Page 60 of Through the Snow Globe
“Well, I’m sure enough for both of us.” Linus lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it.
Finally, the ambulance came into view and sped past them. It wasn’t for Linus. He wasn’t the one who needed help this time. Diana released a breath and finally lifted her foot off the brake. “Almost home,” she whispered, focusing once again on the road.
“I can’t decide if you’re excited to get home because you’re so turned on by me or because you think this world is out to get us. Judging by the way you’re acting, I’m guessing it’s the latter.”
Diana looked over. “I’m fine.”
A horn honked and Diana jerked her eyes forward.
“Next time, I’m driving,” Linus said.
“No next time. We’re going to make it this time.” Diana’s palms were slick against the steering wheel. Their apartment complex was in view now. She held her breath and drove. Then she pulled into the lot, parked, and exhaled loudly. “We made it! I can’t believe we made it!” She turned to Linus and laughed out loud as tears filled her eyes. She didn’t care. Relief and joy poured over her. “We’re finally home!”
Linus’s brows hung heavily as he pulled back and looked at her. “Did you ever doubt it?”
She swallowed. Then she launched herself across the middle console, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him with everything she had. “Let’s go inside,” she said.
“Nowyou want me to touch you,” he teased. “Will I be allowed to talk as well?”
She lifted a brow. “Depends on what you’re saying.”
“I’m not sure what’s going on today, but I kind of like it.” He grinned and pushed his passenger door open. “Brr.I can’t get over how cold it is this year.”
Diana stepped out as well, feeling the sting of winter on her cheeks. She also felt exhilarated. No way could Linus get into an accident now that he was home. They hurried past the sidewalk Santa, who was still ringing his bell. Diana reached into her purse, pulled out a five-dollar bill, and placed it in his pail.
“Merry Christmas to you!” he said.
“And to you!” Diana called back, feeling all the Christmas spirit running through her. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day. It had to be because the whole point of reliving December 4th was to save Linus, which she’d done. Whatever lesson she was meant to learn, if that was even true, she’d learned it.
She poked the key in the lock and opened the door, stepping over the threshold and pulling Linus inside with her. His lips bumped against hers again as they wrapped their arms around each other. Then he kicked the front door shut with his leg and followed her to the couch.
“Here?” he asked.
“Here. There. Anywhere with you,” she whispered between kisses. She looked up into his stormy blue-gray eyes. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“You’ve been kind of aloof for a while, and now, suddenly, you seem . . . well, hot and bothered by me.” A lazy grin lined his lips as he pulled her onto the couch with him. He laid back and she pressed her body to his.
“I guess sometimes you don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” she said, feeling that to her very core. She’d never take a single moment with this man for granted again.
“I was never gone. I’ve been right here waiting for you.”
Diana swallowed. If only that were true. It didn’t matter anymore, though. She was getting a new chance with Linus. No more avoiding him. No more running from things like happily ever after or huge bear-hugging families. She still wasn’t sure she was ready for family life, but she could tell Linus. Maybe they could start simple and set a date for a year from now.
“Hey? Where’d you just go?” Linus asked, concern etched over his features.
Diana blinked him into focus. “Oh. Into my head, I guess.”
He lifted his mouth to hers in a small kiss. “That’s okay. We have all night. What if you take a hot bath and get out of your head? And your clothes.” He waggled his brows. “I’ll pour us some drinks and wait patiently for you.”
She smiled. That was just like Linus to consider her needs over his own. He was so considerate and thoughtful. She could talk to him about what was going on in her head, and he would never judge her. She knew that. “Yeah. That actually sounds amazing.” She pulled herself off his body and sat up on the couch. “I love you, Linus. I know I haven’t been the most present fiancée lately, but my feelings for you have never changed. Ever.”
Wrapping his arm around her, he hugged her close.
She breathed him in, so relieved they’d made it home.
“I love you too, Di. Here, there, anywhere,” he said quietly, pressing his lips to her temple. “Now you take a bath. I’ll pour the wine.”
Diana pulled a deep breath into her lungs, feeling more grounded now that they were safely locked inside their apartment. She stood. “Okay. I’ll be right back.”
