Page 73 of The Christmas Romance Wish

“Think of it like a ruck with me in full battle rattle.”

“The gear you carried weighs as much as a full-grown person?”

“I’ve carried fallen brothers on my back, fully kitted out. This is nothing. You’re as petite as an elf.” He bounces a little as if demonstrating that I’m as light as a feather.

I giggle. “I’m wearing ten pounds of cotton and fleece. You’re trudging through more than a foot of snow.”

“We’ve worn in a path.”

“Alex, you can’t carry me up the hill.”

“We’re already halfway up.”

“I can’t let you?—”

“If this is about you proving that you’re independent, let this be about me proving that I’m capable.”

He sets me down at the top of the hill. Wagging his finger between us, he says, “It works both ways.”

“Fine, but next one, I’m carrying you up.”

Alex laughs because we both know that would be more of a dragging him by his foot scenario. Then he grips my upper arms and gazes into my eyes.

His sparkle in the sun.

His lips part and I think we’re going to kiss.

Instead, he says, “Emmie, I am well aware that you are a strong, independent woman. I love the qualities that make you who you are. You don’t have to prove anything to me nor do you have to be all things at all times. There’s nothing wrong with twopeople complementing each other. I have my strengths and weaknesses. You have yours. But together, we’re strongest and those weaknesses, whatever they are, disappear.”

Drawing a deep breath, I know this truth down to my very core, but the defensive, protective part of me objects. “I’ve set myself up not to need anyone—not my parents, my grandfather, or my brothers. No one.”

“Pizza delivery guy?”

“No, I make my own.”

“Even the dough?”

“I have a great recipe.”

“You’re speaking my language. What about a dentist?”

“That’s different. I can’t exactly see inside my mouth.”

Eyebrow arched, he asks, “Airline pilot?”

“Don’t remind me. I should be in Coco Key right now.”

“And yet you’re here. Do you want to be?”

Our gazes meet. I want to push past my inner brat and tell Alex how much he means to me. “I do. I never want to leave.”

His eyes light up. “What if you don’t? Well, I mean keep your word and visit your brothers. But then come back.”

“Or you could come with me and get a break from all this cold and snow.” Then I shake my head because that doesn’t change the plan I made for myself when I left Florida. “But my life is in New York.”

“You’ve indicated that it’s mostly spent in front of the computer. What if you moved your laptop here and spent your life,” Alex widens his arms, indicating our surroundings, “here with me.”

“But—” I start.

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