His Christmas Rose by C.M. Steele

got excited on Christmas morning. They couldn’t wait for the next few years or so when they would have little babies getting their Christmas gifts and watching their faces light up.
    When Spencer got to the gift he hadn’t realized Rose had gotten him, he was filled with happiness.
    “Baby, you didn’t have to get me anything. You gave me two amazing gifts and if I am lucky, another one in the near future.” He winked at her. He opened the wrapped package and was happy to see she had gotten him a tablet case, on it was a lone cabin in the middle of a winter’s night. It resembled this cabin and a symbol of how they first met. He bent down and kissed her pink lips. “I love you, thank you, my Rose.”
    With emotion filling his heart, he turned to his mother, who had brought in a tray of coffee, “So how soon can you get a wedding together, Mother?”
    “Does New Year’s work for you?”
    He turned back to Rose and handed her his other gift for her as he replied and an overwhelming feeling of joy rushed over him, “Sounds perfect.”
    Rose opened her present. It was nicely wrapped and it was clear it was from the same jeweler. She lifted the lid and in the box laid a stunning locket that matched her ring. “Please turn it over,” he said.
    She turned the locket around and the tears just fell as she read aloud, My Christmas Rose, I give you my heart for safe keeping. Love always, Spencer
    “Yes, New Year’s sounds perfect,” Rose said with a beaming smile and a happy heart. “Thank you, Spencer.” She kissed him in front of all to see, forgetting they were not alone until the catcalls erupted and Reed added, “Hey, stop seducing my friend.”
    The couple married on New Year’s Day in Boston at the family church with a surprising number of guests. One of which was not invited and had tried to stop the wedding. Rick had not given up on their relationship after the text and the subsequent call from Rose. He had plans to steal her away from the bastard, but all he got was an escort out of the church by two overgrown guards. The wedding continued without further interruption and the bride was blooming and the groom was mesmerized.

~Epilogue~
    He pulled his truck off to the side to see a small dark colored four door sedan. It was a newer model. It should have had some good traction. It was probably a woman driver, he thought. Sure enough, he jumped out of his truck and had about approached the front of the car when the door opened and a petite brunette bundled up like an Inuit popped out. She lifted her head to look at him and he no longer felt the frigid air that circulated around him. All of a sudden it was a thousand degrees around him.
    “Miss, are you all right?” He could barely get the words out.
    “Umm, yes, but I don’t think my car is.” She pointed to the tire that was now flat. “Yes, it looks like you have a flat tire.”
    “Are you a mechanic?” She said hopefully.
    “No, little one, I am just a guy. There is only one house up here. Do you want to tell me why you were on this deserted road in the middle of nowhere and when it’s pitch black out?”
    “I don’t know what to do. I know I shouldn’t have come to visit him.”
    “Sweetheart, relax, don’t worry your pretty little head. I am not some creep out scouting for stranded women. I happen to be trying to get away from work and enjoy a nice vacation.” She wanted to play this game, he was all for it.
    “Oh my, I can walk back to town. It is not too far from here.”
    “Baby girl, the town is six miles and in this weather you wouldn’t get two miles before you started getting frost bit. Come on, you can come with me for the night and maybe we can get someone out to help tomorrow when it is light.”
    “I can’t. We don’t even know each other and you wanted your peace and quiet.”
    “My name is Spencer Kane. I am not a stranger now. So tell me, baby girl, what is your name?”
    “It is Rose.”
    “Rose?”
    “Rose