Page 52 of The Clause in Christmas
Watching her step outside into the soft moonlight, panic settled in Luke’s chest. He couldn’t lose her. Not without telling her how he felt.
Not bothering to grab his coat, Luke ran after her, bounding down the porch steps two at a time. “Let’s talk about it now. What is it, Cass? Is it the money?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Luke wanted to take them back. They sounded harsh and judgmental. Not at all how he meant them.
Halfway to her car, Cassie whirled around, her eyes blazing in the dim light. “And what if itisabout the money? Is that so wrong?”
“No, it’s not,” Luke said hastily, pausing a few feet in front of her. “I just meant…”
Cassie narrowed her eyes, but he could see the hurt hiding behind her indignation.
Luke closed the gap between them. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m saying. The truth is Ireallywant you to stay.”
“Why?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Why do you care?”
Their toes nearly touching, Luke gazed into her stunning green eyes—the ones that made him feel like the best version of himself, as though she could see all the good in him and all the greatness he could become.
Lost in her gaze, he couldn’t move, soaking up every ounce of magic before it slipped away. Thick, feathery snowflakes began to drift from the sky, swirling around them like they were standing in a snow globe, a perfect moment captured in time.
“I care,” Luke said, his breath mingling with hers, “because I’m falling in love with you, Cassie.”
In the span of a single heartbeat, Cassie’s hands slid around Luke’s neck as he encircled her waist with his own.
When their lips met, all the emotions Luke had been trying to control since the instant he laid eyes on her erupted in their kiss, a burst of passion and tenderness that nearly knocked him over.
Snowflakes collected on his exposed neck, sending shivers down his spine, but Luke didn’t care. The warmth of Cassie’s lips permeated all the way to his soul. And he would have stood in the snow, tangled up in her kiss, until spring.
As their kiss deepened, Cassie abruptly broke away. Her eyes wide and startled, she stepped back, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Ru…” Luke reached for her, but she shook her head, blinking back tears.
“I—I have to go.” Without looking back, Cassie fled to her car, disappearing in the swirl of snowflakes.
As Luke watched her slip from sight, his heart wrenched inside his chest, as if he might have just lost a piece of himself… for good.
Chapter 18
Cassie lay awake in bed as slender rays of sunlight filtered through the frosted windowpane. Although she hadn’t been able to sleep a wink, she wasn’t tired. Too many thoughts circulated in her mind.
Gently, Cassie pressed a fingertip to her lips, still able to feel the warmth and pressure of Luke’s mouth on hers—still able to taste him.
The inexplicable kiss had been everything she’d imagined it would be, plus so much more. The moment their lips met, everything else fell away. And for the first time, Cassie saw her future with clarity. She wanted to stay in Poppy Creek… with Luke. But as quickly as the realization overcame her, the fears crept in. Could she risk her heart again? And what about the promise to her mother?
I’m falling in love with you, Cassie.
Luke’s words were like an anchor securing her to a safe shore. And if she were honest, she wasn’t just falling in love with him. She’d already fallen. But she didn’t have a clue what to do about it.
Cassie padded softly down the staircase, greeted by the sight of her Christmas tree reflecting vibrant colors across the bay window. The robust branches still permeated the house with the fresh, tangy scent of fir needles. Closing her eyes, Cassie took a moment to inhale the cleansing aroma.
With comfortable familiarity, Cassie moved through her morning routine, stocking the fireplace with another log, brewing a pot of coffee, and flipping to the day’s activity in the Christmas Calendar.
December 12: Read A Christmas Carol.
Cradling her favorite mug, Cassie glanced out the kitchen window. A thin layer of snow coated the ground, creating the perfect atmosphere to curl up and read by the fire. Plus, Cassie looked forward to getting out of her own head for a few hours.
After topping off her mug, Cassie surveyed the small bookcase in the corner of the living room. Musty leather-bound classics lined the shelves, offering their colorful spines for her perusal. Tracing the etched titles with her fingertip, Cassie’s gaze fell on a thin cherry-red spine with gold lettering. Carefully, she slid it from its resting place.
Tucked beneath a heavy quilt, a cup of coffee in hand, Cassie cracked openedA Christmas Carol, not knowing what to expect. She’d heard the basic storyline—cantankerous old man who hates Christmas is visited by strange ghosts. But she wasn’t prepared for the experience that unfolded.
