Page 117 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
“Thank you, Santa,” Annabel said. “See, Mom. I told you Santa would bring them home.”
“I don’t really know what’s happening, but thank you,” Nina said. “Merry Christmas.”
Jensen carried Annabel inside while Nina and I followed. Dry clothes were the first order of business, so Jensen went tothe apartment, and I went upstairs to change. After donning my holiday pajamas, plus two pairs of socks, and a hat—it felt like I might never be warm again—I went downstairs and curled up on the couch with a blanket.
Nina had obviously let Annabel open some of her presents. The floor in front of the tree was littered with bows and torn wrapping paper. Her stocking had been unceremoniously dumped out, leaving a pile of candy and trinkets on the floor, and more than a few discarded wrappers indicated she’d already eaten a lot of chocolate.
Because Nina was the best sister ever, she brought me a hot cup of coffee, and when I took the first sip, I grinned at the added splash of Irish Cream. Nothing had ever tasted so good.
Understandably, she was not willing to wait for a better time to find out what had happened. She put on a Christmas movie for Annabel, and in a quiet voice, I told her everything. From Jensen’s job and the stolen necklace to agreeing to help and our adventures tracking down the thief, all the way to my abduction in the boutique and being held as bait by Jensen’s longtime nemesis.
She gasped when I told her what had happened to Julian and gaped at me in awe when I described how I’d ended it when Archer had been about to kill Jensen.
“You are such a badass,” she said, just above a whisper. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe this. I mean, I can. I totally believe you. And I already knew you were amazing, but this is all so wild.”
“I know. I’m not quite sure how this is all real, but here we are.”
“Do you need anything else? Are you getting warm?”
“I’m fine for now. I think I’m finally starting to thaw.”
“I feel like such an idiot for not realizing you were gone sooner. I knew you weren’t here last night, but I figured you were just spending the night with Jensen. And this morning I thoughtyou were sleeping in. Annabel kept asking if she could go wake you and finally I said yes. I went over there with her, and of course, no one was there.”
“I’m so sorry. We were stuck in the blizzard with no signal.”
“It’s okay. I’m just so glad you’re all right.”
“I’m so glad Woody came along with his plow. I don’t know what we would have done.”
“Half the roads must be closed. That storm was no joke.” Her eyes widened. “Speaking of, I need to check my phone. I invited Dylan and Lucy to come over, but I wonder if he can even get out of his driveway.”
“Aw, you invited them for Christmas?”
“I know, it probably seems too soon to spend a holiday together.”
“Not at all. Sometimes things are so right, they have to move fast.”
Her smile said it all. “Yes. Exactly. I knew you’d get it. I’ll be right back.”
I did get it. Jensen and I hadn’t known each other for very long, but what was happening between us was still very real. And it was right.
Maybe even a Christmas miracle.
He came in dressed in his holiday pajamas, his hair damp beneath his Santa hat. I lifted the blanket so he could snuggle in next to me. He sat and covered us both, then pulled me almost into his lap with his arms around me.
“Merry Christmas, darling,” he whispered in my ear.
“Merry Christmas. Did you let Maple know we’re okay?”
“Of course. She sends her best.”
“What’s going to happen with the, um… bodies?”
“They’re buried in snow. No one will discover them until spring.”
My mouth dropped open.
“I’m kidding,” he said with a grin. “No need to worry. My organization will handle it.”
