Page 41 of Mistletoe and Magic

“My Uncle Peter died and left me my family’s ancestral lodge. I’m in the midst of renovating it. But you called me…”

“Yeah, I’m thinking of opening a high-end restaurant in Pelican Point, Florida. I was going to hire you away from that bastard you were working for. Renovation is not for the faint of heart or the light of wallet. How are you fixed for operating capital?”

“I don’t need your money Murph.”

“Don’t be stupid, everybody needs my money, which is why it’s a good thing I have so much.” He laughed. “Seriously, Winterborne, you saved my fucking life, in violation of a direct order I might add, and I remember you talking about the place. I’m always looking for a sound investment. Talk to me.”

“Well, I could use an ongoing angel investor, but what I really need is some cash to pay off a balloon payment that expires at one minute to midnight on New Year’s Eve. I have been told by the bank manager that Candace Prescott and Sapphire Development will not give me so much as a thirty second extension.”

“Damn, I’m sorry about that, Jace…”

“Hey, if you don’t have the money…”

Ryan laughed. “Good god, no. And why would you deny me the pleasure of playing Santa Claus…”

“You don’t have the abs for it. I saw the profile they did of you in GQ. So, if the money isn’t the issue…”

“It’s not. Candy came after you for one reason and one reason only, you served with me in the SEALs. You aren’t the first of my men she’s gone after.”

“Do you know her?”

“There was a time I was in love with her, but that’s another story for another day. But trust me when I tell you I’m the reason she came after you. Take the money, Jace.”

“Okay, I’ll sign whatever you need me to.”

“You going to pay me back?”

“With interest.”

“Then your word is good enough for me. I’ll get you the money on the twenty-sixth, but could you do me two favors?”

“Absolutely.”

“Don’t pay her until the last minute you feel comfortable with on New Year’s Eve, and then let her know you got the money from me. If you like fireworks, stick around and watch her go ballistic. It was always fun to see, especially when I got to be the one to take the fire out of her.” The last was said with a bit of wistfulness.

“Murph… I don’t know what to say but thank you. You are, of course, welcome at the Lodge anytime, and I’m pretty much going to insist you be my best man.”

“Best man? Do tell.”

And Jace told him everything about Felicity—well…except for the part where she thought she was from a different reality.

Shortly After Midnight

Christmas Eve

Jace didn’t carewhichreality they were in so long as they were in thesamerealitytogether. As they entered the Northwind Lodge, his heart was thundering in his chest with the same wild rhythm that mirrored the crackling fire in the hearth in the big stone fireplace. He’d persuaded her to abandon her idea and her vigil at the clock as it struck midnight. He reached for Felicity's hand, his fingers intertwining with hers as he’d led her away from those who were gathering for a midnight service. The silence between them as they’d driven back to the lodge had been heavy with unspoken words and pent-up yearning, but he’d held her hand the entire way.

He led her into his room on the main floor, closing it with a soft click behind them, the world outside fading away until there was nothing but the two of them. The warmth from the fireplace danced across Felicity's face, casting a golden glow on her delicate features. Her eyes, wide and expectant, held a galaxy of emotions that Jace felt compelled to explore.

"You believe, right?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the sacredness of the moment could be shattered by the slightest disturbance.

Felicity's answer was not in words but in the slow nod of her head and the gentle pressure of her lips against his, a kiss that spoke of trust and the tender feelings of love. They moved together, a slow and natural choreography, shedding layers of doubt and clothing with each step toward the four-poster bed.

Their bodies met in a masterful blend of touch and sensation, Felicity's soft curves melting into Jace's muscular form. The world contracted to the space where skin met skin, each caress igniting sparks that set their souls alight. Words were lost in the communion of their embrace as whispers and sighs filled the room, mingling with the crackle of the fire.

Time ceased to exist as they discovered each other in light of their confessed feelings, the connection deepening beyond the physical realm. In the intimacy of their union, Jace found solace from his past and Felicity from her fears of never finding true love, as both dissipated like mist. Together, they wrote a story of passion and promise, a prelude to all the tomorrows they would share.

In the days that followed, the lodge transformed under their combined efforts and those of practically everyone in the village. Jace's hands, once skilled in the art of culinary creations, now wielded tools with the same finesse, securing decorations and ensuring every corner of the lodge radiated the magic of the season. Felicity's eye for detail brought an added layer of charm, arranging books and trinkets that made the spaces feel lived-in and inviting.

---