas?” her husband asked, wrapping an arm around her from behind.

They’d decorated the house magnificently. She’d strung red and green tinsel across the doorways, and a seven-foot pine tree dominated the lounge. Candy canes hung from the tree, and a veritable feast weighed down the dinner table.

“Not at all,” she replied. “I think it’s perfect.”

“You know she won’t remember it.”

“But we will.”

Aria watched their parents making stilted conversation in the corner. It was the first time Donna and Geoff had met Frances and Phillip—although they had already fallen in love with Teri—and she was pleased to see that everyone was making an effort. It had been her Christmas surprise for Eli, inviting his parents to their home. She’d been unsure how they would react to her invitation but was thrilled when they had turned up on the doorstep on Christmas Eve. The awkward encounter had improved when she’d introduced them to Lauren. No one could resist her daughter.

“I wonder what they’re talking about,” she murmured, still watching their parents.

“Why don’t we go find out?” Eli suggested, ruffling Lauren’s fluffy hair until she gurgled contentedly.

Before they could move, Frances excused herself from the conversation and crossed the room. “May I hold my granddaughter?” she asked.