by Wendy Knight
“The curse is still alive and well.”
Crew shook his head, frowning while his fingers slid across her skin, looking for more injuries. “I’m so sorry. Let’s find Carter and end this.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Carter was pulling on his coat when Crew finally found him.
Azura’s cheekbone, the opposite side as her black eye and candy cane rash, was swollen and already bruising. Crew really hoped Tyler found whoever had thrown that ice ball. Crew had wanted to find them himself and hit them with a four-ton snowball, maybe, but Azura needed him more. Guilt gnawed at his insides—he’d been so dreading watching her kiss yet another guy that he’d been procrastinating.
And she’d gotten hit by an ice ball.
Note to self: Don’t procrastinate when breaking curses.
“Carter!” Crew navigated the throngs of people, Azura staying close to his side. She didn’t complain—and he knew that had to have hurt. He’d seen great big football players cry about less.
Carter turned, smiling. He and Crew had never been friends, per se, but they’d been friendly acquaintances. “I heard you need a favor.”
Ah, so their moms had been talking.
“We do. You got a sec?”
Crew was more uncomfortable with this one than any of the others because, of them all, Carter seemed like Azura’s type. And she’d said he wasn’t bad to look at. He had horrible visions of Azura kissing him, and they’d fall madly in love and she’d spend Christmas with Carter while Crew put on a brave face and his family sobbed at home.
“Sure, no problem. This is weird, right? I feel really awkward.”
Azura peered around Crew, dark hair glinting in the glimmering Christmas lights. “You have no idea.”
Carter laughed and Crew swallowed hard. Please don’t fall for him. Please don’t fall for him.
This was what he’d been reduced to.
Fantastic.
Azura sidled around Crew but kept one hand firmly in his. “Ready? It’ll just take a second.”
“Ready, I guess. Should I pop a mint or something first?” Carter shifted nervously on his feet. Crew didn’t blame him. She was gorgeous. He’d be a nervous wreck too if she ever decided to kiss him.
Well, maybe nervous wreck wasn’t the right word.
“No, it’s okay. I’m covered in hot chocolate and ice. We’re really low key.” She moved toward Carter, but still, her hand stayed in Crew’s.
Carter closed his eyes and Crew looked away. He couldn’t watch. Not again. Not this time. What if she liked it? What if it wasn’t just a quick peck? What if it developed into something more—
“Thank you. I know it was weird, and I know a curse sounds unbelievable—”
Crew snapped back toward her.
It was over.
She wasn’t in love with Carter.
She was still holding Crew’s hand.
The world wasn’t ending.
“A mistletoe curse? Not so unbelievable. My sister had a similar problem, although not as severe as yours, from the sound of things.” Carter gingerly touched Azura’s bruising cheek. “But I feel like I should thank you. Gorgeous girls don’t walk up and ask me to kiss them on a regular basis.”
Azura smiled, edging back to Crew’s side. “Well, they should. And good job on the play! It was really good.”
“Thanks.” Carter bumped Crew’s bicep with his fist. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the Christmas Eve party, yeah?”
Crew nodded. He’d forgotten all about the Christmas Eve party. How, he had no idea. It was his parents’ biggest event of the year. “Yeah, I’ll be there. Thanks, Carter.”
Carter waved and disappeared into the crowd.
She was still with him. She hadn’t run off into the Christmas lights with Carter.
Everything was good.
Except that he’d had to watch her kiss four different guys. Four, when he would have sold his soul for just one of those kisses to land on his lips instead. He’d never been the jealous type, but it was killing him now. Struggling to rein in his emotions, he turned to distraction. “So?” he asked. “Do you feel any different?”
Azura tipped her head to the side, considering. “No,” she said slowly. Her dark hair caught the light from the candles and seemed to shimmer, making her more angelic than usual. “Not at all, actually.” Azura peered up at him. “But I didn’t feel any different when the curse started either. Are you—are you having a Christmas party tomorrow?”
“Yeah, my parents host a huge party every Christmas Eve. Most of the town is invited. It’s fun. Wanna stay? Watch the Christmas season end in style?” He raised an eyebrow suggestively, knowing before he asked what her answer would be.
He tucked her icy hand into the crook of his elbow, and they started back toward his truck. He’d had to park across the square because the entire place was packed.
“Maybe.” She bit her lip, peeking up at him. “Would your parents mind?”
Crew nearly fell over. Of everything he’d expected her to say, that hadn’t been it. “Seriously? What kind of anti-elf are you?”
She blushed. “Not a very good one. I’m even enjoying all these pretty lights.”
Crew shook his head, catching her when she slid across an ice patch that, all things considered, shouldn’t have been there. It was right by a heater and hundreds of feet had stepped on it over the course of the night.
Weird.
“My parents will definitely not mind. I think they kind of adore you. Of course, they don’t know you like I do.”
She playfully smacked him with her other hand. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She slid again, and he caught her, frowning. “Why are you sliding all over?”
Azura’s smile died. “I—I don’t know. No one else is sliding, are they?”
He slowly shook his head.
“Why am I sliding all over?” she asked in a horrified whisper.
Crew sucked in a breath. “Maybe the curse has a residual effect. It takes some time to wear off completely. Are you sure you don’t feel any different?”
She shook her head.
“Well, it probably just takes time. Don’t worry about it. In the meantime—” He scooped her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. “Just to be safe, Butterfly.”
People stared as they walked by. Most smiled. He barely noticed. She looped her arms around his neck with a resigned sigh and laid her head against his shoulder, her forehead against his neck. “Safety first.”
He’d made it almost all the way across the square before she spoke again, her breath warm against his neck. “Crew?”
His entire body reacted, and he struggled to answer her, his voice shaking. “Yeah, Butterfly?”
“When the curse is gone, are we still going to be friends?”
Friends.
The word cut him, slicing through his heart and he had to pretend it didn’t because that was just how it worked. Clearing his throat, trying to keep any pain out of his voice, he said, “I’m pretty sure after New Years, we’re going to be a couple. That’s the deal, right?”
She just laughed softly, laying her head back against his shoulder. “Funny.”
Friends. Funny.
His heart slowly broke in his chest.
“Why are you so quiet? Did everything go okay? Sorry we couldn’t join you. Mandatory family movie night,” Katrina said, all in one breath as she followed Crew around the kitchen. Azura had gone to change her hot chocolate-splattered jeans and he was trying to find an ice pack for her face.
“Everything went fine. Except the ice ball and the fact that she asked if we were still going to be friends when the curse was gone.”
Katrina winced. “Ouch.”
“Yeah.” He slammed the freezer door, dropping the ice pack on the counter. He leaned both hands on the granite and stared down at nothing, teeth clenched. Friends.
Katrina slid onto a barstool, propping her chin in her hands. “I’m g
oing to tell you something and I don’t want you to argue. Got it?”
Crew sighed, leaning back against the counter and folding his arms over his chest. “Sure.”
“She likes you.”
“No kidding. We’re great friends.”
“No, idiot. She likes you. And it scares her. But I see it every time she looks at you. Every time she laughs at your lame jokes. Every time she jumps at the chance to spend time with you. She probably doesn’t even realize it yet, but the rest of us do. Mama’s practically planning your wedding.”
Crew’s heart leaped. “Really?”
“Yeah. She’s thinking back yard in the spring—”
“Not that, Kat.”
“Oh.” Kat smiled. “Yes. We all see it. You might not, and she probably doesn’t, but we do. Just give it time. We’re so irresistible, she’ll put up with you just to get the rest of us.”
Crew’s half-smile died, and he scowled at his sister. “What?”
Kat laughed, popping back out of her chair. “I adore you. Everyone who meets you adores you. How could she not? And trust me, I see it in her eyes. She does.”
“Here’s hoping.” Crew raised an imaginary cup to his sister just as Garrett breezed into the kitchen.
“So, is the curse broken? Is she a new woman?”
Crew hesitated. “No, actually. She’s still as clumsy as ever. I’m hoping it’s a residual effect somehow.”
Garrett shrugged as he dug out the popcorn popper and poured in the kernels. “I’m not an expert on curses, but I’m sure that’s a possibility.”
Kat gnawed on her thumbnail, brows creased.
Probably thinking the same thing Crew was. That residual curse effects were not a thing.
They watched the popcorn pop in silence for several long seconds before Crew shook off his mood. “I better get this up to Azura. Did you see her cheek? Ice ball. Right to the face.”
“Did you find who did it? I have a few choice words I’d like to say to them,” Kat growled.
Crew shook his head, scooping up the ice pack. “Tyler went after them. I’m assuming he caught them because it’s Tyler.”
Garrett chuckled and his sister smiled. It’s Tyler was all that needed to be said.
“Crew,” Kat laid a hand on his arm as he left the kitchen. “Remember what I said.”
Like he could forget. Hope had his heart in its clutches now. “Got it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Azura had changed and was watching the snow from the back deck. The boards under her feet were heated, and there were two big heaters on each side of the railing that kept her toasty warm. The entire deck was covered by a pergola with thick vines that kept all but the most stubborn of snowflakes away.
The curse was broken. She was free.
So why didn’t she feel any different?
And why did she think the snow was beautiful?
She hated snow.
“Hey. You okay?”
She glanced over her shoulder, pushing the long dark curls out of her way. Crew stood in the open doorway, watching her. Butterflies flittered traitorously through her stomach. “Yeah. It’s pretty. Weird, huh?”
Crew raised an eyebrow. “What is?”
“The snow.”
Chuckling, he left the doorway to join her at the railing. “This is really crazy, but there are entire calendars dedicated to just how beautiful snow is. Poems too. Songs. It’s utter madness.”
She rolled her eyes, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. “Madness.”
“You up for movie night? Or did our day of Christmas cheer wear you out?”
She was so tired. Exhausted didn’t even cover it.
Her bed had looked so warm. So cozy. So comfortable.
But Crew would be downstairs, watching a movie.
“I mean...it’s a Christmas movie, yes?” She wrinkled her nose.
Crew nodded, smirking.
“I’m very conflicted.”
“How about this? I’ll make you hot chocolate since we lost most of your last cup in the great snowball incident and you can read your Stephen King book while we watch a Christmas movie. It’s the best of both worlds. You get to be with me and still be your anti-elf self.” Crew grinned.
“You have a very high opinion of yourself, Galahad,” she retorted. “But I like your idea. I’ll just grab my Kindle.”
She bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time which was just asking for trouble, but only fell once, and made it all the way back without a problem until the last stair. Her toe caught and sent her plummeting forward.
Right into Crew’s arms.
Her hands planted against his strong chest and he stumbled back a step but held them both upright. Slowly, she pried her eyes open and peeked up at him. He stared down at her, eyes dark and unreadable, and didn’t let her go. For the craziest second, she thought he was going to kiss her.
Hoped he was going to kiss her.
It felt so right in his arms. Warm and safe, and yet her whole body felt like it was on fire, every inch they touched felt zapped by electricity.
“Crew, come on! Movie’s starting!” Garrett bellowed from the other room.
Crew stared down at her for several more seconds while her heart raced in her chest and everything in her prayed that he would kiss her—
And then he let her go.
“Sorry. You okay?”
No.
“Yeah. I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
Crew snickered, taking her hand and pulling her toward the living room. “I get hit by three-hundred pound linebackers on a daily basis. You can’t hurt me.”
He flopped on the sectional, stretching his long legs out in front of him and leaving just enough space for Azura to fit between him and the wall. Or she could climb over his long legs and sit between him and Garrett, but it seemed pretty rude to read a book in the middle of the couch while everyone else was trying to watch a movie.
Wall it was.
She clambered into her spot, which wasn’t easy given that the couch was deep and bouncy. She nearly threw herself into Crew’s lap a couple of times before she got settled. But finally, success. As their movie started, she snuggled down against the cushions and turned on her Kindle.
Every few minutes, she’d look up to see what was going on in the movie. Some kids were trying to save Christmas.
Typical.
No wait—the kids were trying to save the elves. And the reindeer— “Can the reindeer talk?” she asked without meaning to, twisting sideways so she could lean against the cushions on her side.
Crew smiled over at her. “Yeah. They’re battle reindeer. They fight the guys trying to steal all the Christmas spirit and kill Santa.”
Whoa. That wasn’t like any Christmas movie she’d ever heard of. She propped the side of her head on her palm, watching the epic battle on-screen, book forgotten. Crew offered her popcorn—candy cane flavored, no less, and she downed half his bowl before she remembered she didn’t like candy canes.
Except maybe a little on popcorn.
Okay, maybe a lot on popcorn.
The movie ended and they started another, because apparently the way the Bacalls welcomed Christmas Eve was to watch movies until midnight. She was running on very little sleep and knew she should go to bed, but it was nice here, with the whole family and the fireplace and Crew stretched out next to her. She didn’t want to go up to her lonely room by herself.
She’d just close her eyes for a second...
Next to her, Crew rubbed his own eyes and yawned, stretching and propping his feet up on the table.
The next thing Azura knew, it was dark except for the light from the Christmas tree and everyone was gone.
Except Crew.
She was curled around him, one leg thrown across his thighs and her head on his chest. A fluffy blanket had been pulled over both of them at some point. Crew had one arm across his eyes and the other wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close.
/> She should get up. She should go to bed. She should wake Crew and send him on his way because he needed sleep too, and his big frame didn’t fit as easily on the couch as hers did. She should, but she did none of those things. Instead, she curled closer to him and listened to his deep, even breathing until she went back to sleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Crew woke the next morning before the sun came up. The house was still dark except the Christmas lights, bathing everything in the faintest of warm glows. He lay on his side, and Azura was curled into his chest, her head on his left arm while his right was protectively around her.
She was beautiful. So heart-achingly beautiful he almost couldn’t breathe. Her wild dark curls splayed out across his hand, tangled around his fingers, and her thick eyelashes swept across her bruised cheek. Anger lashed through him again that someone had been so careless. Stupid kids, probably thinking they were funny, but he would have done anything to take that ice ball for her. He would do anything to protect her.
He loved her.
Holy heavens, he loved her.
He hadn’t wanted to admit it. It was going to hurt him—he knew that. But he wasn’t stupid enough to think he could continue to deny it. He’d loved her from the start. He would love her after she broke his heart.
Maybe it was fate that his truck had caught that patch of ice. Maybe he’d been meant to meet her. She was everything he hadn’t known he’d wanted. Everything he’d never dared dream of.
He loved her.
And he couldn’t tell her.
Give her time.
He’d give her all the time in the world if she asked for it, but he knew if he even hinted at real feelings, she’d pull up her walls. She’d run. She’d push him away just like Holly had said.
Her eyes open, the dark lashes sweeping up, and her gaze met his.
His breath caught in his throat.
“Hi.”
Crew smiled down at her. He couldn’t move without ripping her hair out of her head, tangled as it was around his fingers. “Hi.”