Page 123 of Bragg's Christmas

I need to phone the police. Something’s definitely wrong.

I’m dialing emergency when arms wrap around me. I scream.

“Help! Help! I’m being abducted by aliens!”

“Aliens? Since when is your boyfriend an alien?” I can feel Damon’s body vibrating with humor.

I whirl around to confront him. “Where the hell have you been? And why is the entire house empty? What happened? Are you leaving? Are you leaving me?”

He grasps my hands and hauls me close. “Nope. I’m not leaving. But we are moving.”

“Moving? What’s wrong with Winter Falls? I thought you liked living here.”

“Don’t worry. You’re going to love this.”

Hasn’t he figured it out by now? Surprises scare me. Change terrifies me.

He holds out his hand to Skye. “Come on, squirt.”

We exit the house and walk toward Main Street.

“Any chance you’ll let me blindfold you?” he asks.

“If I’m not letting you blindfold me in the bedroom, I think you know the answer.”

Skye tugs on my hand and jumps up and down. “Pretty please.”

“She knows the surprise?”

Damon removes a blindfold from his pocket. “No. But she’s a good sport.” The implication is clear. I’m not a good sport if I don’t allow him to blindfold me.

“Fine. Blindfold me. But if I trip and fall, we’re going to have problems, mister.”

He ties the blindfold around my head. “Don’t worry,” he whispers into my ear. “I would never let you get hurt. If I do, I’ll give you control of my killer drone.”

“I want the manual, too.”

“Naturally.”

He leads me along the sidewalk. Winter Falls is a small town. I should be able to figure out where we’re going, but being unable to see has me disorientated, which was the idea, I’m sure.

“Three steps,” Damon says as he helps me navigate them.

“Grandma!” Skye shouts.

Why is Damon’s mom here? What’s going on? Before I can ask any questions, a door opens and I’m pulled inside.

“You ready, Angel?”

I nod. “Get this blindfold off of me.”

“Ta-da!”

The blindfold drops. I blink my eyes a few times to adjust to the light.

My mouth gapes open when I realize I’m standing in the house I grew up in. Except it doesn’t resemble my childhood home. The walls have been painted, and the floors redone. Plus, there’s furniture everywhere. The furniture from Damon’s house in fact.

“What’s happening?”

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