Page 114 of Last Chance Christmas
Kianna dismissed his comment with a hand wave. “It’s no big deal. I’m just glad Mackey and Victoria were stopped.”
“No.” Cole shook his head. “It is a big deal.” He dropped his hands to his side. “I meant what I said earlier. You risked your life as much as me to find Mackey. And if I hadn’t had your help, who knows how things could have turned out? You’ve taught me a lot in the last two days.”
Was this goodbye? Kianna tucked her hands in her jacket pockets. She couldn’t leave without knowing if the kiss had meant anything to him. Before she could speak, he said, “I never want you to feel undervalued. Or think you shouldn’t speak up or help out. You’re good at your job, Kianna. You care about people. I hurt you when I pushed you away.” He leaned back on his heels and sighed.
“Thank you. That means a lot. I’m glad I could help you.” She smiled even as a slight tremor coursed through her body. His comment hadn’t addressed the fire that roared in her heart. But he’d told her to speak up.
There was no more time to waste. “About earlier.” She shuffled her feet, tempted to avert her gaze. Except she was a big girl, and she needed to take in his expression. Know how he really felt about it. “The kiss. I?—”
“Don’t apologize.” He reached out and took hold of her hand. “I don’t play around. In that moment, I was serious. All in. And I still am.” He searched her eyes.
Kianna gulped, working to hold back her shock. “I feel the same way, Cole.” She placed her other hand on top of his. “I don’t want this to be the last we see of each other now that the case is closed.” Although, maybe next time there could be a little less running to stay alive.
“I’m going to visit my dad this week.” He grinned. “The life we once had might be gone, but a wise person once told me it doesn’t mean new memories can’t be created.” He winked. “And I’d like you to come.”
Kianna’s eyes widened. Somehow, in that moment, everything changed. If there was hope for Cole forging new memories when it came to his family, who was she to think it couldn’t be the same for her? “I would be honored.” Kianna squeezed Cole’s hand. Deep in her heart, the fire continued to blaze, melting away the fear of being hurt again. And she knew, this was just the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year.
“Rainy Athers was a woman who loved well and made sure you knew it.”
Kianna took the crumpled tissue in her hand and dabbed once more at the tears brimming on her lash line. She spared a glance at Cole, who sat next to her in the church pew while they listened to the pastor give the eulogy.
His pinched face held back his own emotions.
It had been four days since Mackey and Victoria had been taken down. Four days since the toxicology report came back and the security cameras showed Victoria poisoning Titan’s water. Thanks to the police working overtime, they’d confirmed the hardware wallet, which resembled a flash drive, in Victoria’s possession had nine hundred thousand dollars of cryptocurrency on it that she’d embezzled from the city with a plan to help Mackey escape from prison and hightail it off to a secluded island. The two lovebirds had been dating before Mackey had been incarcerated the first time. They’d met when Victoria was a social worker who’d worked with the kids Mackey was grooming, before she switched jobs.
The whole situation was inconceivable. Still, Kianna could relax knowing the two felons would be locked away for good and no one else’s life would be in jeopardy.
Although, her nerves still worked overtime in another area. After the memorial service ended, Kianna would meet Cole’s family. What would be her first impression of Cole’s parents? Would they like her?
“I’d like to close out the service with this reminder,” the pastor continued, breaking Kianna’s train of thought. “While we grieve today at the loss of a precious and beloved friend, daughter, and sister, we do not grieve without hope. This is the season of hope. Where we can rejoice, because a baby was born, who brought hope for the whole world. That little baby grew up and secured an eternal hope for all who believe in Him. And because of that, this is a ‘See you later, Rainy.’”
They ended the service singing “O Holy Night,” and there was not a dry eye in the room. After Cole and Kianna offered their condolences one last time, they headed outside.
“You sure you want me meeting your parents today?” Kianna’s fingers tingled, and she let out a short laugh. “I really should have brought along that poinsettia.” She slid into the passenger seat of Cole’s car.
Cole closed her door after she was settled and walked around to the driver’s side. “I told you a present isn’t necessary.” He started the engine, then grasped her fingers in his and gave them a gentle squeeze. “They’re a fan of anyone I care about. Gifts or no gifts.” He leaned in and, with a feather-light touch, brushed his mouth against hers. She returned the gesture, bracing her hand on his forearm. He trailed his finger across her jaw, and she let the warmth of his touch flood her body, erasing the chill from the car.
Kianna eased back and whispered in his ear, “You make it easy for me to open up my heart again.”
Cole hooked his thumb under her chin and sobered. “I intend to keep it that way.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “One day at a time. So you never have to second-guess.”
“Mmm.” She cocked her head. “I don’t deserve you.”
“That makes two of us.” He winked.
Just when she thought he was going to wrap her in his embrace once more, he pulled in a breath and put the car in reverse. “If we stay here any longer, we’ll be late.”
“That would be a terrible first impression.” Kianna laughed.
Cole turned up the radio, and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” played through the speakers.
Kianna glanced at Cole, and they exchanged a smile, his right hand still intertwined in hers.
It was a fitting song for this drive. And this time, she had no desire to shut off the Christmas tune. Now was the time to hold on to the hope of the season and make a few new memories in the process.
Epilogue
Chief Macon James leaned back in his chair. He could hear the department Christmas party in full swing in the engine bay, music pumping down the hall. “It’s over?”
