I'd already gotten my hair and makeup done. There was nothing else for me to do except meet Cooper at the ballroom doors and supervise the event.
"Are you coming to the dance?" I asked Bianca.
"I'll be wearing that one." She pointed at an emerald-green dress that was hanging on the door of a dressing room.
"It's absolutely gorgeous."
She smiled. "I love getting dressed up for dances. I feel like a princess."
I kept my gaze on my dress as I moved this way and that, enjoying the light catching on the sparkles. "Speaking of feeling like a princess, Belle is getting married at the Hart Inn."
Bianca frowned. "Why did she choose that inn when she could have gotten married in this one?"
"Apparently, it has a huge library where she wants to have the ceremony, and it's located at the base of the mountain which is the perfect backdrop for the reception."
Bianca set strappy silvershoes on the floor in front of me, helping me slide them on. "You'd better get to the ball before you turn into a pumpkin," Bianca said, ushering me toward the door.
"I don't think that's the story line."
"Close enough," she murmured.
She was probably in a hurry to get ready for the dance herself, and I had to be there early to ensure everything was running smoothly.
At the doorway, she paused. "I texted Cooper that you were ready."
"He's going to show me the bathrooms." He hadn't allowed me to check on the progress toward the end because he wanted it to be a surprise.
"How romantic," she teased.
"Renovated bathrooms are romantic when you're dating a contractor," I said dryly, and she laughed.
Then she waved me away. "You'd better hurry. Your prince is waiting for you."
I felt a little like Cinderella as I lifted my skirt and hurried down the hallway toward the ballroom. The double doors were closed, but when I approached, one opened, and Cooper stood there in a tux.
My breath caught in my throat. He was so handsome, his black hair falling over his forehead.
His gaze slowly perused my body from head to toe. "You're gorgeous."
I curtsied. "Thank you."
He held his hand out for me. "We have the ballroom to ourselves for a bit."
I took his hand. "That sounds lovely."
We walked into the room, and the door fell closed.
White-and-silver-decorated trees were placed strategically around the room to provide ambiance. The dance floor was on the right where the live band would set up, and there were round tables on the left with centerpieces of white candles surrounded by greenery. I loved the winter wonderland effect. "It's better than I imagined."
He led me over to the center of the room where the largest tree stood with gifts below the branches. They were real toys that were wrapped and ready to donate from our toy drive. "You created this."
"I followed a lot of what Eve did last year, but she said I could add a few things here and there." Mainly, I added more decorations, wanting guests to feel like they were in another world, even if it was only for a few hours.
Cooper turned to face me, holding my hand. "Aspen, I never dreamed of feeling secure financially before I got to know you better. You opened my world up to so much love and kindness. You showed me that I could have a different life if I just believed in it."
I squeezed his hand in silent support.
He took a deep breath. "I never expected to fall in love with you. I want to wake up to your beautiful face every morning and fall asleep to your soft snoring at night."