Under the Mistletoe Read online

Page 9

  Author: Jill Shalvis

  “Then it’s just a present present,” he said, a smile in his voice. “A promise for the future. Our future. ”

  “Oh Nick,” she breathed, slipping the ring on, so happy she could scarcely contain herself. “I wasn’t sure you wanted a future. ”

  “I do, very much. I think about my life before you came into it, Mia. It sucked. ” He met her gaze. “I need you. I want you to know that. I should have told you sooner, but I thought that made me weak. I was wrong about that. You’re the only thing I care about. You’re the only thing that matters to me. I turned down the job—”

  “Nick,” she gasped. “No. You—”

  “I took a different one, with the same company. Still restorative justice, but I’ll be staying within the state of New York. ”

  “But you wanted to travel. ”

  “Wanted. Past tense. I want to be with you, Mia. You’re it for me. You’re everything. ” He paused and let his gaze touch her every feature. “You’re the best choice I ever made. You’re my only choice. ”

  She pressed her forehead to his, her words brushing against his lips. “I was just thinking the same thing about you. ”