Page 91 of A Not So Merry Rescue
“Santa. You’re here.” Willa stands, rushes over, and leaps into my arms. Her legs wrap around my waist, and she clings like a koala. My arms envelop her, bringing her impossibly closer. When she doesn’t fight it, I hug tighter. My eyes close on their own accord. I try to hide my inhalation of her scent, my body wash mixed with her vanilla aroma making the sweetest combination. “I missed you,” she breathes out.
Damn, but I fall.
I tumble into oblivion, into a place I won’t recover from. A piece of my heart will forever belong to Willafred Gibson.
I’m in deep trouble.
“Everything okay, Beck? You’re looking a little woozy.” Of course, Heidi picks up on my mood change. She’s always been keen on my emotions.
“Fi-fine,” I stammer, opening my eyes. Willa’s concerned expression nearly guts me. “All good,” I reiterate. I can’t be the one to hurt her, to make her feel any more sadness in her life. “Missed you, too.” I peck her cheek and lower her to the ground, feeling the loss of our connection immediately.
“Your sister was telling me all about growing up in Winterberry and how you got the job of playing Santa in the parade.”
“Awesome,” I deadpan. “Is there more hot chocolate?” I point to their mugs.
“I’ll make more.” Heidi looks from me to Willa to Lenny. “Stay for dinner. We’re making beef Wellington and have plenty. Mom and Dad are staying home, eating their appetizers and finger foods.”
I address Willa. “What do you say, Bundy?”
My sister’s face contorts to confusion and Lenny snickers.Oops.
“I’m game for any food I don’t have to cook.” She snorts, thesound one I haven’t heard but ridiculously cute. Ashamed, she covers her mouth with her hand.
“What time is dinner?”
“Suppertime. Around five?” Heidi checks in with us.
A glance at my phone informs me it’s nearing four. In case she got her words done, I stopped at the candy store earlier and grabbed a bunch of different rewards. As much as I want her to experience it for herself, we didn’t have time today. Perhaps the day after Christmas.
Before she leaves.
Nope, not thinking about that now. I’ve still got her for the next forty-eight hours give or take. I’m going to soak them up. Every minute.
“Do you need help with anything for dinner?”
Heidi shakes her head. “It just needs to be cooked. Lenny can put it in the oven now. It takes about an hour to cook and rest.”
“Great, then Willa and I are going to drop one car off at the cabin and be back in time for dinner.”
Heidi raises a brow. “‘Drop off a car?’ That’s what you’re going with, bro?”
“Because that’s what we’re doing. Besides, an hour isn’t enough time for what I have planned for Willa.”
Okay, maybe I went too far with that comment.
Willa’s cheeks flush the color of my Santa suit. “Beckett!” she hisses, slapping her arm across my chest.
“I can’t lie to my sister. She knows all my secrets.”
“Not those,” Heidi protests loudly. “I’m not thinking about that.” She shudders. Serves her right. “Be back before five. And bring a bottle of wine. Something red that goes with beef. You know best.”
“Got it. We’ll be back.” I fit my fingers into Willa’s hand, her mood a little more disillusioned than when I first walked in. Once outside, she zips up the hoodie, pulling it closer around her in the colder air. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to put you on the spot and make you feel uncomfortable.”
“Yes, you did,” she challenges. “But I get it. An hour’s not long enough for dirty Santa’s appearance.” The little minx sashays to the SUV, her hip sway exaggerated. “I’ll follow you to the cabin.”
As much as I’m enjoying her company, the aftermath of when she leaves won’t be pretty.
“Guess what?” Willa asks the minute we breach the threshold of the cabin’s back door.
