Ian looked up from his desk to the sound of talking. His department was quiet since Ellen was the only gregarious one. He often wondered how she put up with the rest of the geeks. He smiled at Ellen's and Ainsley's voices, and stood and went to his door. She had her large bag, but it was only a quarter to five. Her smile calmed his nerves.

He raised his brow. "Quitting time early today?"

She shrugged. "I worked through lunch."

He chuckled as he motioned her into his office. "Who are you?"

She looked around. "Nice. I see you're going for a minimalist decor. I would have expected a picture of the Gillespie clan."

He smirked. "I'll take a picture of you. This is a surprise. A better one than Henry at lunch."

"I warned you." She had mischief in her eyes.

"Who are you?" He smirked.

She stepped closer. "Puddle girl, otherwise known as wet and..."

"No dirty talk at work." His laugh was low, making him wish he had shut his door.

"Who am I? I'm the new senior promotional specialist. That's why I left. Your friend is getting the bad news.

His grin covered his face as he embraced her. "I knew it. I knew you would get it all along."

"Is that why you talked to Eric?"

He stepped back. "That was when you wouldn't see me. I went to make sure he understood regardless of what Henry said, I was not involved in his hiring decisions. Seriously, I wouldn't want him involved in mine." Ian stopped short of telling her about his teamwork comments.

"Thank you. You had confidence in me when I doubted myself."

He smiled. "Let me finish up and we can get out of here."

She sat with her phone and texted as he finished an email. "Lilli?"

She nodded. "I'll have to call my mother unless she hears through the grapevine first."

"Call her when we get home. Tell Violet before she hears from JJ too." He shut down his laptop. Some evenings, he took it home, but he didn't pack it up.

She smiled at him. "You're so smart."

He laughed as he stood up. "Let's go."

A layer of snow coated the sidewalks. There had been snow showers on and off since Saturday. The gradual flakes left an accumulation of snow on the flat surfaces. As they walked through the park towards home, snow covered all the grasses.

Beyond his happiness for Ainsley's promotion, Ian felt relieved to have the decision made. Hopefully, Ainsley would get the sleep she needed. He had carried her burdens with him and each step felt lighter. Her emotions were his because he cared about her deeply.

With the city sounds around them, they walked silently. A flake floated down and more followed.

Ainsley's voice took his attention away from the dancing snowflakes. "I feel bad for Henry."

"I know you do, but I hope he doesn't give you trouble."

"Or try to split us up."

Ian stopped walking. "That will not happen. Once was enough."

She frowned. "I hope he's okay."

His lips turned up. "After all, he put you through, you still care."

"I know it's a flaw."

"No, it's one reason I love you. Oh, shit!" He started walking fast. "I didn't mean to say it out loud." His heart pounded. The organ couldn't take it if she shut him out again.

"Ian! Stop!" He slowed. She was far enough away she had to yell. "Do you really mean it?" She walked closer.

He nodded. "I meant to keep it to myself. I know you weren't looking for love."

"I never expected it. I didn't think you wanted it." She stood right in front of him.

"It scares me." He felt defeated by his own heart.

"It scares me too. I thought something was wrong. My heart feels things it never has before."

He smiled. "I thought I was having a heart attack."

She pushed him. "You did not!"

"I did. It hurt so bad when you shut me out. What did you say? Do you feel the same?"

She smiled. "I do. I really do. I love you and being a couple with you. I get it now."

"Get what?" He looked at her confused.

"I still don't want what everyone else has, but I understand."

His eyes search hers. "What do you want?"

She smiled. "To get out of the cold and celebrate with a glass of wine. You said you would cook dinner."

"Let's go." He took her hand.

She loved him too. It was a dream come true. As they entered, the warm air felt good on his frozen face. He pulled her towards his apartment.

She dug her heels in. "Gunther."

"It's early. Come with me."

She followed. Once their coats were off, he pulled her into his arms. "I knew there was a reason I kept seeing you. Then we met, and you understood me."

She snickered. "I thought you were a daddy's boy. I was wrong."

"He's my friend and the Margot thing freaked me out, but then it didn't because I felt the same way. I wanted to be with you and introduce you to the important people in my life. I learned how I felt about you from my dad."

"You talk with your dad about me?"

Smiling through his humiliation. "My heart symptoms. He set me straight."

"You surprised me. I was attracted to your looks. I never thought past meeting you."

"You just wanted my body."

"Yes. My secrets out." She winked.

Ian laughed. "We met, and we laughed so easily. You are so caring." Every conversation contained laughter.

"It was the same for me. You took care of me when I was sick."

"Ainse, you scared me. That's when I knew for sure I loved you. I have never laughed like I do with you. You are so much more than my best friend."

She blushed. "What does this mean?"

Ian smiled. He didn't want to buy her a diamond. He wasn't sure he ever would go down that path, but it didn't feel suffocating to look to the future with her.

He cupped her chin to see her face. "The only promises we have to make are to ourselves. Imagining us together in the future doesn't make me want to run. We love and trust each other. That's enough for me."

He brought his lips to hers. The melding of their mouths served as a promise. A promise to look forward as a couple, together. When they separated he smiled. "Congratulations."

She smirked. "Because you love me." She winked as he shook his head laughing.

"For the job."

"Thanks, I knew it all along."

"No, you didn't. Go call your mother and sister before they find out about your promotion another way."

"I'll go feed my cat and change. I got a raise you know."

"Well done. I know how you can save money?" He hadn't meant to suggest it.

She winked. "You do?"

"Your apartment is an expensive closet." She used it to change clothes.

"What if our cats don't get along?"

Ian had thought about it. "I'll give Felix to Brooke, if I have to."

Ainsley's jaw dropped. "You would do that for me?"

Ian nodded. He would do anything for her. Two days before he had been willing to become a father for her.

"You know my mother will never understand us."

"It's okay. I'll keep explaining it. She likes me."

She beamed. "You are a prince. I love you."

"I love you. I like saying it."

Later in each other's arms, Ian pulled her closer. He often felt like she wasn't close enough. The way to be closer wasn't happening. He had a sister, but wasn't comfortable with female bleeding. He might appreciate it more after the past weekend.

"Did you mean it about me moving in?"

"Yeah. I did. I've dated women who wanted an invitation, but I always liked my space. From the beginning I have spent more time with you. Before it would have been dinner during the week and Friday and Saturday nights, but not all weekend."

"Your brunch." Her response vibrated on his chest.

"And on Sunday, I climbed."

"Did you ever bring them?"

"One I met at the gym, but the others, no. I always told them I was too advanced to climb with them."

"But you offered to take me."

"From the beginning, I wanted to do things with you I never would have done with anyone."

"Maybe it's living in the same building and all the other things we have in common."

He kissed her forehead. "I think it's you and your beautiful heart and sense of humor."

"Do you like my swollen head? You think I'm better than I am."

"I disagree, and for the record I know you love my swollen head.

She swatted him. "Dirty."

He laughed. "You need sleep. I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine. It was the stress."

He kissed her forehead. "Sleep, my love."

They said the L word. You know what that means. Please vote anyways ⭐️

Good news and bad news. There will be a chapter tomorrow, but it will be the last one. We will see them in the final book of the Pub Series.

For those who haven't read it or want to go back in time with the Gillespie's Loving Christmas will be reposted as a bonus in the book.