Page 54 of Stranded for Christmas with my Boss

“You’re going to help me save Christmas.”

Chapter twenty-five

Alyssa

My head swims with a hazy fog when I wake up the next morning. At first, I don’t even remember what day it is or where I’m at. All I register is how warm I feel and how bright the outside world looks through the nearby window.

As bright as white snow.

A jolt of realization hits me, making me lurch off Jensen’s chest as my heart pounds. It’s Christmas!

I’ve never felt so torn on Christmas morning. The snow might look beautiful, but it’s also like a wall, keeping me away from everything I love about today—the smell of cookies baking in the oven, the sound of holiday music playing from our old radio, my mom’s laugh as we mess up another batch of gingerbread men. A lump forms in my throat, the tears I’ve been holding back threatening to spill.

“No, no, no,” I murmur as I stumble out of bed and over to the cabin’s bedroom window.

There isn’t any snow falling or wind blowing, but the ground is still covered with snow! It blankets Jensen’s car and towersinches high on the roads, blocking our path to escape. We’re still stuck!

“Hm?” Jensen mumbles sleepily as he sits up in bed, rubbing his eyes as the sheets settle around his bare waist.

I turn to him as my eyes start to water. “I thought maybe the resort would start plowing the roads to clear them. They’re still full of snow, though. There’s no way we can drive back home for Christmas without getting ourselves killed.”

“What time is it?” Jensen asks as he rolls his neck in a circle, loosening his muscles. He grabs his phone off the nightstand to check his notifications, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly.

I frown at him, wondering why he’s not as upset as me. I know he wants to see Oliver and Holly on Christmas. “It’s almost eight o’clock.”

Jensen nods and hauls himself out of bed so that he can walk over to me. He cups my face and meets my eyes. “Merry Christmas, Alyssa.”

I gaze up at him as confusion rings across my face, my body freezing up. What is going on with him?

Jensen looks too calm, too collected, and for a moment, I feel a flicker of frustration. How can he be so relaxed when I’m on the verge of tears? Doesn’t he get it? This is Christmas—the one day of the year I’ve always been able to count on.

I take a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’re not upset?”

He just smiles, that damn charming grin of his, and my frustration starts to melt, replaced by something warmer. “Everything is going to work out today,” he says with a quiet confidence that makes me want to believe him.

“I just wanted to take a moment and tell you Merry Christmas.”

Warmth burns throughout my whole chest as my gaze sweeps over his face, detecting pure, genuine happiness. He’s not playing a game with me or joking around. He’s being serious.

“Merry Christmas, Jensen,” I tell him as I give him a small smile.

He steps closer, his hands finding my waist, his thumbs brushing lightly against my sides. My heart flutters at his touch, my breath catching as his gaze holds mine. “I’ve got one more surprise,” he murmurs, his voice low and warm, sending a thrill through me.

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued but still a little skeptical. “Another one?”

He nods, leaning in slightly, his lips hovering close to my ear. “Just trust me.”

The way he says it—softly, but with such surety—sends a shiver down my spine. I feel my resolve weakening, my worries slowly dissolving under the heat of his gaze.

“Okay,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the soft crackle of the fire.

Jensen smiles, a look of relief washing over his face. “Get dressed. I need to show you something.”

“A gift?”

Jensen cracks a grin as he pulls on his pants. “I guess you could call it that.”

I lift an eyebrow in interest, but I know he won’t ruin the surprise. I pull on my clothes and run my fingers through my hair, fixing it into a straight braid down my upper back with a few loose framing pieces.

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