I do my best to copy his classic smirk. “Well, when Benjamin Get-Hard the Fourth gives a striptease, it’s hard to think about anything else. What’s a girl to do?”

Epilogue

HOLLY

Four Years Later

“Have you figured out what you want yet?” Ben is sitting at his drawing table, ready to transfer whatever design idea I’ve come up with onto paper.

He’s so handsome, dressed in his black jeans and T-shirt, tattoos snaking down his arms and onto his hands. Before answering, I step in between his open knees, slide my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, and kiss him thoroughly. His mouth tastes like mint, and he always smells a little bit like the forest. We need to go back to the cabin soon. I’m craving some long nights of lovemaking in front of a warm fire.

I hum in the back of my throat as I end our impromptu make-out session. Ben stares up at me with a drunken smile but soon shakes his head, so he can focus again.

“You’re stalling. You don’t have to do this.” Even as he scolds me for distracting him, his hands settle on my backside.

“I’m not stalling. Your sexiness just drives me to distraction.”

Even after years together, I’m still madly in love with this man. He’ll move in a particular way or say just the right thing, and it’s like a bonfire lights in my chest, and I need to touch him.

“Anyway, I’ve figured out what I want.”

Ben nuzzles his nose into the space between my breasts, humming his own satisfaction. I use my grip on his hair to pull him back even though I can’t keep from laughing.

“Stop being ridiculous!”

“You started it. So, what do you want?”

I give him my most innocent smile. “I want a surprise.”

His mouth pops open, and I enjoy how befuddled he looks.

“You can’t be serious.”

I nod. “Yep. You’re getting too comfortable with me just telling you what to do. This is your area of expertise, and I trust you completely.”

Ben scowls up at me, opening his mouth for another point that won’t change my mind. Before he can lecture me, I place my finger on his lips.

“Our love.”

His eyebrow rises in question.

“That’s as much direction as I’ll give you. You have this.” I scoop up his left hand, running my fingers over the intricate holly branches.

Ben kept his vow. He waited until Dr. Stevens gave him the go-ahead, which was almost eight months after the exchange. The next day, he was under the needle again.

“I want one of my own. Something that, when I look at it, I’ll immediately think about how much I love you.”

“Holly.” There’s happiness in his voice, but still, he pushes back. “You should get something for you.”

“This is for me. Now, I’ll just sit over here and act as inspiration. Let me know when you’re done.” After another quick kiss, I return to the front counter and pick up the paperwork I was reviewing.