Christmas Romance (The Best Christmas Romance of 2016): The Love List Christmas (18 page)

Chapter Ten

Tristan looked out at the light snowfall.
Perfect,
he thought and rinsed his coffee cup in the sink. His first and last thoughts every day for the past couple of months were always of Dakota. He remembered how excited she’d been about the first snowfall. Today would bring even more excitement. Tristan knew how much she’d dreamed of the perfect white Christmas. Today he hoped for all her dreams and wishes to come true. He loved hearing her tell him what she’d always wished for.

  Their misunderstanding the week before had been just that, a misunderstanding. Dr. Withers found him after he’d left the dance and explained what upset Dakota. It had been a foolish reaction. He knew he should have stayed and heard her explanation. Once he heard what Dakota had told Dr. Withers, and how sorry she’d felt for not telling him about the
Love List
, he immediately apologized. He too believed their accidental meetings from the start were fate. The
Love List
had just been coincidence or what he’d told Dakota, just another hit of fate. He reached into his pocket for the little black box he’d carried with him all week. 

 
I do hope I’m the one you’ve dreamed of spending the rest of your life with.
Tristan thought to himself and then closed his eyes to make his own wish. He’d never been more certain Dakota was the woman for him. The thought of spending his life with her and their children had been the only constant thought since his decision to propose on Christmas Day. Thirty-five years to this day, his father proposed to his mother. She adored the holidays as much as Dakota did. She reminded him of his mom in many ways. The ring sparkled between his fingers as he admired its beauty. The brilliant-cut round diamonds gleamed in an heirloom diamond setting with alternating round-cut rubies. The vintage ring that was his mother’s was truly breathtaking. 

  “OMG! You’re gonna propose today?”

  Becca’s surprised entry into the kitchen startled his thoughts. He turned to smile and nodded. “Yes, but you must keep it a secret.” 

  “What secret?” Chase entered a minute later.

  Tristan laughed. “This.” He held the ring up and then sternly reminded them both to keep the secret.

  Chase gave Tristan a little nudge on the arm. “Well, all right, Cuz.” Then he added, “No worries. I plan to keep her locked inside the house all day. Reece and the family are at Cindy’s family this year so we plan to have a private Christmas dinner.” Chase winked and then pulled his wife into an embrace which led to another show from
the lovebirds
as Tristan always referred. 

  “Okay, lovebirds, I’m off to propose to the woman of my dreams.” 

  “Wait a minute. You’re going to do it at her father’s? Isn’t this like the first time she’s getting together with her new family?”

Becca broke from her husband’s embrace with a shocked look on her face.

  Tristan chuckled. “What better time?” he asked and then added, “I can ask for her father’s permission and do it properly.” He told them he planned to make all her wishes come true on the same day. “A white Christmas—he motioned toward the window that displayed the falling snow—“the father she’s searched for, a down-to-earth family, and the man of her dreams.” His last words he’d still had hesitation for but hung on to the hope he was the one. On that note, he left them speechless in the kitchen. By the time he’d reached the front door, he heard Becca call out. 

  “Stop by for drinks after dinner. I’ll have the champagne chilled.”

  He agreed, and as he closed the door he said another silent prayer that she’d say yes. 

  “Are you nervous?”

She seemed hesitant as she waited a few seconds before her finger pressed against the doorbell.

  Dakota turned her head. “A little; I’m about to meet three sisters I never knew I had. What if they don’t like me?”

  Tristan put his arm around her waist to comfort her.   “Who couldn’t possibly like you?”

   She smiled and Marion opened the door. 

  Her nerves eased instantly with warm greetings from her family. Hugs followed the hellos and introductions. Dakota felt as though she’d known her sisters her entire life. She couldn’t believe how much they had in common as they rambled over gift openings and drinks. Her step-mom was completely different than her mom. She was like the fifties mom that baked and cooked and got everyone sensible gifts—things they needed and would definitely use. Some gifts brought about laughter while others brought tears to Dakota’s eyes. It’s like they knew the type of person she was and what she’d like. The house was filled with more family and love than she’d ever felt. In one day, she had a father she’d never known and a step-mom that welcomed her into her family. Plus, three younger sisters— two with husbands and children, and another who’d astonished her with stories of her determination to have a film career in L.A. The afternoon had been amazing and she’d never tasted food that good. 

  “Let me help clear the table,”  she announced and stood. Dakota gathered her plate and Tristan’s. The look on his face made her wonder if somehow her excitement with her family had excluded him. He seemed distracted or lonely. She couldn’t put her finger on it. She leaned in as she took his plate. “Is everything okay?” She whispered. 

  He smiled and nodded. “Things couldn’t be more perfect.”

  Relief settled in somewhat, but she still worried as she retreated to the kitchen with her sisters. Upon re-entering the dining room, she overheard her father tell Tristan he had his blessing. 

  “Blessing for what?” Dakota prompted as she picked up a dish. She almost dropped the plate from her hand when Tristan got down on one knee. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a little black box. His hand shook slightly as he opened it. 

  “Your father has given me his blessing to ask for your hand in marriage. Will you marry me, Dakota?”

  Dakota gasped. She brought her hands to her mouth. She felt her eyes water and she squealed a word that didn’t quite sound like yes. She laughed and took her hands away. She reiterated a more correctly formed yes, followed by another yes. 

  Tristan slipped the ring on her finger. “You’ve just made me the happiest man.”

He stood and leaned in to seal her answer with his kiss.

  Dakota smiled.

  “You’ve just made my last wish come true.” 

Look for the other stories in

The Love List Series

Buy Here

Love Uncorked

Jennifer Conner

Book 1

Buy Here

Tegan Taylor is the owner of the Que Syrah Syrah wine shop in Vine grove, the heart of wine country. After her plan of starting a book club to meet single, local men falls flat, her new found friends come up with The Love List. Each dropped a name of a nice guy their friends may like but just not a guy they’d date. Or think of romantically. Tegan chooses Richard. After one disastrous meeting with him, Tegan wonders if The Love List isn’t a terrible idea. Richard’s a jerk. But, when handsome Australian cowboy, August, shows up, things may take a turn. Read book one in the Love List Series as Tegan, Chloe, Laura and Becca try to find love in a small town.

Love Found Me

Sharon Kleve

Story 2

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When it’s Chloe Miles turn to pick a name out of The Love List she didn’t expect to find true love. She just wanted to go on a date with a nice, available guy. Not one who drank too much, or was unemployed and wanted to stay that way. Or especially one who didn’t know what monogamy means.

Mitch Brodin didn’t know his heart was in the hands of The Love List. His Fate was set the moment he set foot into Roy’s Pet Rescues looking for advice on how to care for new born kittens.

Chloe is vivacious, unpredictable, and tons of fun, while he is methodical, predictable, and well… cynical. He surely hadn’t planned on falling in love. But that’s what you get when you’re not looking for love.

Blind Tasting

Angela Ford

Story 3

Buy Here

L
ove is the last thing on Becca’s mind. Until she discovers her match is Chase Tanner.

Dr. Rebecca Miller’s life is perfect until she finds her fiancé in bed with her best friend.

She takes the first offer out of New York. Becca discovers Vinegrove in the heart of wine country. Country charm is the best medicine for the doctor. But when her book club friends decide to spice it up and create the love list of eligible bachelors to date; Becca hesitates until she draws Chase’s name.

She’s denied her attraction to the firefighter/playboy since she arrived in Vinegrove. Chase discovers the love list with his name on it and believes he’s been fooled.

Will Becca be able to convince him she really does love him?

Building up to Love

Joanne Jaytanie

Story 4

Buy Here

For something to last a lifetime it must start with a strong foundation and build up from there.

A small town can be a friendly place to call home and an impossible place to find a date. A shop owner starts a singles-mingle but only has three attendees--not a single man in sight. The women continue to meet, and change their name to The Love List. Each write names of single men and drop them into a basket. The Love List seems a success as each of the women finds their true love, except Laura. She is certain the basket is cursed.

Travis Jerome is new to town. He jumps at the chance to work on Laura’s B&B remodel, to once again have the feel of a hammer in his hand.