Page 175 of Eight Years Gone

Jagger eased away to take off his jacket. “I’ll get a fire going.”

She nodded, deeply appreciating that he’d always been so willing to honor her need to celebrate one of her favorite memories she’d shared with her mom. “That sounds great.”

But Jagger pulled her back against him, staring into her eyes. “Happy first snow, Gracie.”

Her heart melted as she realized this moment meant just as much to him. It had been a long time since the first snow had made her happy instead of sad. “Thank you.”

He rested his forehead against hers. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Colton hefted his backpack farther up on his shoulder. “I’m going to bring my stuff down to my room so I don’t have to stand here awkwardly.”

She and Jagger grinned at each other as he walked off.

“It’s been a minute since we’ve done something like this,” he said, dancing with her in a slow circle the way he sometimes did.

“It has.”

“Consider me your date for every first snow celebration from now on.”

She smiled again as she nodded. “Okay.”

He captured her lips in a slow kiss.

Closing her eyes, she got lost in the tender heat, loving the start of their special afternoon.

“Ugh, you guys,” Colton said, walking back.

Jagger tossed Colton a baleful look. “Don’t shit on tradition, kid. It’s important to your sister.”

Colton rolled his eyes. “I have no problem with tradition. I just don’t want to watch you guys make out.”

“Get used to it,” Jagger said, pressing another kiss to her lips before he eased away, heading for the fireplace.

Grace looked at Colton, smiling. “Will you grab the marshmallows from the pantry? I’ll get the hot cocoa started.”

“Sure.”

Twenty minutes later, they sat around the coffee table with snacks and drinks, playing Sorry.

Jagger already had two of his blue pieces in the safe zone as he picked up a card, sending Colton’s only red piece back to his zone.

Colton frowned as he chewed a bite of his second massive cookie. “What the hell, man? Why don’t you ever send Grace back?”

“Because I’m in love with her.”

Grace picked up a card, wincing as she looked at Jagger, sending one of his two pieces back to Start. “Sorry.”

Colton laughed one of his rare big laughs as Jagger narrowed his eyes at her. “Where’s the loyalty?”

She grinned. “Colton’s only piece is already put back. But I would have picked you anyway because you’re winning.”

Jagger huffed out a pained laugh. “I almost forgot about your competitive streak. She’s not afraid to be merciless,” he told Colton.

Grace’s grin returned. “I like to win.”

Colton hooted out another laugh as he picked up a card, then shook his head when he didn’t get anything that would move him out of his home base. “Nothing.”

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