Page 74 of Just Add Mistletoe

His father would remain in the hospital another day or two, but he was doing really well overall. He’d have a new health and nutrition regimen he was supposed to stick to. Malcom had told Lori it was strange to be around his parents—who so clearly doted on each other—after all this time.

She scrolled through the texts, skim reading a few of them again.

And Bronson . . . Kari didn’t come with him, which gave us a lot of time to talk. Without too much defensiveness.

Bronson wants to do a plea deal for tax evasion. The fines will be hefty, but he’ll likely stay out of jail.

Kari’s fines will be less, as well as Penny’s.

I’ll be glad when I’m home.

I’m missing you like crazy, sweetheart.

He’d called her sweetheart, and he’d called Everly Fallshome.

A knock sounded on her door, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. Tiger lifted his head, and she carefully moved him offher. How had she not heard someone on her stairs? And hadn’t she locked the door at the bottom of the staircase?

A text buzzed her phone. From Malcom.

I’m at your place.

Relief flooded through her, and she headed to the door and opened it.

Malcom stood on the other side, a bouquet of flowers in hand. “Hey, I saw the light on.”

She smiled. “Aren’t you dead on your feet?”

“Never too dead for you.”

She rolled her eyes, but then suddenly he was inside, pulling her into his arms. Squeezing her tight.

“I missed you,” he murmured against her ear.

“I missed you too,” she said. And it was true. Her heart was thumping, her feet at least an inch off the ground, and he smelled like he’d just stepped out of a shower. “I thought you were going to call me.”

Malcom drew back, a half smile on his face, his hazel eyes warm. “I thought this would be better.”

“I must say that I agree.”

“Good.” He leaned down and kissed her.

She nudged the door shut with her foot and kissed him back. His kiss was confident, familiar, and everything good that she’d memorized about him. How had she missed him so much after only a couple of days? His arms holding her, his hands splayed across her back, his seeking kisses—all of it made the butterflies rejoice in her stomach.

When she finally decided she should probably breathe a little, she drew away. “It’s way too late for the grocery store to be open. Where did you get these flowers?”

He held them up. “I bought them in Montana. So they might need some water.”

“Oh.” Lori was surprised, but thrilled all the same. He’d carried flowers onto the plane? It kind of made her giddy. She stepped away from him and rummaged in her kitchen to find a vase. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d put flowers in a vase—at least in winter.

Once she had the flowers situated, she turned toward Malcom. He looked deliciously rumpled after their kiss. She needed something to distract herself. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? I can warm up pasta I made earlier tonight. Or . . .”

“I’m fine.”

Tiger interrupted with a meow.

Malcom bent to pick up the kitten. True to his nature, Tiger began to purr. “He missed me too.”

“I’m making you something. Airplane food doesn’t cut it.” Lori moved about the kitchen, warming up the chicken and pasta. She cut up some fruit and made an impromptu fruit salad. “Nothing like my mom’s extravagant Thanksgiving meal, but here you go.”

---