Page 69 of Puppy Love & Snowflake Kisses
She sent him a puzzled look. “You got me new towels?”
He let out a laugh. “No. There’s something in the towels.”
“Oh.” She gingerly lifted the towel.
Below it she found smaller towels wrapped around something. For him to go to all of the bother, they must be fragile. She moved with caution. She picked up the first item. She carefully unwrapped it. Inside she found a unique ornament.
A glass ball was covered in smooth bits of glass. They were in shades of pink, blue, green and white. She lifted her head and looked at him. “Are these pieces of sea glass?”
He shook his head. He hesitated. “You probably don’t recognize them, but these are some of the broken pieces of glass from your heirloom ornaments.”
She held the ornament up in front of her and looked at it. The ornament twisted back and forth, catching the light from the Christmas tree. “You made this?”
He shrugged. “Partly.”
Tears rushed to her eyes. She blinked repeatedly trying to stem them. “I can’t believe you did this.”
His handsome face creased with worry lines. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I… I was trying to find a way to hang onto those heirloom ornaments.”
She reached out to him. Her hand landed on his knee. She gave him a quick squeeze. “I love it. I can’t believe you went to so much trouble.”
“You do?” He blinked. “You really like it?”
She smiled and then nodded. “Looks like we were thinking along the same line when it came to presents.”
He smiled too. “I guess we were. You’ll find eleven more ornaments in the box.”
She gaped at him. “Wow. You were busy.”
“I just wanted to give you back a piece of your past.”
“And now my past is mingled with my future.” She pressed her lips firmly together. She hadn’t meant to vocalize her thoughts. But it was too late now. She might as well tell him the rest. She set the box aside and turned to look directly at him. Her heart was pounding. “I…”
“Wait.” He scooted closer to her. “I have something to say.”
“No. I have something to say.”
“I love you,” they said in unison.
“You do?” she asked.
“I do. And you…”
“Yes, I love you.” She smiled.
“This is the best Christmas of my life.” He leaned down and claimed her lips with his own.
Who needed mistletoe after all? Her heart felt as though it was going to beat out of her chest.He loves me.Her feet felt as though they’d left the ground. He loved her. As the snow continued to fall outside, inside it was just the two of them creating the most magical Christmas.
Epilogue
June,KringleFalls
It was her birthday.
Belle didn’t want to make a big deal of it, even if it was a milestone birthday. She was turning thirty.
When they’d talked briefly that morning, Parker hadn’t mentioned it. She didn’t even think he remembered. He had to work the evening patrol that day. Because of conflicting schedules, they probably wouldn’t even see each other. And that was okay. She didn’t normally make a big deal of her birthday.
