Page 113 of A Not So Merry Rescue
“A week? You ask me how long and then give me a timeline that fits your needs?”
He shakes his head, looping his arms around my waist, tugging me toward him. “My timeline would be today.”
“Eep,” I squeal. I can’t help it. Today! The man wants me to move today. To pack up my life and be on the road today. Hardly seems feasible.
“Which is why a week gives you plenty of time.”
“Are you staying to help me pack and get my affairs in order?”
“Told you I have the sick days for as long as needed.”
“Yeah, but won’t they miss you? The boss? The best tow truck driver in town?”
“Dax’s got it covered.” A flash of concern washes over his face, gone as quickly as it came. “He’s got it covered,” he repeats, to reassure himself as much as me.
“One week.” I look around my space, the place I’ve called home for the last two years. “Think we could do it in two days? Then I won’t have to worry about breaking the lease since it’s the last day of the month.”
He scans my space. The whole one thousand square feet of it. “You don’t have that much stuff to pack. We’ll rent a moving truck, load it up, and bring the big stuff, then come back here and pack our cars with what’s left and be on our way. Two days. I think we can do it.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal.” We seal it with a kiss, embarking on something epic. “For the record, I don’t hate Christmas. Not anymore.” Because of him.
“Yeah, I know.” He smirks, the action landing straight in my gut.
What started as a rescue in the snow led to more. Beckett Nicholas saved me in all the ways, and I’ll never be more grateful for him being on the other end of that phone call.
It also helps he’s not a serial killer, but what a story we’ve got to tell.
epilogue
BECKETT
ONE YEAR LATERCHRISTMAS EVE
“‘The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . .’” Willa stops reading, her glasses sliding down her nose. Her gaze swings to our fireplace, back to me, back to the fireplace. “Next year, we need matching stockings.” She readjusts her glasses, getting back to the book.
She’s reading me’Twas the Night Before Christmas, stopping at certain points to share her thoughts about the story or as it relates to our life. So far, she’s mentioned the stockings and the not-so-stirring mouse. Or in our case, mice. Willa’s not a fan. It’s a cabin in the woods. She’s lucky we don’t have larger rodent guests.
A fire roars in the fireplace, and the Christmas tree illuminates the corner of the room. When it was time to decorate the cabin for the holiday, it was Willa who broached the subject, letting me know she’d be in charge of interior decorations and I would do the yard. Letting her have this, I was amazed at the lengths she went to, making sure to put her stamp on it. It’s perfectly imperfect, and I couldn’t love it more.
Before she can start again, I ask, “Will we need three matching stockings next year?”
“As of this moment, no,” she’s quick to reply, “but with the way you can’t keep your hands off me, it’s not out of the question.”
“I’ll see what I can do later tonight.”
I watched my sister struggle with a baby at twenty and knew I never wanted that for myself. As Shania grew and she wasn’t so fragile and scary as a toddler and then a kid, my desire for having kids in the future expanded. With the birth of Isla and having Willa in my life, I’ve become a little obsessed. We’re not getting younger, and she wants kids, too. As much as I’m enjoying her and our relationship, I want to be a dad.
“Don’t forget our deal.”
“Our deal?”
She peers over her glasses at me. “This cabin isn’t made for three. The bedroom will be too crowded for even a cradle.”
I love this cabin and am not prepared to give it up, but she’s not wrong. It’s too small for the two of us, let alone a kid. It just so happens I have an investment property willing and waiting for us, along with a surprise for Willa tomorrow.
“Even if you get pregnant tonight, we have nine months to figure out a new living situation.”
“Just so long as you’re aware. I’m also okay with us living in a bigger place just the two of us. If you catch my drift. In case your plan of getting me pregnant takes longer than tonight.”
