“That sounds simple,” I say with a smile.
“You’re sick!” Josh screams, then runs.
“Youjust told the guy with the chainsaw he could have me,” I point out.
“Hypocritical little piece of shit, isn’t he?” Nigel puts one arm around me.
“I hope your buddies are waiting down there for you!” I call after his retreating back.
Nigel puts the chainsaw down. “It’s going to be awful running in wet trousers.”
“That’s the least of his problems, isn’t it?” I go over and kiss him. “Don’t chase him too long. I’ll make brunch.”
“I’ll do the leg of venison for Christmas dinner.” Nigel kisses me again and puts his goggles back in place. “When I get back, I have a little something for you.” He pats his pocket.
“Just so it’s not leg of Josh.”
“I make no promises there.” Nigel winks.
And that’s good, I think, as he gallops away with a war cry and fresh rev of the chainsaw.Because he never makes a promise unless he intends to keep it.
Wait...
“Nigel! Come back and promise about that last part!” I scream and run after him.
HER FACE IS PURE JOY, red and pink from laughing so hard, eyes watering. Briana takes another bite of the custardy French toast and sighs. “Seeing Josh pee his pants was the best Christmas present ever. And you. Oh, baby. You’re my new favorite villain. Or hero. Both. I could totally fall in love with either version of you,” she giggles.
There’s that word again. Love. So hard won sometimes, so easily given at others.
I take a deep breath and fumble around in my pocket, finding the smooth wooden ring with the designs I carefully etched into it with the drill bit. “I know seeing that tosser get what was coming to him is not really what youwantedfor Christmas, though. We could do a bit better.” I look out the window. “Would you like to wait for sunset?”
“No.” Briana’s voice is a whisper, her face suddenly serious and expectant.
“I don’t know how to make it more romantic unless I—”
“Nigel. This is romantic. The two of us, alone, laughing together on the top of the world, snug in this little lodge? It’s a dream come true. Thisiswhat I wanted for Christmas.”
“Think you wanted one of these, too.” I slip the ring out and hold it up, watching her eyes go wide. “It’s not an engagement ring. Not foolish enough to rush a good thing. But would you take it as a promise ring, my love?”
Briana reaches out for it and takes it. Her fingers are trembling as she turns it over, seeing the tiny six-pointed snowflakes and the rough shapes of pines I made in it.
“You keep your promises.”
“That I do.”
“Then I can’t wait to wear it,” she whispers, putting it on her finger.
It’s too thick and wide for such pretty hands. “I can make a better—”
“Iloveit. I’m not taking it off until someone gives me something else to replace it with,” Briana says fiercely, pressing her hand to her heart and covering it protectively with the other one. She locks eyes with me and dares me to take it away.
As if I would. “Want to call my Mum and Dad?” I ask. “Want to show them my Christmas gifts.”
“Oh?”
“You. In that ring.”
“Ohhh. Yep. Can’t wait.” Briana bounds across the table and kisses my cheek. “I’m going to go get prettied up so your mother thinks I’m good enough for her son.”
