Page 3 of The Christmas Romance Wish

“Don’t make it sound so awful to live in one of the most desirable buildings in Manhattan. It’s practically a city unto itself with every amenity you can think of.”

I acknowledge that it’s incredibly gracious for my brother to let me stay in his empty penthouse apartment. However, it’s on the twentieth floor of the building, which could be a problem. Not only that, but I’m afraid if I live under his roof, he’ll have even more authority over me even though he’s returned to his roots in Coco Key.

“Hey, come back,” Dylann says gently, knowing I tend to get lost in the corridors of my mind.

She studies me for a long moment and then says, “Wait. You have a certain look. I see it in your eyes. When you said you have a change of plans, you mean you’re going to seehim, aren’t you?”

I force myself not to smile. The trip to meet my co-writer in person had been pitched as a way for us to finalize the manuscript before I turn it in to the editor. I did a lot of lip-nibbling debate with myself about whether it was a good idea.

For one, I don’t like flying. For two, peopling in person is worse than flying. Three, I might have an itty-bitty crush on the guy.

Hopping and squealing, Dylann takes my hands and flings them wildly between us. “You were just emailing him, weren’t you? That was why you were in Crush Pose.”

“I don’t have a crush on him.”

I do. I do. I do.

“You have asomethingon him. I have experience with these things.” Dylann met her fiancé on an app I helped create calledMarry Me. She’s an example of how effectiveit is for people who don’t want to be part of modern dating culture and would rather engage in a more traditional style of courtship.

“To skip to the good part,” as we dubbed it.

After their initial “match,” she and Jacob got to know each other in person like in the old days. Five months later, they’re planning their big day and future.

Her eyes light up. “You’re going to finally meet Captain America, your real-life book boyfriend?”

I cast her a glare. “That’s not how book boyfriends work and he’s not available. More like Captain Untouchable.”

“Oh, right. Hands and eyes off. The merchandise is taken. No peeking until Christmas.” She puts her hands in front of her eyes and plays peekaboo.

“Don’t remind me.”

In the fall, I caught a cold and caught feelings for a guy who is not available. He was so sweet when I was under the weather and sent me a care package along with daily chicken soup delivery.

The only problem is, we haven’t met in real life. I don’t even know what he looks like because his social media presence is non-existent. He’s old school...and older than me by a bit.

“Remember, he has Ginny,” I remind myself and Dylann.

“What’s his real name again?”

“Alexander Armstrong.” It’s hard to say his name around the smile that insists on making an appearance whenever I utter those two words, think them, or write them.

“The other part too.”

“Retired SEAL Officer?”

“Okay, now put it all together.”

I playfully swat Dylann because she knows how I feel and wants me to admit it.

“Retired SEAL Officer Alexander Armstrong is taken, and he’s older than me...and he was in the military.”

“I got that with the whole retired SEAL Officer part. Remind me why the military part is aproblem?”

I lift onto my toes and with a flat hand measure my oldest brother’s height and outline his formidable build. “Magnus?”

Dylann narrows her eyes. “And that’s a problem because....? Wouldn’t he want you to be with a fellow soldier?”

I’m proud of Mag, but he carries a lot of baggage. Alex too, as I’ve learned. “They’re also the same age. Thirty-eight. Like you, I’m twenty-six.”

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