Page 30 of Mafia Christmas Vows

Elena gives me a knowing look toward the end of the meal. “Maggie, dochka, have you ever experienced a Russian holiday before?”

I want to roll my eyes at the endearment.Dochka. Doll.

She is a doll. As pretty as one, anyway.

Magdalena shakes her head. “No. I assume it’s pretty different from an American Christmas?”

Elena clicks her tongue. “Oh, most certainly. What would you do for an American Christmas?”

Magdalena sighs. “Nothing huge. We’d decorate, listen to music. Bake cookies. Decorate them. Play in the snow if it snowed. Look at Christmas lights. Read books by the fire.”

“We do all of those. Except perhaps the cookies,” Elena smiles. “Maybe you could show us what those are?”

Magdalena perks up. “I’d love to.”

“And Alexei, perhaps you could tell Maggie about some of the ornaments on the tree?”

I raise an eyebrow.

Elena shrugs. “Just an idea. They are family heirlooms, after all. She should know the history of the family if she is to be the lady of the house.”

“It’s okay, I don’t want to intrude?—”

“Come,” I say, rising. “I will tell you about them.”

I can see Magdalena startle, as though she wasn’t expecting me to be so forthcoming. I myself am not expecting it.

But Elena has a point.

Maybe it is the peace. Maybe it is the consistent thrum of the snow against the windows.

But for some reason, the memories that I keep tightly locked under my skin feel a little looser today. The ache in my chest does not feel quite so painful.

Instead, it feels…

Manageable.

Magdalena stands cautiously.

I reach my hand forward, and the wait for her to take it feels like an eternity.

When she does, I can’t help the shiver that courses through me.

“Let us see the tree,” I murmur.

MAGGIE

Ifeel like I’m torn between the reality of waking up and looking at Alexei today, and the memory of the kiss last night.

Well.

Maybe it’s better to say that I’mhauntedby last night’s kiss.

I didn’t sleep. Not even a little. The room was super cozy and warm, even with the storm howling outside, but I couldn’t sleep while I was so keyed up over that kiss.

Keyed up is an understatement. On fire is probably more accurate.

I’ve never been so turned on by a kiss. Not ever.

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