Page 27 of The Scrooge of the Mountain

“Yes,” I say. I guess I do. “What does the deluxe adventure entail?”

“It’s our finest package. Most romantic too. Perfect for a couple like yourselves.”

“Oh we’re?—”

“That sounds great. Doesn’t it, babe?” Nick says, placing his hand on my leg.

My eyes flare as I tilt my head and stare at Nick. “That’s right… babe.”

Archie launches into everything included

“So how long have you two been together?”

“Not long at all,” Nick says. “It’s our first Christmas together.”

He’s not wrong… And he’s not creating some elaborate story. Is he for real?

My stomach clenches tightly as I stare at his hand on my leg. Even though I’m bundled up in more layers than my mother’s Christmas lasagna, it feels like his hand is on my bare skin.

“It will be a memorable one, I’m sure,” he says.

Nick meets my gaze and my breath hitches in my chest. He’s so damn handsome, especially with flecks of snow in his beard. I take a deep breath, letting it out as I rest my head on his shoulder.

If we’re together, I might as well play the part.

“Here we are,” Archie says not long later.

Nick and I both look at the gorgeous white gazebo, covered in wreaths and lights and festive decorations. And when Archie pulls the sleigh in front of it, I can’t help myself. I hop out of the sleigh and trudge through the snow, making my way through the pathway lined with oversized candy canes.

And wow—Archie wasn’t wrong. This gazeboisromantic and the table is set with all sorts of delicious food, including a self-serve hot chocolate station with all the trimmings.

“Wow.”

Nick wraps his arm around me a few moments later while I’m still trying to take it all in.

“This is amazing.”

Nick smiles. “It’s something.”

I shake my head. “I hope you’re not getting Christmas’d out. I know it’s a lot.”

“Not a chance. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to see that smile of yours.”

He brushes his thumb against my lip and I swear I’m melting. He cups my cheek and for a brief moment, I think he’s going to kiss me. I want him to kiss me. Where’s the mistletoe, dammit? All these decorations and no mistletoe?

But then the carolers start singing.

“Well, maybe there are some things,” Nick says.

* * *

By the timewe finish our date, I’m exhausted.

Date. Itwasa date. Although I haven’t been on too many in my life, this one felt the most romantic. The kind of date you’d see in a movie: Romantic ambiance—well, the carolers were a bit much after a while. Great food. Wonderful conversation and company. And to top it all off, they cleared off the lake for a little while so we could have private time ice skating together.

It was short-lived. I have no idea how to ice skate, so I spent more time on my butt than on my feet. Nick was the dark horse. Surprisingly, they had ice skates that fit him and when he laced them up and took off, I was blown away.

You’d never think a man of his size and bulk could look so graceful but he was a veritable Bryan Boitano. If Brian Boitano looked like a full-grown grizzly bear.

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