Page 53 of Silver Hills' Christmas Miracle

“Oh, my God!” Kitty squealed. “You look amazing!”

“Don’t I?” Mrs. Morgan smiled widely, then she looked at me. “Do you think so?”

“Respectfully, I think I should decline to comment,” I replied quietly. “But yes, you look beautiful.”

And she did. But in my eyes, it was nothing compared to Kitty, who immediately recaptured my attention as she danced around her mother in excitement.

“This Yuletide is going to be one for the books!” Mrs. Morgan declared, and then she darted back into the changing room.

Kitty slowly took a seat in the chair next to me and puffed out her flushed cheeks. The crimson really made her eyes pop, and when she looked me in the eye, my heart clenched.

I wanted her.

In every single way that I could have her. In every way she would let me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, even when her smile was lacking the light it had a moment ago.

“Are you alright?”

“It’s hot.” Kitty chuckled, flapping at herself with her hands. “Don’t you think?”

“It is a bit,” I agreed. “But you look… phenomenal.”

Kitty’s blush darkened and she dipped her head down, causing a few loose strands of her hair to dance across hershoulders. Shoulders I wanted to touch and kiss until the end of days.

“I, uhm…” Kitty glanced nervously toward the curtain. “I have something I need to tell you.”

“Anything.”

“It’s kind of—” Kitty abruptly cut herself off when her mother appeared through the curtain, fully dressed.

“Kitty, dear, I just remembered I have to pick up something for your father while I’m in town. Do you mind if I nip and do that just now?”

“Not at all!” Kitty stood and gently smoothed out her dress. “Take your time. We can meet up for dinner at that Italian restaurant you like? Around six?”

“Perfect, Darling.” Mrs. Morgan surged forward and clutched at Kitty’s shoulders, kissing her cheek. “I will see you then.” With that, she swept out of the room and disappeared, leaving behind a cloud of her floral perfume.

“Let’s get you out of that dress, dear.” Hilda motioned for Kitty to return behind the curtain. Kitty flashed me a smile and followed, vanishing out of sight.

Just as well. I needed a moment to catch my breath because all the air had vanished with my new understanding of my feelings. I loved her.

I had to tell her.

But how?

And when?

What if she didn’t feel the same way and I ruined everything? I didn’t work for Samuel anymore, so if I did fuck it up, there was no way Kitty would keep me around as a friend. I would lose her completely.

Suddenly, a shrill ringing rose up from the front of the shop. Just as I opened my mouth to ask Hilda if she wanted me toanswer the phone, she came bustling out of the dressing room and hurried through the door.

The shrill ringing ended a few seconds later.

“Rook?”

“Mmhmm?” I stood immediately at Kitty’s call.

“Can you help me unlace the last part of the corset? I really need to get this dress off.”

“Of course.” I stepped through the curtain into a small room with a single platform and four long mirrors. Kitty was on the platform with her back to me and a half-unlaced corset. Our eyes met in the mirror as I stepped up behind her, and once again, I felt utterly weak.

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