Page 46 of Frostbite & Mistletoe
“That’s true,” murmured Gabriel, his words nearly lost under the music.“You’re brutal to yourself.”
“Honey, we were all cheering for you and wanted to see you reopen as soon as possible.” Dad looked around approvingly.“Gabriel, you and Maggie Swanson did a great job of putting this party together in a crazy short amount of time. And I have to say that we’re lucky to have you as our fire marshal. I volunteered as a firefighter for twenty years, and I know good work when I see it.”
He shot Gabriel an approving look that made his face go hot. He wondered if Kymberlie had told her parents that Gabriel was courting her.
As her parents moved away, Gabriel studied Kymberlie’s expression. She still looked confused as her gaze swept the crowded room.
“Are you okay with this?” he asked quietly. He and Maggie had taken a chance on how the proud and sometimes prickly Kymberlie would interpret this gesture.
She looked up at him, still smiling. Happy tears spilled down her cheeks.“I—I can’t believe that you and Maggie did this for me! And that no one else spilled the tea!”
“It was a Christmas miracle,” Maggie said, striding over to join them.“I’ve never seen the people around here keep a secret like that.”
She and Kymberlie embraced. Gabriel swooped in and rescued the mug of hot spiced wine from Kymberlie’s grasp right before she flung her arms around her friend.
“Maybe it helped that they only had to keep it under wraps for three or four days,” he commented dryly.
“Everyone knows that this place isn’t just a business to you. It’s your dream,” Maggie said.“We couldn’t let that die because of some bad luck. Did I ever tell you how Mom’s evil ex torched Cinnamon + Sugar just a few months after she moved to Bearpaw Ridge?”
Kymberlie shook her head.
Gabriel, who hadn’t heard the story either, listened with interest as Maggie continued,“The place was absolutely gutted. Mom was living in the loft apartment above the bakery. The fire trapped her, and she nearly died of smoke inhalation before Dad and the other firefighters rescued her. Afterwards, everyone in the area came together and held a big party like this to make sure she could rebuild and reopen.”
Rob’s band launched into an upbeat country number, and the dance floor filled. Gabriel watched as Kymberlie’s gaze drifted around the room again, lingering on each friendly face.
“They’re really all here for me?” She sounded as if she still couldn’t believe it.
“For you,” Gabriel confirmed, his voice rough with emotion.“Because you matter to this community. To your pack.” He swallowed hard.“Tome.”
Her eyes met his, desire flaring in their depths.
Then they were interrupted by Bill and Mandy Jacobsen. The Jacobsen Pack’s normally dignified alpha couple were wearing matching Christmas sweaters, each featuring a cartoon wolf wearing a Santa hat.
“Great job organizing this event, you two,” Bill said to Maggie and Gabriel.
“And we have some news for you,” Mandy added, smiling at Kymberlie.
∞∞∞
Kymberlie couldn’t believe what was happening.
This had to be one of those dreams that turned from nightmare to fairy tale in an instant. And she hoped she wouldn’t wake up anytime soon.
Instead of the flooded kitchen she’d been dreading and another big bill she couldn’t pay, she saw her club transformed into pure Christmas magic. And everywhere she looked, familiar faces smiled back at her.
The big printed banner stretched across the back wall swam in her vision as fresh tears welled up:“THE HAIR OF THE DOG GRAND REOPENING.”
She’d always thought that accepting charity would taste bitter. But it was so sweet to realize that everyone she knew—and a bunch of people she didn’t—had come here tonight because they wanted her to succeed.
And she owed it all to her lover Gabriel and her best friend Maggie.
Her heart overflowed with happiness.
“Your loan request is approved,” Mandy Jacobsen said.
It took a moment for her alpha female’s words to sink in.
“I think she’s still in shock,” Maggie commented.
