Author: Bella Andre

This was the ring he would give to Mary when he asked her to be his forever.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, Jack walked into Allen’s office, barely noticing the spectacular view of the Bay and the bridge from the chairman’s windows.

“Great news, Jack,” Allen greeted him as he came around his desk and shook Jack’s hand. “We’ve got nearly all of the major retailers on board already, and we haven’t even had our official campaign launch yet.” Allen was as animated—and pleased—as Jack had ever seen him. “Mary’s face and personal endorsement of the Pocket Planner have been pure advertising gold. You were right not to give up hope on your invention. I’ve got a very good feeling about what the Christmas season is going to bring for all of us.”

Jack had a good feeling about things, too, but for different reasons. Because, while he was happy that their business was going well, solidifying his future with Mary now took precedence over everything else.

“I’m glad to hear things are going well,” Jack said, and then in his characteristically direct way, he said, “I need an advance on my earnings, Allen. This afternoon, actually.”

“You need money this afternoon?” The other man raised an eyebrow. “How much?”

Jack told him the number, and Allen stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding. “Excuse me while I call my personal banker to let him know to have a cashier’s check for that amount waiting for you immediately.”

“Thank you.” Jack had never asked anyone for a loan before, and he’d very rarely asked for a favor, either. But his pride could take a backseat for a few hours. Mary was more important.

After concluding the call, Allen sat back in his chair. “You don’t strike me as the kind of man who would get himself into trouble gambling, Jack.” Clearly, he was dying for more details, but in the end he simply said, “Whatever you’re planning to use that money for, I hope it’s worth it.”

“I don’t have a single doubt about that.” Jack decided that Allen’s vote of confidence in him deserved one in return. “I’m going to ask Mary to marry me. Your generous advance on profits has just made it possible for me to buy her the ring she deserves.”

Allen’s eyes grew big. “You’re with Mary? Our Mary?” When Jack nodded, Allen had to clarify one more time, “Mary Ferrer?”

“I’m in love with her.”

“Of course, you’re in love with her. Who isn’t?” Allen replied, but his shock was already shifting to admiration. “I couldn’t have written the headlines better myself: An Unexpected Christmas Romance Between Our Brilliant Inventor and the Gorgeous Model. She was already the golden touch we needed for this campaign, but if she says yes to your proposal, the two of you together will be the best story we could ever have—”

Jack cut Allen off. “I appreciate your cashier’s check, and that you’re so excited about things working out between Mary and myself. But we’d like to keep things private between us for as long as we possibly can.” The chairman had just done him a great favor by issuing the check, but Jack’s gratitude didn’t extend to selling their “love story” to the press, especially not given Mary’s past with Romain. “I would never exploit our relationship for increased profits.”

After a long silence, Allen spoke. “Very few people stand up to me anymore. I’m richer, smarter, and more powerful than all of them. But you’ve surprised me from the start, Jack.” Allen suddenly grinned, looking ten years younger as he waved Jack out of the room. “Go get your ring and the girl. I’d wish you luck, but I have a feeling you’re not going to need it.”

Jack thanked Allen again and was just getting into the elevator when Howie and Larry stepped out of it.

“Where are you going?” Howie asked. “Isn’t Allen waiting for all of us in his office?”

“You two can take this meeting without me. I’ll see you all tomorrow at the final shoot.”

Where, hopefully, he’d arrive as a newly engaged man.

* * *

Mary had really enjoyed the mix of photo shoots and interviews while working on Jack’s campaign, but tonight was her favorite moment so far. The ad agency had booked her to be a part of the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Union Square, and she would be giving away twenty-five free Pocket Planners as early Christmas gifts to people in the crowd.

Already, Mary had spotted several people who she guessed would really benefit from one. A young mother trying to simultaneously hold the hands of three rambunctious children. A businessman who had arrived tense and harried but who, when he saw his kids in the crowd, immediately dropped his briefcase to the ground to catch their hugs. Even the teenage girl with the heavy backpack who was clearly dreaming of finishing her classes for the semester so that she could enjoy winter break with her friends.

The night air was crisp and the sky was clear and sparkling with stars. The only thing that could make Mary’s night better was if Jack were here to share it with her.

For the dozenth time that day, she worked to push back her impatient longing for him…especially when there was only an hour left to go before she could meet him at her house.

Though the night was cool, remembering their lovemaking from the night before made Mary warm all over. How sweet Jack had been as he whispered “I love you” over every bare inch of her skin, then followed up his words with heated kisses that stole every last rational thought from her brain. Again and again they’d loved each other, until they’d finally fallen asleep in each other’s arms. They’d awakened to tangled sheets and a sensual hunger that hadn’t even come close to being sated. Mary had never known pleasure so sweet, so decadent or so overwhelming.

Deep inside, the still-wary part of her heart kept trying to warn her not to let bliss blind her to the possibility of future pain. But she refused to listen.

Jack was different. Yes, they were working together on his campaign, but every step of the way, he’d reassured her that his feelings for her had nothing to do with business.

And that he loved her.

Still, nothing soothed her lingering fears better than being in Jack’s arms. Yet again she wished he were—

“Angel.”

Mary looked up into the most beautiful face she’d ever set eyes on.

“Jack, you’re here! I thought you had a meeting with Allen.”

His smile as he drew her close was both warm and filled with desire. “I couldn’t stay away a moment longer.”

He’d been the one to ask for a little more private time together that morning, but despite the dozens of eager and interested onlookers, how could she possibly keep from kissing him?

Mary was just moving to wrap her arms around his neck when a little girl pushed between them.

“Here are your candles for the ceremony.”

Soon, Mary reminded herself as they moved apart to each take a candle from the girl, she and Jack would be alone again and then she could kiss him to her heart’s content with no interruptions.

As their candles were being lit, a young boy walked onto the small stage beside the tree and began to carefully recite a Christmas poem he’d written about Rudolph the reindeer and Santa Claus. In the dark, Jack slid his hand into Mary’s and she leaned into his warmth, loving how strong and steady he always was. Just as the boy finished his poem, the Christmas tree came to colorful, glittering life.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Mary said as she squeezed Jack’s hand tighter.

“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he agreed. But he wasn’t looking at the tree.

He only had eyes for her.

A children’s chorus began to sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” and when Jack joined in, his voice ringing out deep and true, Mary’s heart swelled with love.

Chapter Seventeen

“I haven’t enjoyed a Christmas celebration that much since I was a child,” Mary said when they had finished distributing the Pocket Planners to the crowd. Mary had explained how the device worked to the mother, the businessman and the student, and they’d all been thrilled to go home and play with their unexpected gifts.

A short while ago she’d met Jack in this same spot in Union Square, and he’d asked her to join him for pie and ice cream. Now she was the one saying, “I happen to know a great diner just around the corner from here. Want to join me for some of the best pie you’ll ever have?”

Strangely, he gave her a slightly nervous look that confused her. She’d never seen Jack anxious before. Was he tired from the string of long days getting ready for the big holiday launch? Or was there something else going on?

Before she could ask him if everything was all right, he finally gave her one of his beautiful grins. “Great idea. In fact,” he added as he took her hand and they began walking toward the diner, “I think pie and ice cream at the diner should always be part of our new post-Christmas-tree-lighting tradition.”

Tradition.

Mary had thought she’d left tradition behind when she left Italy. The idea of starting a new tradition with Jack was at once terrifying…and wonderful. Because it meant that he really did intend to keep loving her past this first Christmas, when everything between them was so fresh and exciting.

She forgot all about his slightly strange initial reaction as they chatted easily about their busy days while they walked. They weren’t just lovers, they were friends, too. Best friends who would do absolutely anything to make the other person happy.

Despite being fairly empty, the diner was cozy and warm. This time, they both sat on the same side of the booth and shared a supersize slice of pie. Her night couldn’t get any more perfect than this, sitting with the man she loved while he fed her warm cherries coated in melting vanilla ice cream. They simply enjoyed being with each other.

She knew her life wasn’t perfect, and there were things she would always wish she could have done differently, but for the first time in a very long time, she felt at peace.

“Mary—”

Something in Jack’s voice as he said her name pulled her from her relaxed reverie. The note of anxiety she’d sensed earlier was back.

“Jack? What is it?” She’d seen him look intense before, but never this intense.

“I think we should go back to your place now.”

He put a twenty-dollar bill down on the table and pulled her to her feet, quickly bundling her up in her coat and scarf. Moments later, they were out on the sidewalk, and he was all but dragging her along the street in the direction of her house.

Panic skittered down her spine. Just when she’d finally let herself relax, had something gone wrong?

“Jack.” He was much bigger than she, but she was strong enough to tug him to a stop. “Tell me what’s wrong. Please just tell me.”

“I’m doing this all wrong.” He cursed once in a low voice as he ran his free hand through his hair.

She shook her head in confusion. “What are you doing wrong?”

Before she knew it, he’d dropped to one knee in front of her.

Her mouth fell open. All the way open, in fact, as she stared in shock at Jack kneeling before her.

“I was planning to surprise you with rose petals and champagne and every other romantic thing I could think of. But I just can’t wait another second to ask you to be my wife.”

Mary’s head and heart were spinning round and round so fast that she needed to make sure she’d heard him right. “You want me to be your wife?”

“I know I don’t have much to give you, and that you deserve absolutely everything. Riches. Beautiful gifts. I can’t give you any of those things. Not yet, anyway. All I can give you is my heart. And every last piece of my soul.”