Page 79 of Silver Hills' Christmas Miracle

“But you didn’t break them,” I assured her. “So you’re already doing more than you need to.”

Kitty rolled her eyes affectionately. “It makes me look good if I ever run for mayor.”

“Is that something you want?”

Kitty shrugged and handed me her empty glass. “I don’t know. But I feel like I have options now. You know, when my dad took my phone and locked me in, I was planning on meeting you and running away with you. Or running away myself if you didn’t want this baby.”

I took her into my arms and held her close, looking deep into her eyes. “I would run away with you.”

“Really?” She tilted her head and let her sweeping hair slide down her arm. Seeing her with her hair down felt like some kind of secret, and I adored it. She looked gorgeous regardless, but she looked especially stunning with her face framed by waves.

“Absolutely.”

“Right now?”

“Without a second thought.”

“Ha.” Kitty leaned up onto her tiptoes and kissed me. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Our second loop of the ballroom was less about talking and more about watching people settle together. When we sat for dinner, Kitty and I shared our food, and Melanie served us an outstanding meal. From shredded turkey with mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, and candied parsnips to chocolate pudding with a delicious vanilla custard that was so good I wanted to drink it.

It was also my first Christmas meal since I was a teen, which was more emotional than I expected.

Kitty’s mother made an appearance with her phone in hand and tears in her eyes. She presented her phone, and we were suddenly on Facetime with Paul, who had woken up in the hospital and was doing okay. He was set to make a full recovery,which meant he would be back to his sarcastic, grumpy self in no time. It was the perfect news on an even more perfect night, and despite our differences, I couldn’t wait to see him again.

We did another loop of the guests until I was finally able to pull Kitty away from the duties she had given herself and get her to focus on me.

“Dance with me,” I said, taking her hand and threading our fingers together

“Thought you’d never ask.” Kitty grinned. “Although first I gotta…” She paused and gripped me tightly for balance, then leaned down and undid the straps of her heels. She discarded them and kicked them under a table to keep them out of the way, then she started walking toward the dance floor.

“Not there,” I said quietly. “This way.”

Kitty eyed me quizzically but followed closely as I weaved us through the tables and out onto the patio.

The heaters I’d requested were set up here to keep the cold at bay. The surrounding trellis was decorated with glittering lights that looped around the beams and slats, and a few stars dangled down like frozen dewdrops.

“Wow,” Kitty breathed, taking in the lights, the glitter, and the sparkling white garden still covered in a soft layer of snow. “You did this?”

“Simple, I know,” I said, turning to face her. “But I just had to get you alone.”

“Ooh.” Kitty smirked and pressed herself against me, then lazily draped her arms around my shoulders. “You could have just asked.”

“I wanted to make sure you got to do everything you wanted to do,” I replied. “Plus, everyone had to thank the one responsible for saving this town.”

“Oh, I did do that, didn’t I?” She tilted her head. “I guess I accept that now.”

“Good, because you deserve it.”

Closer and closer we leaned until our noses brushed together.

“Are you happy?” Kitty asked quietly, moving one of her hands to caress my cheek.

“Yes,” I replied honestly, possibly for the first time in my life. I grasped her waist and very slowly started to sway to the music drifting through the patio doors. “I am very happy. You make me happy.”

“You’re giving me such an ego,” Kitty giggled. “Saved the town. Got your heart. Made you happy. Guess I can do it all.”

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