Page 91 of My eX-MAS Emergency

I was so curious; before I even dropped my bag and coat off in the office, I hustled over to room one and knocked on the door. “May I enter?”

“Yes,” the voice I loved more than anything in this world replied.

I walked in and closed the door, shaking my head, to find Tristan once again with his shirt off, sitting on the exam table with his long legs dangling. Dang, he looked good. I paused to take in the sight of him, my gaze sweeping over his broad shoulders and toned chest. His blue eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched me.

“What are you doing here?”

“I had an emergency.”

“And what would that be?”

“I didn’t get to kiss your gorgeous face when I woke up this morning.”

I dropped my bag and slipped out of my coat, leaving them both on the floor before I tiptoed over to the incorrigible love of my life. “I suppose we should remedy that. I could write you a prescription.”

He reached for me and pulled me flush against his hot flesh.

I melted right into his embrace and breathed in his amber scent.

“What medicine would you prescribe?” He buried his head in my neck and nuzzled it gently.

My breath quickened with the touch of his lips against my raised skin. “I would say at least ten doses of passionate kissing a day.”

“I’m not sure that’s enough,” he groaned against my neck.

“Well, you could add more doses as needed.”

His head lifted. “I do need you.”

“I need you too,” I admitted. “I guess that means I should probably administer your first dose of the day.”

“Yes, please,” he crooned.

I ran my hands up his bare chest and into his hair, enjoying every second. “As your doctor, I should probably warn you before we begin that this could cause heavy breathing, a pounding heart, and raised oxytocin levels. But above all, know you are in excellent hands.”

CALISTA

I WOKE UP EXTRA EARLY on Christmas morning. Quinny was curled up next to me in Stella’s bed, sleeping soundly. Growing up, Stella and I used to share a bed on Christmas Eve. We would talk and giggle all night long, waiting for Santa to arrive. We thought it would be fun to recreate some of our childhood memories with Quinn.

I kissed Quinn’s smooth cheek, thinking about how much had changed since I’d arrived in Aspen Lake. I would have never imagined how things had turned out. Stella was in counseling. Skippy was in jail. Tristan quit his job and was talking about running wilderness excursions for less fortunate children. And most importantly, Quinn had found her happy again. I’d found mine too. Who would have ever guessed I’d left it in Aspen Lake? I wasn’t sure everyone in town would ever think of me as anything besides a future model prisoner, but that was okay. I kind of liked it. Besides, I knew who I was, and that’s what mattered most.

Carefully, I crawled out of bed so as not to disturb my sister or niece. There was something about seeing the Christmas tree first thing in the morning before the sun appeared. The way it glowed in the dark with brightly wrapped gifts beneath it was magical. It had been a long time since I’d had that kind of magic in my life.

I tiptoed out of the bedroom in my oversize T-shirt, into the great room, where, to my surprise, Santa was sleeping on the couch. Not just any Santa, but my sexy Santa in his red suit. The sound of Tristan’s steady breathing played in my ears. It was one of my favorite sounds in the world. I glided his way and took a moment to admire him, bathed in the glow of the twinkling Christmas tree lights. I loved him.

Without wasting another second, I snuggled in next to him on the couch, resting my head on his chest.

He wrapped his arms around me, his sleepy eyes adjusting to the low light. “Merry Christmas,” he whispered.

“What are you doing here so early?”

“I had to put your present under the tree.”

I turned in his arms and faced the tree, searching for my gift. My eyes landed on something shiny lying across the back of the tree. “Are those what I think they are?” I asked with childlike excitement.

“I dug your skis out of the trash, hoping that maybe you might change your mind about me someday. I filled in the scratches and gouges and shined them. There are some new ski boots under there too.”

I turned back toward him and pressed my lips to his. “Thank you. I’ve felt so guilty, thinking I would never see them again, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you.”

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