Page 92 of My eX-MAS Emergency

“I figured.” He rubbed his nose against mine. “I don’t blame you for throwing them away. In fact, I’m surprised you kept them. Why did you?”

I thought for a moment about how to explain it to him. “I guess I just wanted a piece of you. At least the you I remembered. Not the guy who wanted to quit me.”

Tristan cringed. “Cal, I hate that those words ever came out of my mouth.”

I placed a finger to his lips. “I know.”

He kissed my fingers. His hand ran the length of my body until it landed on my bare leg. His fingers tracing my skin made me shiver. “I don’t deserve you.”

“That’s not true. In fact, I want to give you your present now.”

“Oh, really.” He pressed his body harder against mine.

“Not that present.” I grinned.

He let out a heavy, resigned sigh.

“Don’t be disappointed,” I playfully admonished him while I sat up so I could show him my gift. I swept my hair to one side and slowly pulled down my shirt sleeve to reveal my shoulder. “I finally came up with the perfect superhero name for you.”

Tristan sat up and ran his fingers along my new tattoo, which was still a little red and ached, but was totally worth it. “It just says Tristan,” he commented, surprised.

“I know.” I couldn’t think of a more fitting superhero name than his own.

A sheen of moisture filled his eyes. “I don’t know what to say.” He kissed my shoulder and let his lips linger upon the name I had permanently inked on my back. It spoke of spending every Christmas with him for the rest of my life.

The emotions that ran between us in that moment were so palpable, I wished I could bottle them up and relive them over and over again.

Tristan took me in his arms, his hand cupping my neck. “I love you.”

Smiling, I responded, “I know. I love you too. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas indeed.” His head lowered until his lips landed on mine. His kiss was soft and sweet and felt just like home.

Quinn threw open the bedroom door and burst onto the scene. “Yes! I got my Christmas wish.”

I supposed she did. Someday, I would thank her for all her scheming. I was quite proud of it.

Tristan and I broke apart as she ran and jumped between us on the couch. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” she impishly asked.

I pulled her to me and hugged the life out of her. “No, nothing at all.”

Tristan flashed me a knowing grin before kissing Quinn’s head.

Wrapped all together on the couch, we basked in the tree’s glow.

My eyes drifted up toward the angel. I couldn’t help but think my mom had something to do with all this. I swore I could even hear her laugh about my foolish promises. But I knew there would be one promise I would always keep.

I gazed over at Tristan and silently promised to love him for the rest of my life.

CALISTA

FROM THE SLOW-MOVING SKI lift, I looked down at the snow-covered mountains stretching out below us, glistening in the morning sun. The crisp, cold air filled my lungs with each breath, and I felt the anticipation of it all. The smell of pine trees wafted through the air, mixing with the sound of skiers carving up the slopes. I reached out and grabbed Tristan’s gloved hand. He looked mighty fine in his black ski suit with matching goggles. They were about as sexy as the ones I was wearing.

I heard Quinn laugh with Stella in the lift ahead of us. I loved how close they were becoming.

It was the perfect way to start the New Year, even if I had worked throughout New Year’s Eve. And what a night it had been with kidney stones, food poisoning, several Viagra patients, and of course my favorite patient, who was too impatient for me to come home. All he needed was a good long kiss when the clock struck midnight.

“Do you remember how to get off the lift?” Tristan asked.

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