Miracle Creek Christmas
Page 33
They left the path to the storage building and began tramping into the snow.
“This isn’t some sort of survival test, is it? You leave me with a knife and duct tape? Like you said, I know this place like the back of my hand. I’d be back before dinner. I’d even keep the blindfold on.”
“I’m sure you would. Now shush.”
“Hey.” He planted his feet. Her hand pulled hard in his, but he held on, and she stopped.
“What?” she asked, a little impatience in her voice.
He smiled. “Come here.” He pulled on her hand, and she gave in.
He wrapped her in his arms, smelling her scent mixed with winter air, knowing exactly where the top of her head reached his nose, exactly where her lips would be if she looked up at him. Her arms wrapped around his middle.
“Do you know how much I love you?” he asked.
“Not as much as you’ll love me a few minutes from now?” she answered, her voice soft.
He grinned, his breath hitching at the ease of her answer. He pulled her to him and kissed her, lingering as long as she’d let him, which, thankfully, was longer than he expected.
The blindfold was a great idea.
Finally, she pulled away. “You’re making us late, Mr. Rivers.” He loved the breathless smile in her voice.
“I wasn’t exactly working alone.”
She didn’t argue and pulled him again. “Follow me.”
“Anywhere.”
Finally, after a half-mile or so, they stopped walking.
“What took you so long?” his dad asked. His dad?
“He, uh, really liked the blindfold,” Riley said.
His dad chuckled. “You ready?”
“I think so,” Riley answered.
Mark let himself be pulled into position, facing south.
Wait a minute. He knew exactly where they were. Two weeks ago, they’d made this same trek with his dad on Christmas Day. The man had been rendered speechless by the nativity and had crushed both him and Riley in his arms.
Riley untied his blindfold and let it drop. He blinked at the brightness of the spotlights aimed at what stood in front of him.
“The nativity,” he whispered. He looked at Riley, who watched him with a hopeful smile, then back to the figures she’d painted.
“I know it’s not the same,” she said. “But I had this idea—”
“Shush,” he said softly. She shushed.
She’d added a resting donkey and an angel in white, wings glowing like the baby’s swaddling.
“Well?” Riley asked.
“You made an angel.”
She nodded. “It’s a snow angel.”
He grinned at her. “It’s perfect. How did you do all this?”
He scooped her up out of the snow and kissed her mouth. Her hands drew around his neck as she kissed him back.
“It’s perfect,” he said again. He couldn’t believe she’d done this. For him. “Thank you.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome. But I had help.”
“I’ll thank Dad in a minute.”
“A handshake will be fine,” his dad said.
Riley’s eyes sparked. She drew her arms closer around him. Resting her cheek against his scars, she whispered in his ear. “Merry Christmas.”
He closed his eyes. “Be warned. I’m never letting you go.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Thank you, Heidi Gordon, Lisa Mangum, and everyone at Shadow Mountain for taking this story on with enthusiasm and determination. Thank you, Lisa, for your editing prowess and encouragement. It’s an honor to be able to tap into your wisdom. Thanks for getting my voice.
Thank you, Sam Millburn, for your patience and encouragement, for your support and honesty, always.
Thank you, Natalie Cooper Clark and Sachiko Burton, for being my alpha readers and steering me onward.
To Melanie Jacobson and Robison Wells—I’m not sure I would have had the courage to find this story a home without you. My respect and gratitude for both of you is deep and shiny.
Thank you, My Suzy, Bear Lake Monsters, and Columbia River Writers. Love, love, love.
To Sara Ditto, Laura Ridd, Shannon Carlson, Molly Neal, and Diana Layton—thank you, ladies, for lending your ears, shoulders, hugs, and getting my body outside and moving. You are my own Yakima cheer squad and the epitome of friendship.
To Chelsea and Matt, Braeden, Jacob, Maren, and Will. Thank you for supporting your determined and goofy mother through such a crazy few years. I love you all more than I can describe. Way more.
Thank you, Brandon—my partner, love, and fierce defender of my writing time. Together, we are home. XO
Krista writes contemporary romance, historical romance, and fantasy. She has lived in lush Oregon and rugged Wyoming, but Washington is her beloved home state. She likes to choose familiar settings for her stories and is grateful to have such inspirational places to choose from. She is a mother of six, gramma of three, a gardener and cook, loves to travel, laugh, and hike, and lives to make the best of what she’s been given.
Find her on Instagram @kristajensenbooks.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Landmarks
Cover