Page 134 of Holiday Hostage
I knew the day would come when they’d have to take on another dangerous mission.
I didn’t let myself think about it too much.
Saving people was part of their DNA.
Asking them to give it up would be like them telling me I could never travel again.
We learned how to make it work.
“Speaking of presents,” Tarron interrupted the flow of conversation.
Reed sputtered with laughter. “Man, no one was talking about presents.”
“I know.” Tarron bent and opened the child-proof drawer on the new side table I’d ordered a few months ago.
The piece was sturdy enough to survive Hannah’s toddler years and gave us a place to store a few things.
Tarron withdrew an envelope and held it out to me. “Merry Christmas.”
“I thought we were doing our presents tomorrow.” I had a few under the tree for each of them, but the main one was hidden upstairs under our bed.
We’d consolidated bedrooms, creating one big enough for all four of us and converting the other to Hannah’s room.
The slinky lingerie wasn’t needed, but I had a few ideas for tomorrow night that sent my pulse skittering beneath my skin.
Tarron took in my flushed cheeks and a wicked grin flashed. “We’ll get to that.” He extended the envelope. “This is from us.”
I tore into the thick paper and extracted a single sheet of stationery. I read it quickly, then looked up in confusion. “A cruise to Alaska?”
“You said you wanted to go back with us, but in a different way.” Mav rolled his shoulders.
I’d learned that meant he wasn’t sure what to do, or if he’d done something wrong.
I leaped toward him, dragging Reed and Tarron in at the same time for a giant hug. “You’re all amazing. This is perfect.”
Tucker clapped from the kitchen. “Food’s ready.”
“Be right there, Dad.” Reed kissed my cheek, looked up, and wiggled his eyebrows. “Mistletoe, Payton. You know what that means.”
I didn’t have to answer.
Instead, I kissed him, telling him with my lips all the things that I had no words to express.
When I ended the kiss, he smiled goofily and brushed his nose alongside mine.
“More of that later.” He guided me over to Tarron and went to talk to Tucker.
The poor man had been beside himself when Reed called after they’d reached safety.
Their reunion the day after they rescued me the second time had been so full of tears and emotions that we’d all been emotionally devastated by the time they worked through it all.
Seeing them together reminded me of the good that I’d experienced while in Alaska.
I wanted that again.
Alaska was an incredible place, and I hated to give Jack power over where I chose to visit. I’d been in counseling for almost a year, and my therapist had helped me work through the worst of my anxiety.
I held the letter explaining our cruise to my chest. “This really is perfect.”
