Page 55 of Stranded for Christmas with my Boss

“Ready?” Jensen calls from the entrance of the cabin.

I pick up my face, curiosity rushing through me. He seems…eager. Whatever he wants to show me, he’s excited about, but I have no clue what it could be.

It’s not like either of us has been able to leave the cabin to stage any sort of surprise.

“Ready,” I say as I leave the bedroom, tugging on my coat.

Jensen turns to me and buttons up the front of my coat. “It’s chilly out there.”

“You can’t give me a hint about this surprise?”

Jensen smirks and shakes his head. “Why would I give you a hint when I could just show you?”

Good point.

Jensen’s fingers gently brush against one of the framing strands of hair resting on the side of my face. “I just want you to know that you mean a lot to me. I should make that more obvious, but…I never saw you coming. I never saw anything like what we have coming.”

His words nearly make me melt on the spot, warmth encompassing my entire pounding heart as I gaze up into his eyes. “Jensen…”

Before I can finish my sentence and admit that I wasn’t fully honest about my feelings the other night, a distinct sound whirs in the distance.

“That’s the surprise,” Jensen says before pulling open the door. He leads me out of the cabin and leaves the key on the doorstep. “We won’t be needing that anymore.”

My confused gaze shifts from him to the bright overcast snow. Eventually, I make out an approaching shape, the whirring sound becoming clearer. “Is that a helicopter?”

Jensen grins and takes my hand, leading me away from the cabin toward an open field of snow nearby. The black helicopter starts to descend, a company’s name plastered across its side. It’s a private helicopter!

“That’s our ride, baby!” Jensen raises his voice above the sound of the rotors.

My jaw drops in disbelief as I watch the helicopter slowly touch down to the ground in front of us. The engine cuts off, making the rotors swing around slower and slower. “How did you do this?”

He laughs, pulling me closer as the wind whips around us, his eyes dancing with excitement. “I have my ways.”

I stare at him, my heart swelling with something so big, so overwhelming, I can hardly contain it. This man—this incredible, frustrating, wonderful man—has done the impossible. For me. For us.

Tears blur my vision, and I blink them away, not wanting to miss a second of this moment. “Jensen…I don’t even know what to say.”

His grin softens, turning more earnest. “Say you’re ready for the best Christmas ever.”

I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. “I’m ready,” I whisper, squeezing his hand, knowing deep down that with him, I always will be.

“I called Austin and asked for a huge favor. I’ll owe him for the rest of my life for pulling this together, but it’s worth it,” Jensen says, a light laugh of relief lacing his words. He turns to me as the pilot opens the door for us. “It’s still too dangerous to drive, but it’s safe enough to fly.”

I blink at him, my shock rendering me speechless for a few moments. He managed to get a private helicopter all the way out here for us so that we could go back home for Christmas. Is this a dream?

“Jensen…”

“I know.” Jensen smiles and pulls me into the helicopter, helping me get strapped in.

“Is this really happening?” I ask as I stay still, letting him get me situated as my hands tremble.

Jensen sits next to me and straps in. “It doesn’t feel real yet?”

I shake my head as a laugh of disbelief breaks from me. “No way.”

“Believe it,” Jensen says before looking forward toward the pilot. “We’re ready!”

The pilot gives us a thumbs up before starting up the rotors again, the helicopter gradually lifting off the ground.

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