Page 14 of Christmas of Convenience

“I met this girl. Her name is Jen. Jen… you want to come up here?” He reaches his hand out for me, and though I’m probably the shyest girl in the universe, I follow him up onto the stage and stare out at the crowd before us. My parents are next to my sister now. I’m sure they’re having a field day with this.

“This beautiful girl has taken my heart, and I want everyone here to know it. She’s by far the smartest, sweetest, most beautiful person I’ve ever met, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

He pulls me against his giant frame, bends me back, and kisses me as though his life depends on it. Like before, the motion is soft and sweet, followed with more intensity.

I’m not sure how the crowd is reacting. All I know is that I’m lost. Lost in Sam. Lost in the magic of this night. Lost in the possibilities the future holds.

Like the giant he is, Sam lifts me effortlessly from the stage and carries me down the steps, stopping for a moment when my mother reaches out.

“Oh, honey. You had us all believing this was fake, but that kiss looked pretty real. You’re a lucky girl. Hold on to this one.”

“No,” Sam glances toward me, “I’m the lucky one. And if it’s alright with everyone, I think Jen and I will spend the night at my place.”

My sister’s jaw drops and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her so speechless.

“Yeah, of course. Have fun you two.” I’m not sure my mother has ever been more agreeable, but I don’t question it. The last thing I want to do is jinx all the magic working its way over my life right now.

Sam nods toward my family, wishes them a Merry Christmas, and carries me toward his truck without looking back. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt more cared for in my life.

Chapter Six

Sam

“I’m not sure I’ve ever felt more special.” Jen tucks her hand into mine as we drive back to my cabin for the night.

It’s snowing again, but thankfully my cabin isn’t far from the barn. My brothers have all preferred to build far out, away from the store and the farm, but I like to be in the center of things. I love seeing the barn lit up with lights on nights like tonight, or the country store busy with people. It’s proof that our little family business is a treasure here. I have a lot of pride in that.

“Youarespecial.” I kiss Jen’s hand as I pull into the stone driveway. This house is the main house on the property and it’s by far the biggest.

“Wow! This is a lot of space for one person.”

“Which is why I need you to fill it up.”

She laughs and hops from the truck, though I’d have preferred for her to wait for me to help her out. “Yeah, well, this place is too big for two people as well.”

“Which is why we fill it up with babies.”

“You don’t want babies. I thought you said you were too old.”

I glance away then back again, scrubbing my hand down over my beard in the falling snow. “I did say that. I worry it’s truetoo, but something about you makes me want to fill you with loads of them.”

Her brows raise. “Loads of them… huh?”

I smile and lift her up over my shoulder before walking toward the little barn at the back of the property. “I wanna show you something.”

“I still don’t know how you’re lifting me.”

“You’re just a little thing, I can carry you across the field.”

She laughs. “No one would ever describe me as little.”

“You’re little to me.” I slide open the barn door and flick on the light, illuminating the sleigh that sits in the center of the space.

“Oh shit.” She grins as I sit in the sleigh and haul her over my lap. “You actually have a sleigh.”

“Yeah, I do, and I’m about to ask you some really serious questions.” I rub her round bottom. “I hope you have good answers for me.”

She giggles and squirms against my lap. “Are you serious?”

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