Her head lifted and dropped and lifted and dropped, slowly as if what he was saying was a ball and she had to roll it into the hole where it would hit a lightbulb and she would understand the importance of what he was saying.
“We could get you a passport,” he said, stepping forward, his hands still extended. She slipped her palms into his. “You said you wanted to travel for vacation. Maybe I’ll be someplace you want to vacation and you could come with me for a week or two.”
Flop. Bang. Ring.
The ball rolling around in her head dropped, and suddenly she got it.
Tears sprang to her eyes as she shuffled closer to him, desperate to touch him and yet afraid that if she let go of his hands, he would disappear and this would all be a dream.
He cocked his head, examining her face. “Are you crying?”
“Yes, but it’s because I’m happy.” She sniffled. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m a crier.”
“Oh, I noticed.” His wide smile was the embodiment of joy. “Is this a yes?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding and sniffling again and then tilting her head up for a kiss. She didn’t know if she was agreeing to a date, or a kiss, or the future he’d outlined, but she didn’t care. She wanted them all.
Almost instantly, she was wrapped in his arms, their lips pressed together. Their kiss was hopeful, as if they had decades of kisses to set the tone for. When they finally pulled away from each other, Marc looked down at her, his eyes soft with the same love she felt warming her heart.
“Merry Christmas,” he said, reaching in to the pocket of his peacoat and pulling out an envelope. “Your present . . .”
Her eyes widened. “What is it?”
He just shrugged so she flipped the envelope over. She tried to be gentle, but the paper ripped as she pushed her finger under the flap. Inside the envelope were two brochures and two cards, which she fanned out in front of her.
“Are these . . . ?”
“Lifetime memberships to the Salt Lake art museums. I didn’t know which one to get, so I got both of the big ones. You can volunteer or get a job in a gallery, but this way you can visit anytime you want, too. They were going to be yours even if you sent me packing.”
She hugged the envelope to her chest. Even if she decided working in the art world wasn’t for her, he was giving her the gift of art. And while he may have given her dreams to her in an envelope, he was a solid, flesh and blood man who wanted to be with her.
And she wanted to be with him. No matter what.
“Merry Christmas,” she echoed, reaching up to her tiptoes to drop a kiss on his cheek.
The End
Copyright ? 2016, Jennifer Lohmann
Thank you, readers!
I appreciate the time you took to read Twelve Kisses Until Christmas. Authors love reviews and I’m not different. Whether you liked the book or hated it, all online reviews are great.
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Thank you, Molly!
This anthology was Molly’s idea, way back at RWA in San Antonia in 2014. I’ve loved working with this group of women and hope to be able to again (hint, hint).
Want to read more?
A week skiing in the mountains of Utah is the perfect way for Cassie Sumner to mark the start of her post-divorce life. Especially when the mountains aren’t the only gorgeous view . . . But hitting the jackpot with her hot ski instructor doesn’t mean she’s ready for—or interested in—the vacation fling her best friend is encouraging her to have.
One bad experience years ago was enough for Doug Vanderholt to swear off affairs with students. And he’s keeping that promise, even if he can’t stop thinking about Cassie’s smile. He’s remade his life and is only interested in something serious and real.
Doug and Cassie can’t ignore their attraction to each other, and they both feel they can just get it out of their systems. But as the week draws to a close and their physical attraction turns deeper, they start to wonder if they can turn a vacation fling into something more.
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Snow-Kissed
by
Laura Florand
About the Book
In a snow-kissed Christmas cabin, a heart-wrenching tale of love, loss, forgiveness–and new hope.
After the utter destruction of her marriage and her happiness, Kai knew it was better to shut herself away from the world than to hurt and be hurt.
Holed up in her mountain cabin, she plans to spend her Christmas alone. Until her not-quite-ex-husband shows up as the first flakes start to fall.
Now should she send him back out into the cold? Or can she be brave enough to let this winter snow bind them back together?