He moves up one step, bringing his body to mine. “Please, don’t say anything. I’ve been going over these thoughts in my head, and if I don’t get them out, I’m going to say it all wrong.”
I nod and wait as I watch this beautifully disheveled man look at me with a mixture of hesitation, sadness, and pure admiration.
“Katie, I always knew I wanted a forever love, but I could never stand anyone long enough to envision it with them. Until I met you. Now, I know you’re wondering how I can predict that you and I are going to last, and I can’t. There are so many things I don’t know, but here’s what I do know. I know your corny jokes are the best part of my day. Thinking of your smile is the only thing that gets me out of a bad mood, and your laugh is better than whiskey. You’re the only woman I want to run around town with, but I am equally as happy with staying in and doing absolutely nothing. Have I mentioned that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen? It’s true, and I’ve felt that since the moment I met you.
“You’re smart and successful, and you should be here even if Branson does want more from you. I never trusted him because this, what we have, scares the hell out of me. I’m not quitting us though. I’m done quitting when the relationship gets hard. I want to see this through. You deserve a man who can take this beyond the first fight. And that man is me. I know that because, Katie McGee, I am without a doubt wildly in love with you. And I’ll be damned if you share a New Year’s kiss with any man who isn’t me.”
I cry. And I laugh. And I smile big and bright and crazy as I grab this gorgeous man and kiss him. I kiss him long and hard and with so much passion that I feel it down to my toes.
When we come up for air, our foreheads touch, and we have to take a moment to catch our breaths.
“I love you, too, Hunter. You deserve a woman who will put you first. I knew how you felt about Branson, and I still made being with him on New Year’s Eve a priority.”
He smiles, and that damn grin that I love so much appears. “We have a lot to learn, kid.”
I laugh. “Okay, now, will you please tell me what that is all about?”
“Casablanca,” he states. “Rick wants Ilsa, but he can’t have her, so he gives her to another man who he knows will give her a better life.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want the other man. Maybe she just wants Rick.”
“Maybe Rick is so in love with her that he’ll do anything to make her happy.” He brushes a piece of hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. “Baby, I’ve been in love with you for longer than you can ever imagine.” He brings my arms to around his neck, wrapping his hands around my waist. “My Katie McGee.”
I lock my eyes with his. “I’ve always liked the sound of that.”
“Me too.”
When his lips meet mine, I feel it all the way to my toes. No matter how cold it is outside, nothing but warmth covers me when I’m pressed up against him.
“Come on. Let’s have the New Year’s Eve we were supposed to have.” He tucks my body into his as we continue our journey down the steps.
“And how’s that?” I ask, beaming so big at the sight and feeling of him here, next to me, willing to fight for me.
“At the bar that started it all, of course. We’re past holiday harlot, so tell me, do you have a cheesy name for being a New Year’s girl?”
I think for a second before saying, “You can play my strumpet?”
His head falls back in laughter. “Do I want to know what a strumpet is?”
I shrug. “That one’s more of a play on words rather than being a Christmas vixen, but I was put on the spot. And no, I’m not a prostitute, which is what the word means.”
He kisses my head. “No, that you are not.”
As we enter the bar that we first went to not even a few weeks ago, I can’t help but think of how much my life has changed. When I was here last, I was moping about the man I thought I wanted not wanting me. That’s when a chance kiss rocked my soul and opened me up to a world I’d never thought possible.
Hunter points to the bar, where two seats are open. With his palm pressed against my lower back, showing the world I’m his, I take in every sensation that runs through me. The happiness of being with him. The way his hand feels so natural, so right, as he leads me in the correct direction. To the direction of us. The way it should have always been.
Before we take our seats, I turn and kiss him on the jaw, placing my fingers along the opposite side of his handsome face.
“What was that for?” he asks.
“For this. For being you. For coming to get me.”
He kisses my forehead as we slide into our seats, and he orders two double Bushmills. We each pick up our glass and cheers to the New Year before taking a sip.
I place the tumbler on the bar top and turn to Hunter. Everything he taught me that fateful night comes back, and I slide out of my seat, positioning myself between his legs. When our eyes meet, I give him a sweet smile as I wrap my arms around the back of his neck.
“You know, when I think about the past two weeks, I can tell you that I fell for you, right here, just like this,” I say coyly.
His hands grip my hips, bringing me closer to him. “And how was that?”
“When you asked me to compliment you. For anyone else, I would have spoken about their outside attributes, but for you, it was you as the entire package. I guess I always thought you were out of my league, so I never considered just how incredible you were. Until that moment, you were just my friend who brightened my day every time you walked into the room.”
He leans up to kiss my lips. “Can I tell you, I told my sister basically the same thing about you?”
A smile graces my face, so large that my cheeks hurt. “Really?”
Hunter grins while he nods. “Yep. She told me to stop being a dumbass.”
I laugh out loud in shock. “Seriously?”
He tilts his head to the side. “Well, not in so many words, but I know what she meant.”
“I’m glad you listened to her.” I snuggle up closer.
His arms grip me tighter. “Me too.”
“So, what’s your New Year’s resolution, Mr. Johnstone?”
He kisses me softly before saying, “To be right here, just like this, with you on the next New Year’s Eve.”
As the countdown to the New Year begins, neither of us cares as we seal our New Year’s fate with each other in the best way possible, wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing in the most passionate way, two weeks be damned.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“I have to admit, I’m surprised you’re still volunteering,” Sheryl says as we clean up the men’s shelter.
I Lysol the folding table and wipe it clean with a rag. “I like being here, especially around the holidays. It feels good to help out. Plus, I’ve been pretty fortunate lately.”
She smiles. “Paying it forward?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
With a broom, she follows me, cleaning up the crumbs I’m pushing onto the floor. “Not many women last long here. They get frightened by some of the men who look at you like a piece of meat and are scared by the ones with delusions. Just remember to be careful.”