Page 43 of Seeds of Christmas

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Slowly, I turn around.

Rhi is standing by the truck, already packing another snowball, and she’ssmiling. Actually smiling. Not the tight, professional smile she’s been giving me for the past four hours. A real one.

“Did you just?—”

The second snowball hits me in the chest.

“Oh, you’redead,” I say, dropping my things and scooping up my own handful of snow.

“You’ll have to catch me first!” She’s already running, laughing.

I pack the snowball as I chase her around the truck. She’s fast—faster than I expected—and she’s got good aim. Another snowball grazes my shoulder as I duck behind the truck bed.

“You’re going down, Pierce!”

“Big talk from someone who can’t hit a moving target!”

I launch my snowball. It explodes against the truck, a good two feet from where she’s standing.

She laughs harder. “Pathetic!”

“I’m being kind! I don’t want to hurt you!”

“How chivalrous!” She nails me in the arm. “I’m not worried!”

Okay, fine. Game on.

I pack three snowballs quickly, advancing around the truck. She’s backing up, still laughing, packing her own ammunition. Her ponytail is coming loose. Her cheeks are pink from cold and exertion. Her eyes are bright and alive in a way I haven’t seen before.

She looks happy.

She looks beautiful.

Focus, Wolfe.

I throw. She dodges. Her return fire catches me in the shoulder.

“You’re terrible at this!” she calls.

“I’m strategizing!”

“You’re losing!”

We’re circling each other now, both of us grinning like idiots. I’m trying to remember the last time I did something this stupid and fun.

Rhi feints left, I fall for it, and she gets me square in the chest with a perfectly packed snowball.

“Ha!” She’s triumphant, arms raised in victory.

That’s when I make my move.

I rush her—not fast enough to actually catch her off guard, but fast enough that she squeals and tries to run. Her boots slip slightly in the snow. I catch her around the waist, lifting her off her feet for just a second before setting her down.

“Unfair!” she protests, squirming. “That’s cheating!”

“You started it!”

“I was being playful!”

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