Page 80 of The Spy Who Ghosted Me

MY FIRST CIVILIAN-LIFE MISSION was to find Sabrina the perfect Christmas present. One would think it would be easy, but I’d never purchased a Christmas gift. And anything I’d ever bought for her, I’d seen her admiring first. The only thing she’d admired in the past several days was me, so that was no help, although I’d thoroughly enjoyed all our time together. Mia’s advice was to get her something thoughtful and from my heart. There was only one thing I could think of.

“Knock, knock.” Callie Belle peeked her head in the guest room door—the same room Izan had stayed in. It was a little odd, but I didn’t mention it. In fact, I don’t think anyone in Sabrina’s family wanted his name mentioned ever again. Especially since Lexi had already moved on with one of the local police officers, Josh, who’d “helped” the FBI investigate Izan. Apparently, Lexi was all about a simple life now.

I looked up from the silver wrapping paper lying on the bed covered in a Christmas quilt. Callie had decorated every room for Christmas.

“I thought you might like some help wrapping Sabrina’s gift,” Callie said.

How did she know I was inept when it came to these things? I’d been staring at the wrapping paper for several minutes, wondering how to go about wrapping a gift. Every present under the Belles’ tree looked like perfection, and I didn’t want to ruin the aesthetic Callie clearly prided herself on.

I gave her a sheepish grin. “That would be great. Thank you.”

Callie glided over, smiling so widely her cheeks must have hurt. She hadn’t stopped smiling like that since Sabrina and I had arrived yesterday. As soon as she reached me, she ran her fingers across Sabrina’s gift. “COCO MADEMOISELLE—very nice.”

“I also booked a trip to France for us in the spring,” I mumbled, worried she might think I’d only gotten Sabrina one gift. You couldn’t exactly wrap reservations. I just planned on telling her about the trip when she unwrapped the perfume.

Callie affectionately placed her delicate hand on my cheek, her eyes misting. “That is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. She’s going to love it.”

Her motherly affection caught me by surprise, so I stood there like a dolt, not knowing what to say, despite the fact that I appreciated her gentle touch.

My silence didn’t deter her. Her free hand found my other cheek, and she held my face close to hers. “You’re a good man. I can feel it. We were so worried about you. We’re so glad you are healthy and whole again.” It was almost like she knew I worried that I wasn’t a good man. Certainly not good enough for her daughter. And she had no idea what her concern meant to me. I was doing my best to get used to people caring about me and me caring about them.

“Thank you” was all I could think to say. Hopefully someday I would be able to articulate my feelings better.

Callie tapped my cheeks before dropping her hands. “Let’s wrap this gift, shall we?”

I nodded.

Callie walked me through the process and tried to stay as hands off as possible, but she insisted on tying the red bow. When it was all said and done, I believed it looked worthy enough to go under the Belles’ tree.

“Thank you,” I said, relieved.

“You’re welcome. Now get into your Christmas pj’s and meet us in the kitchen for some cookie baking.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Callie quickly left, leaving me to change into the red-and-green-plaid pajamas she’d given me earlier in the day. Apparently, it was a Belle Christmas tradition to wear matching pajamas while making Christmas cookies and watching their favorite holiday movies. Admittedly, I was looking forward to it, even though I found it odd. I was beginning to think my younger self was wrong about families. They weren’t a lie—it’s just that good families took a lot of work, and some people weren’t willing to put in the time and effort.

It didn’t take long for me to change into the pajamas. I walked out into the hall with the wrapped present. The sounds of Christmas carols and laughter rang through the house. I smiled as I walked toward the great room to place Sabrina’s gift under the twenty-foot tree glowing brightly near the roaring fireplace. It was as if I’d been transported into a Christmas card.

I let Sabrina sneak up behind me, knowing full well she was there. She might be clever, but she hadn’t mastered the art of being stealthy.

She wrapped her arms around me from behind after I’d deposited her gift. “Merry Christmas.”

I placed my hands over hers on my chest for a beat or two, soaking in this moment—a moment I’d believed I would never have. Unable to resist taking her into my arms any longer, I turned around and gathered her close to me, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair. “Merry Christmas.” I wasn’t sure I had ever uttered those words.

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

“You two better get in here,” Nana Rose yelled from the kitchen.

I swallowed hard. The woman was handsy.

“Don’t worry—I’ll protect you.” Sabrina laughed, knowing my thoughts.

But it struck me that I now had someone in my life to protect me. That that was the best gift anyone had ever given me. “I love you, Sabrina.” Those words were coming naturally and more often now.

“I love you too. Now, kiss me like you mean it.”

---