Page 75 of Silver Hills' Christmas Miracle

“Tomorrow, silly!” Mrs. Morgan smiled brightly. “Christmas Eve? What better way to blow away the cobwebs of this whole ordeal than the Yuletide Ball!”

Kitty straightened up and her head whipped around to me. “Be my date?”

I smiled. “Suit’s already secured.”

31

KITTY

‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas…’

Soft, festive music carried through the house and filled the entire building with warmth, right into even the darkest corner of the room. The Yuletide Ball was in full swing in the back ballroom. Guests trickled in by twos and threes, and the most delicious smells wafted up from the kitchen. Whatever Melanie was cooking up in there was going to be the most memorable yet.

Behind me, Rook hummed along to the music as he laced up the final ribbon strands of my dress, and each time his fingertips skimmed my bare shoulder blades, I shivered. I wasn’t cold. He just made me excited with every single touch. And I was going to have that for the rest of my life.

His humming turned into gentle, musical whistling, and I watched the faint smile across his lips grow in size in the mirror.

“There we go.” Rook finished the knot and then gently grasped my shoulders. “All done.”

“You sure?” I placed both hands on the jeweled bodice and breathed in to test how much room I had. “Nothing is going to slip when I’m out there greeting people?”

“The only way you’re getting out of this dress is by my hand.” Rook pressed up behind me and slid his arms slowly around my waist until his hands rested over my stomach. “And believe me, the temptation is more than I can bear. Can you even comprehend how good you look to me right now?”

I laughed and ran my fingers through my hair. Tonight, I’d abandoned my usual braid and swept all my hair from the left to the right, where it was then draped in soft waves over my shoulder.

“I can take a guess,” I murmured, meeting his eyes in the mirror. “Because you look just as good, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep my hands off you.”

I turned in his grasp until I was facing him, then raised both hands and cupped his face. There was a new sparkle in Rook’s eyes that I hadn’t seen before, like life had reignited in the depths of his soul, and I loved it.

“Do we really have to attend?” Rook’s voice lowered slowly, and he pressed his lips gently to mine.

I allowed the kiss for a few seconds, then broke away and whined softly. “You’ll spoil my lipstick and—oh, my God.” Laughing, I moved my hand and swiped my thumb along his lower lip to remove the red stain that had transferred over.

“I think it looks good.” Rook grinned, playfully biting my thumb on its way past. “Red is absolutely my color.”

“Oh, really?” I lifted one brow. “I’ll give you some tips afterward, then.”

“I knew you’d guide me.” Rook chuckled, and despite the stain transfer, he kissed me again. For a few moments, I was weak and leaned into his embrace to soak up the kiss. Until I remembered I still had to get through this entire night, and then I pulled back. “Have you spoken to my father yet?”

“No.” Rook shook his head. “I haven’t seen him.”

“Spoke to me about what?” Dad’s timing was rather impeccable as he strode into the study, adjusting his tie. Seeing him still gave me a tight gut clench on reflex.

Would that ever go away? I had no idea, but his apology was a good start.

Rook stiffened under my touch, and then we parted so that we were no longer pressed against one another.

“I heard you canceled the highway deal yesterday,” Rook said. “And that it’s caused quite a disaster.”

As Rook spoke, I turned back to the mirror and picked up the ruby necklace my mother had chosen to go with the dress.

“Bad news travels fast,” Dad muttered as he reached the drinks trolly. “Not many people enjoy losing out on a deal that large right before Christmas.”

“But it’s the right thing to do,” I said, clasping the necklace around my throat. With such glittering gemstones, no one would notice the faint bruising from Anton that I’d covered with makeup.

“It is the right thing to do,” Dad repeated.

“Well,” Rook continued. His reflection stiffened, and he stepped closer to my Dad. “I think I have a solution for you.”

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