Page 88 of Mistletoe Misses
“I am, but I was worried about you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was leaving. I could only think about getting here in time.” It’s probably not the answer she wants to hear, but it’s true.
“I understand. Your mom told me what happened. Would a kiss help?” she asks shyly. “I know it would help me.”
“Come inside.”
She holds onto my coat on our way to the living room couch, then settles on my lap after I sit. Her lips send healing light and energy through my veins, coloring my black-and-gray world with her love.
Drawing back, her eyes glisten in the moonlight while she surveys me. “Tell me about your friend.”
“He responded to a domestic dispute. Nothing out of the ordinary until the neighbors got involved, escalating the call to a brawl with multiple weapons. He took a stray bullet while trying to break it up.” I pause at her gasp. “The bullet missed a major artery in his leg by an inch, but I didn’t know that until he came out of surgery. Because of the fight, it took longer for EMS to get him to the hospital, and Captain said he’d been close to bleeding out. I couldn’t take any chances.”
She nods, understanding I needed to be here for him without my having to explain. “Now, it’s my turn.”
“Your turn for what?”
“To explain. Sadie told me what she said about her acting job, and I was scared you wouldn’t come back and give me the chance. I didn’t want you to think I was leaving you.”
The news and fog of hurt it caused flood my memory. I don’t realize my tired body reacts, giving away my feelings on the matter until she lifts my gaze to hers with a hand on my cheek.
“Maddox, we’re not going anywhere. She got it wrong.”
“What?”
“Yes, she was selected for the role, but we’re not moving to California.”
“How will she …”
“We’ll have to fly out there occasionally, and that’s where her agent lives, but most of the filming will take place in Boston, ironically. Other than her being the obvious choice for the part, we can easily commute here whenever she’s needed on set. It was a no-brainer.”
“You’re not moving?”
“No.” She grins. “Ember Falls is our home.”
Reveling in that good news, I take her hand, kiss her palm, then hold it against my chest. “I was thinking that on my way here. It’s my home, too, and I miss it already.”
“Does that mean you’re not staying here?”
She fights back a smile until I shake my head to confirm.
“What about your job?”
I think about all the years I dedicated to the department and wish my decision to resign had been a harder one to make. “I planned to make it official tomorrow … later today,” I correct since it’s already morning. “But I wanted to wait until Adrian was stable, so I could tell him first. We’ve been through a lot together on the force.”
“Maddox, that’s wonderful. I bet our police department would love to have you.”
“I’ve already been offered the job.”
“You have? When?”
“Another Nana errand. She must have sensed I was thinking about it and sent me to help the chief’s wife, conveniently before he left for work.”
“She’s good.” Her eyes shift to our hands as she contemplates her next words.
“What is it?”
“The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, and I’m so happy you’ve chosen to stay in Ember Falls,” she says easing into her question. “How are you feeling now … about us?”
