rubbed the sleep from her eyes, heart leaping when she saw the first email: confirmation of the ballroom

ed brewing coffee. The scent of dark roast filled the air, grounding her in

rom the lighting company. A message from

trying to break through, it finally felt like doors were

few hours revising budgets and creating mood boards-each slide filled with images of frost-kissed roses, sil

-

rolled through Maya's latest proposal on his tablet, pausing on a sketch of a grand entrance framed by icicl

ike feeling...drawn to someone. He'd built his life on control, precision,

ncoming call. Cassidy's fa

it?" he

. "Don't tell me you're actu

"Excited isn

s?" she aske

ated. "C

and warm. "Ryan, let h

more. His sister meant well, but she

em. Today, he was meeting with directors about the after-school programs funded by the gala. T

-

ons. Children's artwork lined the halls-bright, messy,

d wide brown eyes raced toward

child in a careful hug. "

he boy beamed, holdin

g the delicate folds.

the program, watching them with a smile. "They

wflake into his pocket. "It'

t to greet each one. These kids reminded him why he kept going. Why he tolerated boar

ages, the need for more tutors. Ryan listened intently, asking questions, mak

p at the sky, a pale winter blue, and thought of the woman who had propo

-

k snowflakes from her hair, breathless and late. The small room was filled with glass pendants, stage lights, and racks o

Jessa asked,

a hand. "Thank you for meeti

a firm shake. "You've got guts, planning a winter

ssa's eyes narrowed, but not unkindly, as she flipped

her shoulders. "It

curved. "Good

plans. Maya lost herself in the possibilities-icicle-shaped beams of light, shimmer

t, Jessa offered a nod of respect.

lling harder now, blanketing the city in quiet white. She pulled her coat tighter and

-

ugh of the Morgan Grand Hotel ballroom. Maya arrived ear

ive crystal chandelier. But it felt cold, sterile. She imagined it alive with s

detail, footsteps echoed behind her. She t

she said, vo

ll the cavernous room, his eyes flicking around as if

owed. "Of

etched between them. Then

to walk you through

, then nodde

n silver and midnight blue, the raised stage surrounded by crystal trees. As she spoke, his eyes never left her. She f

urprised her with a question that felt more persona

ve to," she said softly. "It's the o

mile touched h

mething fragile and electric. She felt herself swayin

d me the finalized proposal by to

d, pulse

t second, warm and strong. She felt the touch lon

-

d caterers for tasting sessions, called musicians about availability, and finalized contracts wit

r laptop when her phon

've got news. Ryan approved your conce

er in a rush. "Thank

Cassidy laughed.

her face in her hands. She'd done it. She was plann

-

n his desk. He traced Maya's signature with his thumb, thi

yes dancing. "She's

"It's not about her. I

eyebrow. "Keep tel

t of the way Maya had lit up when she described the gala. The way he

-

icate snowflakes. Maya held one in her hands, running her fingers over the raised letters. The

at a rooftop bar, the ci

ed, clinking her glass o

bout Ryan-about the quiet intensity in his eyes, the sadness he tried

ng about him,"

can't afford to

a said softly. "You deserve hap

-

ad, delicate snowflake patterns danced across the walls, and tables were draped in shimmering clot

pses of Ryan- standing in the shadows, watching her work. Sometimes he'd ask quiet que

lingering glance, a warmth that curled low in Maya's belly. Yet eve

-

space glowed softly, alive with magic. Snowflake projections drifted la

ing in the scent of fresh pine and winter roses,

ble," came a low

k suit making him look impossibly tall and sharp in the s

this,"

she correc

ching hers. "You made me believe

nly shook his head, a sad smile tugging at his

ound of his footsteps f

terrible, beautiful hope that she might

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