Page 58 of Black Ice
“You’re welcome, Noah.” He gave him a once-over, but aside from a few scratches, the boy was fine. Wyatt taught him how he packed up the gear, letting him help. “Have you ever ridden a snowmobile?”
“No. That was supposed to be later this week.” Noah’s expression crumpled.
“Well, you’ll get a ride today and maybe next year, you can go out with the family and show ’em how it’s done. Ready?”
“Can we look for the phone first? Just for a minute?” Noah asked. “I think I know where it landed.”
“Sure.”
Noah had a good eye, spotting the phone right away where it had landed in one of the branches. Wyatt retrieved the device and once it was secured in a zippered pocket of Noah’s coat, they headed back toward town.
CHAPTER 4
“Hail the conquering hero!” Evie and Lisa cheered when Wyatt walked into the office at the casino a few hours later. She was so relieved to see him here and unharmed, having kept up with the rescue efforts.
He’d reunited the family at the hospital and after taking care of the gear, he’d gone by the house to have a meal and clean up for tonight’s party.
“You were worried I’d be late,” he said.
“Maybe a little,” she confessed as she hugged him. “For the best reason, though.”
“He was a brave kid,” Wyatt said. “And his dad will be fine, too, so happy holiday for them. And now,” he rubbed his hands together, “I am definitely in the party mood.”
As promised, she’d brought everything they would need to dress for the party. It was the best way to prevent any last-minute wardrobe disasters that came from being the parents of two active boys. Their five-year-olds were still as unpredictable as they’d been as toddlers.
Soon they’d be right back in the thick of baby life. Evie smiled, anticipating the return to those early childhood days. Part of her hoped she was carrying a boy—experience being anasset. And the other equally strong yearning was for a little girl with Wyatt’s eyes and the quick grin that often got him out of trouble.
She knew that longing was rooted in their high school days, when she’d missed her period and been worried about becoming a mother at seventeen. As scared as she’d been at the time, she had daydreamed constantly about what their baby girl might look like. Back then, she’d kept her frazzled thoughts to herself until the crisis passed. This time, keeping the news from him was only about creating a fond family memory.
“You look amazing.” He stepped up behind her as she did a final check in the mirror. “What are you thinking about?” His strong hands caressed her bare shoulders.
“Having my husband all to myself for the night,” she snuggled back against him. The tuxedo framed his broad shoulders to perfection.
“In a room full of three hundred people?”
“And all of them over the age of twenty-one.” She turned into his arms and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “I’m so glad Dad loves to watch the boys.”
“Mm. Me too.” He deepened the kiss, his hands coasting lower over her hips, but she shimmied out of his reach.
“Later,” she promised. “I want to show off this dress and dance first.”
“Later.” He laced his fingers through hers and brought her hand to his lips. “The real fun begins.”
“When you see Lisa, tell her the dress is perfect,” Evie murmured. “She was nervous about it, but it’s exactly right.”
“That’s Jeff’s job, isn’t it?”
Jeff was a card dealer at the casino and he and Lisa had been dating for a few months now. “He’s working tonight.”
“Ah, now I understand. Mission accepted.”
They took the escalator to the mezzanine and crossed to the ballroom where the double doors were open and framed with an arch of evergreen and holly. Inside, an enormous Christmas tree dominated one corner, decorated perfectly by the casino designers. Closer to the door, bins were decorated like train cars to collect gifts for the local toy-drive. Chandeliers sparkled, mistletoe had been strategically placed around the room and the band was already into their first set. The bartenders at the central station wore Santa hats and the buffets were tended by the white-jacketed kitchen staff with holly patterns embroidered on the sleeves.
“Every year I love this more,” she gushed. Tugging Wyatt under the mistletoe where a photographer waited, she kissed him soundly.
“That’ll be a perfect addition to our collection,” Wyatt said when the photographer gave them a preview of the image. He filled out the text message to claim the photo later and then swept her straight to the dance floor.
Lisa joined them a few minutes later, her cheeks flushed and her hair falling from the sparkling headband. Evie checked her watch and smothered a laugh. Jeff and Lisa must’ve made the most of his break.
