Page 69 of Season's Schemings

“I’ll admit. I was very, very skeptical at first. But he looks at you like… like everything you say is the most interesting thing in the world.”

“Really?”

Jax raises his eyebrows cheekily. “Yeah, I don’t get it either.”

“Har har,” I drawl, crossing my arms.

Jax holds up his hands in surrender. “I just mean that he’s clearly crazy about you. And I know you’ve always been a romantic. And misguided as I believe that to be, I’m glad that you’ve found someone who truly loves you. Weird as the whole sudden-marriage thing still is.”

I glance through the window of the coffee shop at Seb, who’s still on the phone and pacing. A blush crawls up my face.Could that beautiful man out therereallybe crazy about me?

The notion floats through my mind, sweet and fluffy as cotton candy. I don’t have the words to reply to this (actually really sweet) sentiment from my love-hating brother, so I give him a spontaneous little hug. He squeezes me for a second before letting go, and I’m left feeling entirely warm and fuzzy inside, like I’ve curled up in front of the fire in my pajamas with a cup of cocoa and a good book.

“Not weird,” I tell my brother. “And you should try it sometime.”

“What, marrying a hockey player out of the blue?”

I shove my brother. “No, you goon. Finding someone special.”

“I don’t need anyone special, I already have Edna.”

“I am going to be entirely unsurprised if I turn on the TV one day, and you’re on that show about people who fall in love with their cars.”

“Edna’s a van, not a car. And that would then maketwoof us in the family who’ve been embarrassed on national television.” I glare at him and he relents. “Too soon?”

I bite my lip, considering this for a few moments, then shake my head. Because the wholeIncidentthat inspired this little revenge plot couldn’t be further from my mind.

In fact, the revenge plot itself couldn’t be further from my mind… all I’m thinking about right now is Seb.

“Sorry, sorry.” As if he could sense my thoughts, Seb suddenly appears, lighting up the room with his smile. There’s an energy about him that I can’t quite read. “That took forever.”

“Everything okay?” I lean towards him, tilting my head so that it rests on his shoulder.

“Everything’s great.” Seb gives my arm a little reassuring squeeze. “Let me get this one. Jax, what’re you having?”

Jax takes a step backwards. “Actually, I’m gonna bounce. Go for a real hike and let you two have some quality time together.”

“You sure?” I ask. Seb echoes the sentiment.

Jax nods and rubs his hands together. “Definitely. You kids have fun.”

And with that, he’s gone.

“He okay?” Seb asks, looking after him.

I shrug. “The mountains were calling, I guess.”

“Your brother’s a bit of a lone wolf, huh?”

“That’s one word for it.”

Seb laughs and wraps an arm around me. “Well, I’m not complaining,” he says in a low voice, his breath warm by my ear as he pulls me close. “Because this means I get you all to myself for the rest of the afternoon.”

Like I said, this Christmas keeps getting better and better.

* * *

“This can’t get anyworse!” I groan a few hours later, as I take another frozen step forward and stumble. My teeth are clacking together and my socks are soaked in my boots. It feels like hypothermia is about to set in at any second.

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