Page 64 of The Christmas Romance Wish

I take one bag and we walk slowly down the street, rating the displays, including a train that reminds me of the Polar Express, a barn and a horse-drawn sleigh, along with moose and reindeer using a scale from one Christmas bell to ten, being the best.

There are a few that get a three to five rating, but most of them rate pretty high. We laugh and talk until we reach the end of the walk with a tunnel of glowing lights.

We approach the red and white sign that saysMerry Kiss-mas. Hanging over it is a giant lit-up mistletoe.

Emmie glances at me as if she’s game for what’s about to happen, well, the part she expects. There’s more to it.

Taking her hand, I guide her under the lights. A photographer poises at the ready to capture the sweet moments between couples—I found a photo at HQ of Pax and Shaylin. I’m not sure who put who up to it.

“You were right, there is one thing that would make today perfect.” I point above us. “A kiss under the mistletoe.”

We both lean in. Our lips meet. The kiss is warm and sweet. It’s everything that was missing from my life. Instead of free falling, like when we first jumped out of the helo, I feel like I’m on solid ground.

For the first half of my life, I felt aimless. For the second, I had a mission. Now, I have a purpose. It’s to make Emmie feel loved because at last, I feel whole and fulfilled. Well, almost. There’s one thing left for me to do.

I reach into my pocket, about to pull out the small velvet box I picked up earlier, when someone calls out, “It’s a mistletoe match! You’re our twenty-fifth photo of the night and that means you win—” But I don’t hear the rest of what the person dressed as an elf says.

I was going to do the bravest thing of my life, but now I’m hearing about overnight options at the resort, restaurant coupons, and activity packages from a well-meaning hotel employee.

“How long have you been married?” he asks.

Emmie and I look at each other. I try to read the light in her eyes.

She says, “We’re not married.”

Not yet.

Alex

CHAPTER 16

Instead of popping the question, Emmie and I spend the next several minutes listening to the enthusiastic “Holidayle Happenings” representative talk up the town.

“I’d love to stick around, but I’m leaving soon,” Emmie says.

I’m not sure if regret fills her voice or, like me, she doesn’t enjoy the high-pressure sell. To be clear, this is a free prize and not an attempt at a timeshare or something like that, but it’s not the right timing.

My company isn’t called Wild Warriors by accident. While I’ve enjoyed our day in Holidayle, my natural habitat is on the ranch trails or doing things independently and mostly outdoors.

A couple with several kids who look like they’re close to overdosing on cocoa, cookies, and Christmas, drag themselves along the lit-up street.

Emmie and I make eye contact as if we’re both thinking the same thing.

“Would it be possible to pass this prize along to them?” I ask, hoping Emmie is okay with that.

She lights up. “Yes, a little pay-it-forward Christmas Secret Santa.” Without waiting for the elf to agree, she hurries after the family.

Hands in my pockets, I shrug at the guy with the elf hat who looks surprised that we’d pass up the offer.

I lean in, “She’s a bit of a Grinch, but I’m working on it.”

Lips pressed together, he nods as if he understands.

But Emmie has come around on Christmas considerably in the last twenty-four hours. And there’s more to come when we get home and unpack the Jeep, loaded with gifts for the kids tomorrow at the church event, cookie-making supplies, and decorations for the house.

But first, dinner. We go to “Antlers & Iron.” It’s a pub-type place, but the magic is in the back past the outdoor dining area complete with warm fires and heaters.

Emmie takes a seat and then I lower down, trying to adhere to the gentlemanly manners Gram taught me. Her words of advice when it came to women was to make sure my date wouldn’t have anything nasty to say to her brother or father about me.

---