Page 27 of Lustre Blanketed

“Thanks for this,” I say, and mean it with every fiber of my being.

“You can pay me back with apple pie scones from Tilly’s bakery. No imitation crap,” he yells at my back as I head toward the door, and I can’t help the chuckle that escapes as I head out into the cold. The winter wind is gusting, but my spirits are so high that even the twinkling lights don’t bother me.

Steeling my spine, I pause on the sidewalk and pick up my phone to dial the one number I hoped to never use again.

Chapter Eighteen

Sloane

Myhandgripstheshift stick as I finally put my rental car in park outside my apartment building. The towering grey complex holds no joy for me whatsoever, as I chew on my lip and try to calm my simmering anger.

What a freaking mess.

Slater and I parted ways when we got to the terminal—he wanted me to go to my parents with him, but I just couldn’t deal with that right now. Thankfully, he understood and promised to keep his big mouth shut about everything that had transpired in the cabin. Everything went smoothly, but then the airport insisted Winnie needed to ride in a cageunderthe plane and no amount of money would sway them—even with her being a search and rescue dog.I need to see if I can get papers to support that.So, of course, I didn’t take the flight and opted to rent a car to get back to this shitty little apartment that I hate; but it’s the holidays, so all of the people on the roads were acting like insane raging assholes.

And Cole never even bothered to call, text, send a smoke signal. Nothing.

Just ugh. I can’t.

Winnie whines from the back seat, pulling me out of my rage storm because it’s not my sweet girl’s fault that I’m feeling a bit stabby. Rolling my neck from side to side, I stretch for a moment before opening the car door and climbing out, leash in hand.

“Come on girl,” I coo; opening the back, clipping on her leash, and grabbing my bag from the floor. “Let’s go check out your new home. It’s not very big but I think you’ll like it.”

We walk through the quiet parking lot toward the building, where the doorman greets us with a big smile.

“Welcome home Ms. Sully,” he says grinning at me with a twinkle in his eye. “We have placed all of your packages in your apartment as instructed. I hope you had a restful trip and Merry Christmas Eve.”

“Thank you so much, Jonathan,” I reply, giving him a quick hug. He’s the sweetest man and he and his wife have been a staple in my life since I moved in. “Merry Christmas Eve to you too! Are you taking off soon to be with Marylin and the kids?”

“Just about an hour,” he tells me, petting Winnie’s head. “You must be tired from your travel; go rest.”

“Have the most amazing visit with them and tell them I say hello,” I answer, giving him one last glance before heading to the elevator, noticing the strange smile on his face as he plays with his phone.

What in the world?

The elevator moves swiftly up the floors and Winnie presses into my side. Abducting her from Cole was a stroke of pure genius. I’ve never felt so attached to another creature before.Well, except maybe Cole. No. Stop it.

Even with the long drive, having her with me has settled the loneliness in my soul, now I just need to figure out what to do with her. Since she’s a highly trained dog, I doubt she will be happy just lounging around being a couch potato. Taking a deep breath as the elevator’s doors open with a loud ding, I try to push that thought aside.

“We have a lot to figure out Winnie girl, but I’m glad we’re going to do it together,” I mutter, fumbling to get my key in the locked door. Finally, I succeed and the door opens with a satisfying snick.

“Honey, I’m home,” I shout into the empty apartment with a giggle, and I jump in surprise when a familiar voice answers.

“Took you two long enough. I’ve been waiting,” Cole offers with a big smile as he rounds the corner and Winnie goes absolutely wild—barking and prancing. She jumps up and her forward momentum brings him crashing to the ground as she sprawls atop him, licking his face.

With my hands on my hips I scowl down at him, “How did you get into my apartment?”

I’m not sure if I should kick his ass to the curb or be thrilled he chased me all this way—all I do know is that no one gets to use me and get away with it. Even if I was having some kind of feelings for him.

“Slater spoke to your doorman and he agreed to let me in. It took A LOT of convincing,” he says, gesturing to my living room as he gently pushes Winnie off him.

A torrent of emotions floods my body, and I can’t decide if I’m angry or happy—or need to scream at my brother—until my eyes take in the state of my apartment.

An enormous Christmas Tree stands in the middle of my living room, reaching all the way to the ceiling and decorated with beautiful white lights and glass ornaments. In fact, the entire space is filled with twinkling lights, decorations and I even spot a bit of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. It’s stunning, like something out of a storybook, making it hard to breathe as it all hits me in the face.

But the thing that matters the most is sitting in the center of my white coffee table.

A gasp leaves my lips when my eyes catch on Nan’s little ceramic Christmas tree, and I rush over to it, hands shaking as I reach for it, unable to believe it’s all in one piece. Tears jump to my eyes as I inspect it, turning it this way and that.

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