On the other hand, Ariel acted like nothing had happened, mingling with my family and ogling Ethan, one of Maiken’s brothers. The minute she met the high school senior, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
I couldn’t blame her. Ethan was handsome, with brown hair curling around his ears, and he seemed equally into her, as his brown eyes were riveted to something she was saying as they hung near our fireplace.
I watched them, wondering if I’d had that puppy-dog look when I’d first met Maiken. I was sure I had, or maybe there was more of a drooling effect going on.
“Quinn,” Maiken said in my ear. “Where are you? Are you okay? Are you still thinking about the accident?”
I blinked as I met his worried blue gaze. “Stop already. I’m fine.” The three of us had gotten checked out by the paramedics, who’d arrived not long after Daddy and Carter, my brother, came to our rescue.
He draped an arm around me. “I will never stop worrying about you.”
I snuggled into him. “Seriously, relax.” We needed a subject change, or we needed to do something while we waited for Momma to ring the dinner bell. I’d offered to help, but she’d insisted that I spend time with Maiken.
“He still seems a little frazzled,” Momma had said earlier.
I reassured Maiken at any chance I had that I was okay. Sure, my neck was slightly sore but nothing an Advil or two didn’t take care of.
“I can’t. I know your neck hurts, and I’m responsible for that.” Maiken squeezed me to him.
I pressed my hand into his chest and felt his heart beating a mile a minute. “How about we go down to the barn for a few minutes before dinner? Then you can show me how much you love me.” We still hadn’t had a chance to be alone since we’d gotten home.
“Aren’t we about to eat?” Maiken glanced around.
His younger siblings, except Ethan, were scattered around somewhere. I hadn’t been paying much attention. My brothers, Liam and Carter, were up at our tree stand, helping customers who’d waited until the last minute to purchase a Christmas tree.
Momma, her bestie, Eleanor, and Maiken’s mom were getting the food ready, and Daddy and Martin were probably up at our farm store. Daddy always liked to stay open until the tree stand closed.
I rose. “Come on. You can see Daddy’s newest addition to our barn.”
Maiken arched a brow. “Another horse?”
“Yep.” Maiken wasn’t a horse fan. He’d been afraid of them since he’d been almost bitten by one when he was a little boy.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “Sadie doesn’t bite.”
“Ooh,” Ariel piped in. “I want to see Sadie. She’s a sweet horse.”
Ariel was in heaven with the animals and the farm. She’d even had the chance to take her first horse ride with me that morning—I rode Sadie, and she rode Apple.
Ethan and Maiken both chuckled.
“Where is everyone?” Ethan asked.
Momma came into the living room, wiping her hands on her apron. “Don’t go far, kids. Dinner will be ready shortly. Oh, and see if you can wrangle the rest of the children. I think most of them are playing some computer game in Liam’s room upstairs.” She flashed her russet gaze at me.
So much for getting Maiken alone.
Ethan must’ve caught me pouting. “I’ll get them, Mrs. Thompson.”
“Then, Quinn, let your dad and brothers know it’s time to close up,” Momma said in her motherly tone.
“I’ll go with,” Maiken was quick to add.
Momma stuck out her finger at Maiken. “No detours.”
I swore, Momma was in my head as she glared at me. As much as I wanted to be alone with Maiken, it was a family gathering. She gave me one last look before she returned to the kitchen.
Ethan went upstairs, and Ariel followed him.
“Do you think we’ll get any alone time?” I asked myself more than Maiken.
He roughed a hand through his sandy-blond hair. “I’m beginning to think we won’t.”
After we got our coats, we headed out. But before I had a chance to step foot off the porch, Maiken grabbed my hand, giving me one of his belly-flipping grins. “Wait.”
I pinched my eyebrows together. “Something wrong?”
He looked past me, and on reflex, I followed his gaze. The snow glistened beneath the full moon, and the landscape lights gave the farm a warm glow.
When I turned back to him, my mouth fell open at the small box sitting in the palm of his hand. “What’s that?” Maybe he was about to propose after all. On that note, my pulse quickened. But he wasn’t ready to get married. He’d said so the day before. Maybe he changed his mind.
I held my breath, not sure I wanted to get married yet. Oh, I’d thought a lot about our conversation since we’d left Boston, and I’d reached a conclusion on a couple of things. One, I would do everything I could not to get jealous when I saw a girl hanging around Maiken. I also decided that if I saw a girl touching my guy, I would intervene or maybe deck the chick instead. Not only that, but for as much as I wanted to marry the boy who had my heart to keep forever, I also wanted us to finish college before we made any plans for the future.
He placed the red velvet box in the palm of my hand. “I know I tell you all the time how much I love you. But”—he took a deep breath—“I want to show you.” He opened the box.
My hand shook as I blinked, orienting my vision from his blue eyes to the ring. It took me a second to realize it wasn’t a ring but rather a charm.
I pulled out the gold piece of jewelry that had a small link for a necklace chain.
“I had it engraved,” Maiken said.
Scripted on the front of the heart charm was My Heart to Cherish, and on the back was Always and Forever.
I swallowed thickly, tears pooling in my eyes.
He cupped my face with his large palms. “This is my promise to you, Quinn. You’re my wish. I wish for many more days to love you, many more days to hold you, many more days to tell you how beautiful you are. You’re it for me. You’re the one who makes my heart whole. You’re the one I want to start a family with. Above all else, you’re my best friend, partner, and the love of my life. And I couldn’t be happier.” Then his mouth crashed to mine.
I opened for him, giving him everything I could in that kiss to assure him I felt the exact same way.
“I love you, Maiken Maxwell. You’re mine to keep, to love, to cherish, and I’m not letting go.”
It was turning out to be the best Christmas ever.
Books by S.B. Alexander
THE MAXWELL SERIES
The Kade & Lacey Collection
The Complete Maxwell Series Box Set
THE MAXWELL FAMILY SAGA SERIES
The Maiken & Quinn Collection
STANDALONES
Unforgettable
Holding On To Forever
Breaking Rules
Rescuing Riley
THE HART SERIES
Hart of Darkness
Hart of Vengeance
THE VAMPIRE SEAL SERIES
The Vampire Navy SEAL Box Set
About the Author