Page 31 of A Holly Brown Christmas
"You’re not going to die. Worst case, you end up in the bushes. The boxwoods are large and fairly dense and were just trimmed last week. They’re very soft now. It would be like landing on a firm mattress."
She glared at him, sweat dotting her temple. "This isn’t funny!"
The ladder creaked and she cried out in horror, causing him to flinch. Leaning out the window like this wasn’t working. He didn’t have faith that he’d be able to pull her up while leaning over the dresser.
“Um…I need to move this furniture so I can brace myself better and pull you in. Just…ten seconds, I promise!”
All she did was whimper.
Hopping down, he cursed the large dresser while shoving it as far away from the wall as he could. Then he was back at the window. With one hand, he gripped the inside wall, and with the other, he reached farther out the window.
"Okay, new plan. I'm going to pull you in. On three."
"That’s a terrible plan!"
"One—"
"Lucas—"
"Two—"
"Seriously, wait! Call the fire department! I can hold on, I swear!"
There was no way he was even considering that. And with every ounce of strength he possessed, Lucas called out, "Three!" before lunging forward and hooking one arm under hers and yanking her upwards. She squeaked in surprise and flailed, making it harder to keep a tight hold on her. The ladder wobbled violently, but Lucas held on, his muscles straining, as he pulled her up and closer to the windowsill. With a scream, Holly kicked the ladder away as she finally let go and grabbed onto him, desperately clutching at his shirt and coat.
With an awkward grunt and an ungraceful tangle of limbs, she crashed into him, toppling them both backward onto the bedroom floor. And then…
Silence.
The wind was completely knocked out of him, and Holly wasn’t moving. He was about to panic when she let out a weak groan.
“Are you okay?” he breathlessly whispered. “Is anything hurt?”
Lifting her head, she looked down at him. "Just my pride."
Unable to help himself, he laughed beneath her, winded but grinning. "You’re welcome."
She pushed up a little more and wiped her hair away from his face. "You almost gave me a heart attack. I didn’t think it was going to work. I was certain the ladder was going to fall backwards and take me with it."
Tightening his arms around her waist, he solemnly said, “I never would have let that happen.”
“You told me I could easily land in the bushes. That it would be like landing on a firm mattress.
"Yeah, but… I caught you."
Holly just stared down at him, the moment stretching between them. Breathless. Close.
Then she smirked.
"Next time, leave me on the ladder. Or call the fire department."
"Next time, leave the lights to the professionals.”
They both laughed—still tangled on the floor, but safe, and maybe just a little reluctant to move.
Resting her head on his chest, he felt her slowly begin to relax, but they stayed like that for a long time.
Nine
