Page 25 of Mission: Merry Christmas
“Yeah. I like the see-through balls the best, though. They look cool in front of the lights.”
“They really do glisten. It makes me feel…" She took in a deep breath, searching for the words. “Joy. That’s what I’m feeling.”
“Joyful? Yeah, you know that perfectly describes what I’m feeling, too. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever understood real joy until this minute.” He held her gaze for a long moment. “Avery. I’m really glad you’re here.”
Fear raced through her. “Me, too.” She grabbed the tree topper hoping the subject change would calm her. “Time to put the star on top. Do you have a ladder?”
“Sure thing. Wait here.”
Avery took a few pictures of the work in progress, then added a couple more items to the shopping list.
Drew came back and steadied the ladder close the tree. “Hand me the tree topper?”
She carried the colorful glass star over to him. His fingertips grazed her arm as he took it from her. Her heart pounded as she watched him position the star.
“Is it straight?”
Red, green, gold, white, and blue danced across the room from the twenty-six-point star. “It’s perfect.”The whole day was.
Drew stepped down from the ladder and slipped his arm around her waist. “We did good.”
A tingle raced through her. “Stockings,” she tried to say evenly. She turned and pointed at him. “We need stockings.”
“Get one for you and me, too,” Drew said.
She started to add them to her list, then pursed her lips like a puffer. “You thinkyou’reon the nice list, Mister?” She swept her ink pen in the air like an X.
“What? You don’t think I’m nice?”
“Cranky, but nice.” She twisted the list in her hand. “I’m going to go to town and pick up this stuff. You need to stretch and do your exercises. We’ll finish up when I get back. Deal?”
“Yes, if you’re sure you don’t need my help.”
“No. I can get it. You get moving.” She jogged to her bedroom to get her purse.
The doorbell rang just as she closed the door behind her. She couldn’t wait to meet Brooke in person. She knew Brooke and Drew were twins, but she couldn’t imagine a feminine version of Drew.
She hitched her purse on her shoulder and started back down the hall. Drew answered the door with a hearty hello, but what followed made her turn and run back to her room.
Chapter Twelve
“Thathas got to be the biggest gift basket I’ve ever seen,” Drew said. “You can set it on the table. If it’ll fit.”
A man ambled into the foyer, hovering near in the hallway table which was clearly not deep enough for the basket.
“The floor, I guess,” Drew said.Is that a showerhead hanging in there?Through the red cellophane, he could see a blender and a pair of sneakers, too.“Who is this from?”
“From me.” The man poked his head around the side of the basket. “I’m Tom Ware of The Ware Agency. Nice to meet you.” He set the unexpected gift on the floor and extended his hand.
The bullet-shaped man looked about ready to suffer a heat stroke in that suit. Beads of sweat pooled above his brow.
Drew stood there registering what had just happened. That one in seven hundred thousand had just become one in one. He’d just let the enemy right in. He hoped Avery wouldn’t walk right into this mess.
Realization swept through him. “How did you get through the gate?” He pushed his hand in his pocket, squaring off with the guy.
“Merry Christmas, man. I wanted to deliver this personally.” His tight grip was practiced, as was the clap on Drew’s back. “I’m a huge fan.”
“I asked you a question.”
