Page 56 of The Christmas Romance Wish

“I packed them securely, Sir Santa, um, Claus,” Shaylin says.

From outside, a rumble cuts through the air. “Is that another avalanche?”

Alex smiles like he can’t suppress it. “We have some special families around here. A few Gold Stars, some vets who’ve gone above and beyond. Twenty-five of them are going to get an extra special delivery.”

I tilt my head and watch a red helicopter land in the parking lot.

“Presenting, Sargeant Santa’s sleigh,” Pax says.

“Tell me how do you feel about heights again?” Alex asks.

“Not a fan.” I eye the helicopter warily.

“Would you go up for a good cause?”

What-ifs tumble through my busy brain.

Alex’s expression softens as if he senses my trepidation. “You could think of it like riding the luggage cart. We didn’t slip or slide. Nor did you get tossed off. But if you don’t want to go, you’re welcome to ride with those two love birds.”

“Are there seat buckles in that thing?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall.”

The problem is, I may already have.

Thirty minutes later, we’re dropping packages containing special sensors directing where they land and topped with miniature parachutes. It’s a sight to behold as people rush out of their houses to watch.

I also get an amazing view of the valley and surrounding area with its foothills and mountains, valleys and streams. The quaking aspens, evergreens, and a blanket of sparkling snow stretch as far as the eye can see.

With Alex—and the reinforcing straps that are even stronger than a regular seat belt, because let’s be real, this is scary—I feel safe.

“Okay, delivery number twenty-five. The last one. This is extra special,” Alex says, his voice somehow more alluring than ever through the headsets we wear to communicate. He tells me about Tom Marlin, a World War Two vet, who’s widowed, andstarted the Christmas delivery tradition years ago with his wife. “For one reason or another, he stopped. I decided to bring it back. Well, this wasn’t part of the tradition.”

“You mean delivering the gifts by helicopter?”

“Correction: Sargeant Santa’s sleigh.”

My smile grows and my heart thaws, even at this altitude.

“Now, for the best part. You can come with me or Judd will bring you back to HQ. Pax and Shaylin should be there by now and the three of you can pick me up.”

“What do you mean?”

Alex points to a harness he’s putting on. “I’m jumping to make the delivery—Tom Marlin was a paratrooper—101stAirborne Division that dropped into Normandy. This is something he’ll never forget.”

My jaw lowers. Alex is going to parachute onto Mr. Marlin’s property. “This gives new meaning to the termdrop ship.”

“Want to go tandem?” Alex asks, his eyes sparkling.

“Do you have a license for this thing?” I point to the complicated combination of straps and buckles.

“I sure do and an extra for you.”

“Seriously?”

“As serious as Santa is about his cookies. But joking aside, I am a professional. We’ll be safe.” Alex eyes the clear sky with a vista of mountains and valleys in the distance.

So far, my time with Alex has been an adventure. He’s protected me. We’ve had fun. Am I about to jump out of a helicopter with him?

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