His gaze had a sparkle as her mother let him go. Miya clapped his back and said, “Aww, my mom approves. Yeah.”
In the back she heard footsteps. Her friend was departing, but she left her family’s side and called her over as she said, “Coral, hey.”
Coral held her tablet to her heart as she stared at them all as she said, “So you didn’t need to invite me to the palace for a ball. Everything is going so well at work, I half fear if I leave my desk, this dream will fade away.”
This must be a joke. While she’d be sad to lose her best friend, Coral deserved her own happily-ever-after. She hugged her and said, “We absolutely did. It’s time to find you your own noble or prince while we work together.”
“Dating has never been fun.” She scoffed and showed her tablet to Miya while she said, Look, we’ve been getting a lot of calls and emails.”
She quickly glanced at the screen and asked, “We have?”
Coral hugged her waist and said, “Including from Scot and Scot. They want you back.”
Miya threw her head back and let out a laugh now, and said, once she caught her breath, “That’s funny.”
Coral relaxed and said, “They must know their customers are coming to us. I have three contracts you need to go over when you have a minute.”
Between family time, getting ready for a fancy royal ball, and work, Miya’s heart raced as she said, “Three? Who?”
Her mother took Christine, and Rico followed them. So she walked with Coral back to the office as Coral explained, “Apple and Banana Cereal, Jillian Cosmetics and Sebastian Shoes.”
High-end shoes and cosmetics had been her specialty, and those were her favorite people. She said, “My old clients?”
Coral tapped on her screen and held it up for Miya to see. “They don’t want anyone but us.”
“Everything is happening,” Miya said, and this time it wasn’t because of Rico. She settled in her chair and stared out at the winter wonderland she now lived in, as she said, “They were on my list. I’m so excited.”
Coral said, “We’re going to have to hire more people.”
A knock at the door echoed and she turned as Rico came into the room. He said, “If you’re hiring, please interview a few of the villagers in need of jobs.”
Good. He was here. She’d missed him, though she didn’t say that out loud. That would be silly and romantic. Instead she said, “Sounds good. Speaking of that, Coral have you drawn out plans for the ski lodge campaign?”
Coral walked to her desk and picked up her papers as she said, “Yes, let me know which design you approve.”
Seeing Coral’s sketches transformed into digital masterpieces always exceeded her expectations by a mile. Rico looked through them with her and said, “These are good. I especially love the idea of eternal Christmas for the messaging.”
She put the others down and handed Coral the “snowflakes with ribbons” design as she said, “Then we’ll go with this one.”
Rico placed his hand on her lower back and warm goosebumps grew on her body as he asked, “Are you finished for the day?”
Today was for family. Yes. She nodded and said, “I wasn’t supposed to work much this week, so yes.”
He waved good-bye to Coral and pointed toward the door. “Let’s go.”
Miya walked with him, but she asked, as adrenaline began to flow through her body, “Where?”
He closed her office door and whispered so no one heard them, “We’re having dinner in our room.”
She pushed her hair behind her ear as she glanced up at him. Somehow, she’d gotten this lucky. But she bounced in her step as she said, “Fair. I had no idea how much your daughter and my mom have bonded. I don’t think she’ll want to go back to Deerrun at all.”
They rushed to the stairs to head up to his room as he said, “I hope not. Having you and your world here just blesses my own.”
See? She’d married the most wonderful guy ever. She let out a sigh as he escorted her to his room that now had her bags in the closet. She turned into the small nook where his fireplace was and then met his green eyes that reflected the flames that burned there. “You hung Christmas lights by your fireplace.”
He kissed her knuckles and said, “I wanted you to feel at home.”
Her heart thumped. This was what happily ever after was like, and she approved. Maybe she’d never wipe the smile from her face, ever again. She said, “With you, I’m where I want to be, forever.”
“Likewise,” he said, and then he kissed her.
And she forgot everything else, including how outside it was snowing again. Inside was warm and happy, and in Rico’s arms, everything was perfect.
Chapter 20
Rico checked the clock. It was almost two. Miya’s meeting must be going well as they were all still in her office.
He checked on his daughter who was happily playing after her lunch with Miya’s mom. The two of them were excited about the upcoming Epiphany and the Christmas witch tradition.
Finally the office door opened and Miya came out, shaking hands with Jeff and his coworkers. They were all smiles.
He walked over and shook hands with Jeff as well. Then he signaled to his staff who would take them out to the helicopters.
They waved as the guests left and finally, once they were out of sight, he took his wife’s hand. He still felt a spark from her touch. He ignored the sensation and asked, “So how did the meeting go? Did Coral make it? She danced non-stop last night.”
Miya smiled and her happiness was always intoxicating as she said, “We got it, and she did.”
The door opened and Coral came out carrying poster-sized examples that she handed to staff. She gave them a thumbs up as she passed.
Rico pressed his hand on his wife’s back and said, “Good. I’m so happy for you.”
Her huge brown eyes stared at him and seemed to search inside him for his soul. She said, “I swear, once I hire more people, I’ll have better balance. Enjoying life with you and Christine is a priority.”
Schedules and lists were clearly her way of managing, and handing over a list to Coral should be good, as she trusted her friend completely. He didn’t let her go, though they stood in the long hall, as he said, “I have faith in you.”
She bounced up and down in her black flats that complemented her black skirt and the white button-down she’d tucked into it. She’d lost the suit jacket in the office. “So, did you start the ad campaign to win support in the village for building a ski lodge?”
Work, even on New Year’s day. He nodded like he would to a superior as he said, “Everything was set up in the local coffee shop, library, shops and grocery store notice boards. Tomorrow the mass email goes out.”
She hugged him. “I’m sure next year we’ll be building the ski lodge.”
Of that he had no doubt. Miya clearly would be able to sell walnuts as the next big thing in desserts if she put her mind to it. He walked with her away from her office so they’d not think about work anymore as he said, “And your mom promised to share her hot chocolate recipe, if we’re willing to buy it, and make it a specialty at the new lodge.”
She playfully elbowed him as they made their way to the front room and the stairs with the red carpet. “I’m sure you’ll get the family discount,” she said.
He pointed out the windows near the front door and said, “And it’s snowing again.”
She tilted her head and blinked as she asked, “So?”
Time alone with his wife who had nothing else to do was rare. He traced her spine as he said, “I think it’s time to bring you back to our room so we can rest now.”
She laughed and placed her hand on his chest as she took the first step. “Rest isn’t what I thought you had in mind.”
He walked beside her, where he intended to be for the rest of his life, as he said, “Well, that could be fun too. You had to get up too early.”
At the top of the stairs she bumped her hip into him and said, “Aww, we
ll let’s go. Tomorrow we’ll build a second snowman with Christine.”
His heart was pumped with adrenaline. It was incredible that he was this lucky to have her. He picked her up to carry her to their room as he said, “I love you.”
She laughed and hugged his neck as she pressed her forehead to his and said, “Good. Because I love you, too.”
As her lips were so close, he claimed another kiss. Love made his heart grow bigger. And Miya being here made his life better. For the rest of his days, now, he had a reason to look forward to his life, confident that with Miya, every day would be amazing—and probably too short.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed Miya and Frederico’s story as much as I did. I just love Christmas and I was so excited to bring this Christmas in Avce story to you.
If you loved Forbidden Lord, you’ll love the billionaire family drama of the House of Morgan, where romance is the only cure that might heal the past. The first book, Secret Crush, is FREE and available where you can see how the House of Morgan all started.
And if you’re looking for a series with some danger and mystery where all the Bentleys must marry women they’ve never met to clear their names in this exciting family drama. The prequel Irresistibly Lost is available for FREE as well!
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Also by Victoria Pinder
Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)
The House of Morgan
Secret Crush
Secret Baby
Secret Bet
Secret Wish
Secret Dad
Secret Heir
Secret Tryst
Secret Date
Secret Romeo
Secret Caress
Secret Match
Secret Bridesmaid
Secret Admirer
Secret Cowboy
Secret Mistress
Secret Cinderella
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 1-3
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 4-6
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 7-9
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 10-12
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 13-15
Princes of Avce
Forbidden Crown
Forbidden Prince
Forbidden Royal
Forbidden Duke
Forbidden Earl
Forbidden Monsieur
Forbidden Marquis
Forbidden Count
Forbidden King
Forbidden Bastard
Forbidden Noble
Forbidden Lord
Princes of Avce 1-3
Princes of Avce 4-6
Princes of Avce 7-9
Steel Series
Legendary Rock Star
Rocking Player
Ruthless Financier
Wicked Cowboy
Powerful Prince
Cocky M.D.
The Hawke Fortune
Tempting Gabe
Tempting James
Tempting Conner
Tempting Harry
Tempting Navid
Hawke Series
* * *
Brothers in Revenge
Irresistibly Lost
Irresistibly Found
Irresistibly Charming
Irresistibly Tough
Irresistibly Played
Irresistibly Rugged
Irresistibly Strong
Irresistibly Dashing
Irresistibly Boxed Set 3-5
Irresistibly Boxed Set 4-6
* * *
Hidden Alphas
Hidden Gabriel
Hidden Raphael
Hidden Michael
Hidden Dane
Hidden Rocco
Hidden Alphas Boxed Set
* * *
The Marshall Family Saga
Favorite Crush
Favorite Mistake
Favorite Sin
Favorite Scandal
* * *
The Collins Brothers
Chaperoning Paris
Borrowing the Doctor
Gerard
Liam
Eric
* * *
Then if you also like
Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance
Hidden Dragon Series
Call of the Dragon
Dawn of the Dragon
Escape of the Dragon (Coming Soon)
The Queen Gene
Whispers of a Throne
Storm of the Throne (coming soon)
Earthseekers Mission
Makeup May Change Your Life
The Zoastra Affair
Ancient Greek Heroes
Romancing Theseus
Mything the Throne
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.
Visit my website and download a free novel
www.victoriapinder.com
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