Eden bit the inside of her cheek. “Knox, I do forgive you. I just…I needed some time to work through everything.”
Knox closed his eyes and slowly opened them, long dark lashes drawing her undivided attention. “That wasn’t bar money. I wouldn’t do that. That was money I had socked away from my hockey days. And I don’t want a penny of it back.”
“What do you want, Knox?” Why had he come tonight? Why replace the baby Jesus? Was Gabe right about filling empty places?
“I want you to know that everything I’ve dreamed of having and couldn’t grasp, I have now. Thanks to you bringing Jesus into the bar. Every word Gabe said filtered to my ears. Every worship song sang burrowed in my mind.”
Eden’s eyes filled with tears.
“But even more… you, Eden, brought Jesus to far more than my bar.” He laid her hand on his chest, his voice raw with emotion. “You brought Him here.” His heart beat recklessly against her hand.
“Are you saying…?”
“I’m saying, I’m a new man who has a lot to learn, and my sessions with Gabe have been a good start. I’ve closed the bar. But I’m not selling it.”
Eden’s head spun. “What? When?”
“I told my customers and put the sign out this past week. Boxed up the liquor and tumblers. I’m done with that. I have a new family. A Father who won’t run out on me—who thinks I’m worthy. Because I have Jesus now.” He inched closer and framed her face.
“Knox,” she breathed.
“I love you, Eden. And I am prepared to love you the rest of my life in a way that will honor and cherish you. Not like what happened between us before. I went about it all wrong.”
Eden peered into his eyes. Yes, he was a new man. Full of love.
For his savior.
And for her.
***
Knox grabbed his chance, nerves sizzling. “Let me do it right.”
He brushed her hair aside to gaze on the most beautiful woman he’d ever known—inside and out.
He grazed his fingers along her cheeks, traced her lips with his finger, then he laced his hands with hers and drew her to him. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Knox.”
He trailed his hands up her arms and back to her face before edging to her lips, feathering her with a kiss. “I will cherish you.” He brushed another to her lips, feeling her body weaken against him. “I will honor you.” He pecked her cheek, lingering. Kissed her other cheek. “I will never leave you. I want to be part of your life, Eli’s life. Forever.”
He found her lips and kissed her the way a man should kiss a woman he loved. Slow. Soft. Passionate without swallowing her alive. Desire spread through his body. And overwhelming love. He nuzzled her jawline up to her ear and kissed her lobe. “Merry Christmas, Eden.”
A content sigh escaped her lips, and she grinned. “Merry Christmas.”
He held her in his arms and glanced up. “That night at your home, I wanted to kiss you then. I thought maybe there was hope under the mistletoe. That maybe you felt something for me then.”
“I did.” She gazed at the mistletoe. “There’s still hope. Knox, can I tell you something and you not take it the wrong way?” Her lips twitched and her eyes held mischief.
“Sure.”
“I get that the last time you kissed me was crossing bounds, and that you want to cherish me forever. But…if…we ever…”
Knox ran his hands through her hair. “Not if. When.” When he married her. And he intended to.
“When. You don’t mind…bringing out the wild side, do you?”
He threw his head back and laughed.
She chuckled. “I didn’t stop you that night because I didn’t like it. I stopped you because…I did. I really, really did.”
“Eden, my love, when there’s no boundaries, I will never,” he kissed her forehead, “ever,” another kiss to her dimples, “stop. And nothing would bring me greater pleasure than to bring out the wild side.”
“Good. That’s good to know.” A rosy glow spread across her cheeks, and she laid her head against his chest. “What will you do now that the bar’s closed?”
“I have few ideas.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Two years later
Eden rubbed her lower back and closed her eyes. They’d been handing out Christmas food baskets all week long. Over two hundred. Since that first Christmas she brought the church to his bar, she and Knox had grown the volunteer staff at the Hope Center by double. Now seventy-five people helped them with their clothes and food pantry as well as free medical exams once a month thanks to Dave Michaels’ volunteer work. The bar had become a place for people in need, but instead of liquor, they gave them a drink of living water.
The upstairs where Knox used to live had been turned into offices for each of them and one for Gabriel, who did counseling sessions with some of the folks who came in for help.
Free meals.
A free Bible.
And hope. Right here under Mistletoe Hope Center.
The bad boy she used to know only came out at night, when Eli went to bed and their bedroom door was locked. Eden wiggled her wedding ring in the glow of the Christmas lights, admiring the shimmer.
“Hey, what are you doing in here all by yourself?” Knox slid up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck. “You tired?”
“Not too tired,” she purred.
His deep, raspy laugh raised goose bumps on her flesh. Married eighteen months, but Eden was certain he’d always make her feel this way.
“Eli with Pop?” Eden leaned her head back against Knox’s chest. Pop had been clean for almost two years and had become involved in several ministries at the church.
“All night long.” Knox nuzzled her neck.
Eden turned in his arms and tugged him down for a kiss. “Good, because I want a baby.”
Knox chuckled. “I think I can make that happen.” He nipped her bottom lip. “Ready to go?”
“Let me turn off the Christmas lights.” They switched them off and locked up, Ophelia hot on their trail. They’d built their own place about a mile away from Pine Lake, which was convenient during hockey season. Knox now had three age divisions and an adult league.
Knox walked her out to the truck and opened the door for her. Her phone beeped. Text. “It’s Audrey. She wants to know if we want to have coffee with her and Gabriel.”
“Is it official? Them dating?”
Eden frowned and texted her back. “No. Audrey’s an idiot.”
“You’re not saying we will, are you?” His mouth dropped open.
Eden hit send. “You don’t want to?”
He yanked her to him and sent her head into a dizzy spin with his kiss. “What do you think?”
Eden giggled. “I told her no. I didn’t say why.”
“Eden?” Knox whispered against her ear.
“Hmmmm?”
“Next Christmas, we could have a baby girl.”
“Or a boy.” She tugged his scarf tighter around his neck and kissed his chin.
“Either way…they’re getting baby hockey skates under the tree.” He winked and shoved her in the truck before she could protest.
Knox Everhart.
Forever her Christmas miracle.
Acknowledgments
They say Rome wasn’t built in a day. Not sure who “they” are, but they say it. Neither is a book. First, I have to thank my precious Savior, Jesus Christ for loving me and placing this story in my heart.
I have to thank my wonderful, amazing agent, Rachel Kent of Books & Such for reading this and giving valuable feedback. She’s the best ever!
I want to thank Susan Tuttle for helping me brainstorm this idea through some silly texts. The idea of a bar was a ha-ha, and then it wasn’t. Your daily prayers and encouragement fuel me.
Michelle Massaro, my critique partner, your line edits are always wonderful. And I thank you for sharing how this story ministered to you
. That’s always my foremost agenda, and your words blessed me abundantly.
Jill Kemerer, my critique partner. Your encouragement and positivity as well as your thoroughness always amazes me. The things you know baffle me! Also, your hilarious voice mails bring me sunshine and they seem to always come when I need them most.
To beta readers who read and gave me amazing feedback: Julie Jarnagin, Heather Sunseri, Melanie Williamson, and Heather Lochridge, thank you so much!
And lastly, thank you to my husband and children. The fact that they don’t mind doing their own laundry, cooking their own meals and ordering take-out, or cleaning the house prove how much they love and support me. You guys are my world. I love you.
About the Author
Jessica R. Patch writes inspirational contemporary romance and romantic suspense. A passion to draw women into intimacy with God keeps her motivated, along with ice-cold Perrier (which no one else will drink so she never runs out without knowing) and adventurous trips in the name of research. When she’s not hunched over her laptop or teaching the new & growing believers class at her church, you can find her sneaking off to movies with her husband, embarrassing her daughter in unique ways, dominating her son at board games, and collecting recipes for wonderful dishes she’ll probably never cook. She is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management. Her debut novel will release with Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense in early 2016.
Say Hi!
Jessica posts devotions, teasers, updates and other fun things on her blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter @jessicarpatch. Check out the Pinterest Board for Hope Under Mistletoe and don’t forget to subscribe to Jessica’s newsletter, Patched In, to receive alerts when new books are released or when FREE books are available! Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Hope Under Mistletoe (Seasons of Hope Book 1) Page 10