by Natasha Boyd
And then came the tabloid pictures of us together. Some with less than savory headlines. With every one of them, I wrote a small anecdote of what we were doing on the day they were published. Funny or beautiful things Jack had said to me that I remembered, or tickets to things we’d done, a flyer for the cottage rental place on Daufuskie where we always tried to steal time together.
Even though I knew Jack had a copy, I added in the story that reporter Shannon Keith had written about Jack and me and how we met. Some of the final pictures were of us at the airport in Atlanta and at Heathrow where we’d landed and where the stupid photographers had yelled out disgusting things. I pasted our boarding tickets in and wrote Keri Ann’s first flight across the ocean and The day Keri Ann learned what the word SNOG means. There was a postcard from Hastings and finally a colored pencil sketch of a bull chasing a boy and a girl with a red scarf.
You are my star, I wrote, I’d follow you anywhere.
There were still pages left to fill at some point. I hadn’t even put in my first experience with snow.
The room was deathly quiet, and I realized Jeff and Charlotte had left. Jack was still holding the book, his knuckles now white, and staring at the last page so I couldn’t see the expression on his face.
Shit.
Heart pounding with terror, I swallowed some moisture back into my mouth and slid off the couch to kneel in front of him. “Please say something.” I was barely able to form words.
“I can’t,” Jack whispered, still staring at the book. Then he carefully closed it and moved it off his lap next to him. His Adam’s apple bobbed roughly in his throat and his nostrils flared. A pulse beat visibly at his temple, and I realized he was trying to compose himself. He raised his face and his eyes were vivid and full, the green sparkling to depths I’d never seen. It was wonder, it was love, it was a thousand things I couldn’t name.
He reached out and took my face in his warm rough hands. “You,” Jack said on a choked up whisper, shaking his head slightly. Moments passed where we looked into each other, and he didn’t say anything more. Then his thumb brushed over my lips. “You,” he said finally, “make… every… single… thing in my world beautiful.”
The first people I wish to thank are my readers without whom this novella would never have been possible. You fell in love with Jack, just like I did. Your messages, your encouragement and your support continue to mean so much to me everyday; on the best days and especially the difficult days.
Thank you to my Assistant, Julie Burke, who has the thankless task of trying to keep me organized (so if you ordered or won a book, requested a turtle tattoo, or just needed an answer for something – and got it? Chances are Julie reminded me). The list goes on though: teasers? She made them. Facebook banners? Yep. Inside scoop on Clare and Jamie/ #SamCat? Yep. Staying up until 2 am to watch The Wedding Episode with me? She’s awesome. AND she’s an incredible person to boot.
And Lisa Wilhelm, my wonderful friend, supporter and Street Team admin (along with Julie), purveyor of color-coded candy and supplies (all in my favorite color). You’re amazing. I’m so lucky to know you. Thank you for everything you so.
Kate Roth. When you said you’d bundle a Christmas novella with me you made my year. And your cover is stunning! Thank you for being so talented and so fun to work with.
Judy Roth, my editor, who always makes my work shine. And Dave and Al, who are hard task masters and bring out my best. Tuesdays are my favorite day of the week. I miss seeing you both face to face.
Keep in touch! I’d love to hear from you!
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Also by Natasha Boyd
Eversea
Forever, Jack
IT HAD BEEN two weeks since I’d seen Evan’s face in person and to say I was just about dying without him near me was an understatement. Seeing those hazel eyes on a video chat on my tablet didn’t do him justice. Seeing his face on the cover of a tabloid whenever I bought groceries made me wrinkle my nose in annoyance. What a tease. I missed the smell of his skin, the heat of his breath against my mouth.
We hadn’t been apart this long in months and it was killing me. I knew the long-distance thing would be hard, but I didn’t expect the random bouts of tears that overcame me at the most inconvenient times. Sometimes it would just hit me and I’d lose it. He’s this huge part of me and the days that I went without him made me feel empty. Georgia would just roll her eyes and hand me a glass of wine, a box of tissues, and turn on Dirty Dancing.
I missed Evan terribly and the fact that Christmas was right around the corner only made matters worse. I’d always thought Christmas was the most romantic time of year. It always made me all starry-eyed and hopeful, even though the extent of my holiday dating was when my ex, Kyle, took me to a hockey game. In my opinion, it was an epic failure of a holiday date—definitely not what I had in mind when I slyly mentioned something romantic at the ice rink. But nothing, no blunder or lack of love in my life, had ever changed my mind about the season. Hot cocoa, twinkling lights, and silver bells made my heart swell. And now that I had Evan Weston in my life, I couldn’t wait to see what Christmas with him would do to my heart.
My phone buzzed on the comforter near my knees and I leapt for it, splaying out on my stomach on the bed as I answered. “Hello?”
Evan chuckled softly before he spoke. He probably heard my huff of breath and knew I’d dived for the phone. “Hey, baby.”
The sound of his voice made my lips curve into a grin as I glanced at the clock. His flight was due to take off in thirty minutes. It was late and I’d been waiting at home for hours, periodically checking in on the status of his itinerary. He was nearly within reach. Just a little longer and he would be with me for ten whole days. “Are you at the airport?”
I heard him sigh on the other end and my stomach dropped before he confirmed my fear. “I’m sorry, Dani. I couldn’t get away,” he said. “The shoot ran over and…I’m sorry. I’ll get out there tomorrow. Christmas Eve at the latest, I swear.”
“No,” I whined as I sat up in bed and rubbed at my temple. “Evan, we said we weren’t going to keep letting this happen. If we make plans, we have to stick to them. We have to make each other a priority or this won’t work.”
The words passing my lips made sickening goosebumps prickle my skin. This had to work. I loved him too much.
“You are a priority. I’m so sorry. Don’t hate me,” he said softly.
A deep sigh huffed out of me and I slumped back onto my bed, absently looking out my window as snow fell against the deep navy blue of the night sky. “I don’t hate you. I’m just sad. Christmas is in three days. If I’d known you weren’t going to come, I would’ve gone to my parents’ place.”
“I’ll be there by Christmas. Promise. I can’t miss kissing you under the mistletoe,” he said and I distinctly heard that classic smirk in his voice.
I smiled despite the fact that I was aching over the news. Georgia had taken off for her grandmother’s house earlier so I’d be all alone until Evan arrived. I fell silent for a moment and heard Evan suck in a breath. I didn’t want to be mad at him—both of us had been guilty of missing flights and trains, and changing our weekend date plans at the last minute due to work—but it was Christmas. It was our first holiday together and I’d been looking forward to it for so long. Maybe I’d built it up too much in my mind, imagining him making some huge romantic gesture. No matter what he did or didn’t do, I just wanted to be with him.
“I know it doesn’t make up for anything, but did you get my package?” Evan asked, breaking the silence that had me overthinking almost to the point of tears.
“What package?”
“I
had an early Christmas gift sent to your place. You didn’t get it? Maybe they left it on the front steps of the building. Will you go check?”
My brow wrinkled as I stood and peeked out the window even though I knew I didn’t have a clear enough view of the front stoop. “It’s snowing,” I protested.
Evan chuckled and the sound made my heart flutter. “So bundle up. Please? If I can’t see your face when you open it, I at least want to hear your voice when you see what it is.”
I groaned and my feet led me to my closet. “Fine. Let me cover up. But it’s your fault if I get frostbite,” I teased.
“Ooh, what are you wearing? Is it skimpy?”
I laughed as I grabbed a long, thick cardigan and slipped it over my tank top and shorts. “You should’ve shown up to see it yourself. Your loss,” I reminded him as I headed to the front door. I snatched my keys off the hook at the entryway and shoved my bare feet into the pair of fur-lined boots I essentially lived in from October to March in Philly.
My breath was immediately stolen by the cold when I stepped outside. “Fuck, it’s freezing,” I blurted through chattering teeth, pulling my sweater tighter over my chest. I wished I would’ve put some pants on, the biting air painfully blowing against my bare knees. Glancing around the snow-covered steps and street, I didn’t see anything.
“It’s not out here. Maybe the weather delayed it,” I said, turning to head back inside.
“You sure about that?”
I heard his voice as an echo from both directions, from the speaker held to my ear and from the street. I spun around and barreled down the snowy steps so fast it’s a miracle I didn’t slip and break my neck.
Evan was standing at the curb, leaning against the driver’s side door of a huge black Escalade with a smirk on his lips and a dark red scarf around his neck. He was in his leather jacket, holding the phone to his ear. God, I’d missed that face. He looked so beautiful standing there—like a dream. I crashed into him, wrapping my arms around his neck, suddenly unaffected by the icy wind whipping around my exposed skin. I breathed in his cologne and refused to let go. Evan hummed into my hair and squeezed me tight, shifting for a moment to slip his phone in his pocket.
“Merry Christmas, baby,” he said, pulling back to look down at me.
I looked up into his hazel eyes and smiled brightly before my expression crumbled and I shoved his chest, making him stumble back toward the SUV with a little chuckle.
“You little shit!”
Evan threw his head back with a laugh and stepped closer to me again, taking my face in his warm hands. “There’s that sassy little mouth I love,” he breathed.
I cracked a smile and gripped the front of his leather jacket possessively. I didn’t want him going anywhere. I couldn’t let him out of my grasp; I was too desperate for him.
He leaned in close and touched his lips to mine, warming me instantly. I moaned at the feeling and pressed my body into his as he deepened the kiss. A booming bark rang out from behind Evan and I jumped back with wide eyes. Glancing past him, I saw Fifi, Evan’s eighty pound Rottweiler, poking her head out the back window of the black SUV. When she saw me her tongue fell out of her mouth happily and she woofed again.
My eyes were stinging with tears. My family had come for Christmas. “You drove here?” I asked, my voice breaking, wrought with emotion.
“There wasn’t a chance in hell I’d miss this many days in a row with you,” Evan replied. His thumb swept tenderly over the apple of my cheek. “But…” Suddenly his grin turned impish and he licked at his bottom lip to hide the mischief he had to have been conjuring.
“What?” I asked, rearing back from him. My legs and face were starting to go numb from the cold and I had to know what he was up to.
“But we aren’t staying here,” he finished. “You need to go inside and pack.”
Another loud woof from Fifi made me jump but I still stared at Evan in disbelief. He always had a plan. He saw the confusion and worry in my face and rolled his eyes with a smirk.
“Just trust me, Dani. I know you know how.”
PER EVAN’S INSTRUCTIONS, which I was more than happy to take after two weeks away from him, I packed mostly warm clothes and a few of the naughty little numbers he liked best. I was completely intrigued. Part of me thought maybe we’d be headed to Desire. I wasn’t opposed to going back there someday, but I didn’t want to share Evan with the eyes of other women at the moment. I wanted him all to myself this Christmas.
We loaded up the car with my bags, the gifts I’d bought him, and a little cooler of snacks. When he suggested the cooler, I eyed him skeptically. He didn’t mention another word about where we were headed to or how long it would take. He simply said we’d be there until New Year’s and that everything had been taken care of. Though Evan had taught me a lot about letting go and freeing myself by not agonizing over the details in life, I still struggled with anxiety of the unknown. But Evan always quelled the stress in me somehow, so I took a deep breath and tried not to zero in on the GPS on his dash. He reached across the center console and rested his hand on my knee before pulling on to the street.
“Know any road games? We’ve got about five hours,” he said nonchalantly.
I gaped at him and watched him break into a laugh. “Five hours?!”
“At least I suggested road games first and not road head,” Evan retorted, licking his lips.
I shoved his shoulder, shaking my head. “Shut the fuck up, Weston.”
He glanced over at me while stopped at a red light, sincerity showing through from his tempting stare. “Missed you,” he said softly.
Sighing, I leaned over the console and put my head against his shoulder, wanting nothing more than to be as close to him as possible. “Love you,” I whispered.
THE SNOW WAS blowing in such thick blankets across the darkened road I almost missed the turn into the long driveway. Our long driveway. Dani had already smacked me around for tricking her into believing I wasn’t going to make it out for our Christmas break together in time. I knew she’d absolutely lose it when she found out that I’d bought her a house for Christmas.
She sniffed in the passenger seat and I glanced over in time to see her wake up with a sleepy smile. Her arms stretched out in front of her and she glanced around at the evergreen trees lining the driveway, which was dusted with snow despite the fact I’d paid someone to come out and clear it that morning. I smiled at the notion of being snowed in with Danielle in our new home. Maybe it would keep us from coming back to reality for a few more days.
“You’re slowing down,” she remarked, sitting up a little straighter and trying to see ahead through the heavy flakes caught in the beams of my headlights.
I snorted a laugh and shook my head. “Yeah, Sassy, we’re here.”
As if Mother Nature knew my girl needed to see where we were headed to smother the flames of worry that often ravaged her, the snow let up just as we approached the massive home. Her eyes grew wide and she shot me a look.
“This is where we’re staying?” she asked, a touch of giddiness behind her incredulous question.
Flipping the visor down, I pressed the garage door opener, lifting one of the three doors, and she let out a squeal.
“Weston, you are something else.” She laughed.
I parked the car and let Fifi out of the backseat before I opened Danielle’s door. She was smirking at me and shaking her head, probably thinking I was crazy. She had no idea.
“Let’s go in the front door. That way you get the full effect,” I said, taking her hand. Leading her to the bright red double front door of the ivory mansion, I felt my guts pitch. Holy shit, what the fuck was I about to do? What if she took off running? I knew damn well that what I’d done had been impulsive, but the woman made me too happy. I couldn’t help from rushing things with her. I craved our life together.
When I slid the key in the lock and opened the doors for her, I heard her gasp. Fifi squeezed past my legs and started s
niffing her way through the house. Danielle stepped inside hesitantly and craned her head to stare up at the grand staircase to the right before she spun around to me. Her smile grew and my breath hitched at the sight. She took a step further inside and I saw her sparkling eyes move over the immaculate hardwood floors and down the expansive hallway that led to the living room. I was anxious to see it all again too. Harrison had hired an interior designer to decorate and furnish the place and since I’d seen the bill, I was sure it was all pretty plush.
“Why don’t you go look around and I’ll bring the bags in?” I offered.
“Okay,” she replied, still grinning wildly. Fifi padded into the foyer from wherever she’d just roamed and sidled up next to Dani. Scratching the fur between her ears, Danielle sighed. “Come on, pup, let’s go explore.”
A half-grin pulled at my mouth and I headed back out to the car to fetch our luggage.
I HAD JUST shut the dresser drawer full of Danielle’s things I’d unpacked when she cleared her throat behind me. When I turned and saw her leaned against the doorjamb, I almost rushed her. I wanted to toss her on the bed. I’d been away from her for too long. I breathed a laugh when she breezed past me without a word, heading to the three floor-to-ceiling windows on the far end of the master suite. I watched her stare out at Lake Ontario. The water was still, the pristine surface looking like a black pool under the moon as snow was still falling with no end in sight. I slipped my arms around her from behind and looked out at the water with her.
“I’m kind of obsessed with the kitchen. This place is gorgeous. And there’s a pool, which means you’ll probably have to bring me back in the summer,” she said quietly, letting me hear the smile in her voice. A breath fell out of me and I pressed my forehead into her shoulder as I grinned.