Page 66 of Gotta Have Mistletoe
He grins. “And mistletoe.”
Erik places some sprigs in my hand, then closes his hand over mine. “Every great romance needs a grand gesture.”
“So we’re...?”
“We’re a great romance, Glen. I love you.”
My knees have become colt-like, and all I can see is Erik.
Erik squeezes my hands. “I love you, Glen Garland. I want to spend a life with you. I know you might not feel the same. We just met, and well...” He looks down. I think of all the things separating us. He squares his shoulders. “But I do love you.”
Erik inches closer to me. “I want to woo you. I want to do my best to court you. I want to tell you that I love you every day.”
“Erik...” My voice is rough, and sort of hoarse, but Erik doesn’t seem to mind.
Tears prickle my eyes.
“I didn’t plan to fall for you, Glen,” Erik says. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I should have listened to my heart, not protocols. Can you forgive me?”
My throat squeezes. I open my mouth, then close it. Erik stiffens, and his eyes suddenly sparkle less.
“Yes!” I blurt out, and relief moves over Erik’s face. “I already have. I already love you something fierce.”
Erik lets go of the tree, and Anders rushes to catch it.
“Is it a yes?”
“It’s absolutely a yes,” I tell him.
Erik takes me in his arms, and suddenly we’re kissing, and I’m aware of Erik’s warm body holding onto me, and all my cells relax and ease, and life is amazing.
Cheers erupt across the airport.
Erik halts the kiss but leans his forehead against mine. “Let’s return to the castle and have a proper Christmas celebration.”
“No more plane?” Max asks.
“No more plane,” Erik says. His eyes dart to me. “Maybe Nevada can be a place you visit in the future.”
“We all visit,” I say.
He beams. “We all visit.”
A commotion sounds, and I spot Sven and the bodyguards bounding up the steps.
“Your Majesty!” Sven shouts.
Erik turns. “It’s okay, Sven. We’re ready to return to the palace.” He links fingers with me. “All of us.”
Sven blinks, then smiles. “Very well, Your Majesty. What should we do about the tree?”
“We should keep it in the airport, so everyone traveling can enjoy it. I’m afraid some ornaments fell from it.”
“Nothing a little redecoration won’t fix,” I say.
Erik and the bodyguards arrange the tree on the landing. Everyone coming up the escalator can see it, and everyone on this floor can see it.
Max and Anders and I rehang the bulbs that have fallen from the tree.
