Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Boom, boom, boom.
I knew what this was. I could be brave and give it a name.
He was twenty feet away, ten feet, five feet…
I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk in front of Rudolph’s Fudge Shop, tipping my Stetson, my heart tripping over itself as he neared.
“Moody,” I said with a reverence reserved for prayer.
He widened his eyes, peering left and right before closing the distance between us. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Colorado.”
“Yeah, but it’s Christmas Eve.”
“I know. Are you sick? You look pale and kind of dopey.”
I smiled. “I do?”
“Mmhmm. Did you take an antihistamine? Oh, I hope not. My cousin, Flo, got in a doozy of an accident after mixing mouthwash and cold medicine…and probably vodka, though she swore she—”
“I’m not sick, baby,” I said with a laugh. “I’m just…”
He cocked his head curiously. “What is it?”
I licked my lips and opened my arms in surrender. “I love you.”
“You—”
“Yes, and fuck it. Maybe it’s too much, too soon, but when you know, you fucking know. And I know that you’re the coolest, kindest, sexiest, most amazing person in the whole damn world. You need to know that there is someone who will put you first, look out for you when you’re feeling low, and celebrate every win. That someone is me, Moody. Me. I’m your guy.”
Moody blinked like an owl. “I-I love you too.”
I swooped him in my arms and spun him in a circle, kissing him breathless. My Stetson fell off, but who cared? “Merry Christmas, my love.”
“Merry Christmas.”
I bent to pick up my hat, then set it on Moody’s head, loving his sweet chuckle. I cupped his chin and traced my thumb along his smooth jaw. “By the way, I’m staying home for the holidays…with you.”
“But your mom…”
“She’ll understand, and she’ll be happy for me. For us. She knows I’ve been lost for a while…looking for escape, looking for change. I just saw your dad’s statue and read that quote and—he was fucking right. I made a detour, and I got my second chance…with you. I’m not going to blow it. I won’t waste a single day. Fuck January. I want you now.”
Moody’s eyes sparkled and welled with tears. “You have me. Always.”
If life were a rom-com, gentle snowflakes would drift from the heavens and a band of carolers would sing “Holly Jolly Christmas” or something everyone knew the words to right then and there. Real life was better.
We swayed together on a bustling street, oblivious to the traffic, the long lines in front a few shops, and the skinny guy in an ill-fitted Santa suit with a cell glued to his ear as he paced on the corner.
It all faded to nothing. Just a steady boom, boom, boom.
My heart swelled in my chest as the enormity of the moment hit me. This was love.
Real love.
And a chance at forever with this intriguing, intelligent, beautiful man was the greatest gift ever.
EPILOGUE
“Iheard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, ‘Happy Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.’ ”—A Visit from St. Nicholas, Clement Clarke Moore
Three years later
Moody
Garlands tied in bright-red ribbons cascaded over the steps next to countless strings of colorful lights that were destined to be hung along the roof and wrapped around the base of the amber tree in our yard. A giant wreath with red bulbs and holly was already on the front door and the sprig of mistletoe had been strategically placed in the eaves above the porch swing Hudson had bought me for Christmas two years ago. I loved it.
And I loved how festive the house would look as soon as we got our keisters in gear and decorated.
“Would you prefer to drape garlands or hang the lights, good sir?”
Hudson quirked a grin from under his Stetson. The familiar kind that made me feel gooey on the inside.
He propped a ladder along the side of the house and pointed at the lights. “Lights first, baby. You know the drill. This will go fastest if you’re my elf.”
“Yes, but I will not wear the hat,” I replied primly. “That bell is ridiculous.”
“You’re so damn cute in it, though,” he drawled, climbing the ladder. “Okay, let’s start with strand number one.”
“This one?”
“No, that’s number five.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Oh, got it. Here it is.”
“That’s number two.” Hudson hiked one boot on an upper rung and flashed one of those Not Safe for General Public looks. “Are we playing a game now?”
“What do you mean?” I tried fluttering my lashes, which never went quite as planned as I tended to resemble a defective mechanical toy.
“You know. The one where we reenact a saucy scene from a cowboy romance. If I’m the alpha cowboy who’s gonna paint your back porch red for being a brat, fill me in, baby. We’ve got two hours of daylight and a whole lot of Christmas decorating to do.”