Page 65 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
“Nina,” I scolded.
Jensen didn’t seem bothered. “No, never married.”
“Why?”
“Nina,” I said, more forcefully.
“It’s a valid question,” she said.
“It’s all right.” He gave me a subtle smile, then turned back to my sister. “I suppose I’ve never seen myself as the settling-down type.”
“Hmm.” Nina narrowed her eyes a little. “How long are you going to be in town?”
“Will you be here for Christmas?” Annabel asked.
He opened his mouth but closed it again, his brow furrowing as if he needed to consider his answer.
“He has his own family, kiddo. He’ll probably be with them on Christmas.” I glanced at him. “Although if you’re still in town, you’re welcome to spend it with us.”
He met my eyes and gave me that look again—the one that almost seemed surprised. “I would love to.”
“You’ll come for Christmas?” Annabel asked.
“Yes, Miss Annabel. I’ll come for Christmas.”
“Do you promise?”
“I think that’s a promise I can keep.”
Her expression grew serious. She got up and came around the coffee table to stand in front of him, then thrust her hand toward him with her pinky finger sticking out.
“Do you pinky promise?”
Nina gasped, and I almost stopped him. Pinky promises were solemn in our family, and Annabel would take it as seriously as a blood oath—if she’d known what a blood oath was. Before I could get a word out, he wrapped his finger around hers.
“I pinky promise,” he said.
With fingers clasped, they shook on it.
She threw her hands in the air. “This is going to be the best Christmas ever!”
He went back to his pizza and gave me a subtle wink.
And maybe Annabel was right. Maybe it was going to be the best Christmas ever.
CHAPTER 17
Jensen
Iwas accustomed to wearing a mask. Even slight changes in behavior, body language, and speech patterns could produce the desired effect. Hide who I really was. Conceal my true intentions.
Those masks were easy to slip on and off. Except one.
My real self.
Sitting on the couch with Natalie and her family, dressed in the gaudiest Christmas pajamas I’d been able to find with a Santa Claus hat on my head, I felt more like myself than I had in ages.
We ate pizza until we were stuffed. Watched Annabel put on a little Christmas show, singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” And played a board game.
