She kisses me and I pour everything I haven't said into it. When we break apart, we're both panting.
"We should probably get back on the road," she murmurs. "Before I climb into your lap and we traumatize any passing families."
I laugh and she grins at me with such open affection that my heart doesn’t know what to do with itself.
I put the truck back in gear and pull onto the road, but I don't let go of her hand all the way to Deepwood Mountain.
The cabin my brother Kade rented for us is gigantic.
I had no idea he’d get something like this for us. But seeing it decorated for Christmas is something else.
There’s lights on all the eaves, Santa displays, wreaths, and through the huge windows I can see half a forest's worth of trees and garland.
Sadie must be going nuts.
There’s no wayKadedid all this decorating. Not alone anyway.
"Wow," Piper breathes. "This is...a lot."
I park next to my brother-in-law Ledger's truck. "You’re telling me."
The front door flies open and Sadie comes barreling down the porch steps with Bear, their black lab, at her heels and Ledger trailing behind with an amused expression.
"You're alive!" She launches herself at me the second I’m done helping Piper from the truck. "I was so worried!"
I hug her back, careful not to crush my little sister. "We're fine."
She pulls back, and I watch her gaze flick between me and Piper. A slow smile spreads across my sister’s face.
"It's about damn time, you stubborn idiot,” she says quietly into my ear as she hugs me again, harder this time.
Heat creeps up my neck as Ledger approaches, hand extended. "Good to see you, man. Glad the storm didn't get you."
"Thanks." I shake his hand, grateful for the distraction. "Sorry we're late."
"Are you kidding? You gave Sadie something way better than being on time." He grins. "Entertainment."
"I'm going to kill both of you," I mutter, shaking my head.
Piper's patting Bear as Sadie pulls her into a hug. "I'm thrilled you're okay. When you guys went radio silent, I imagined all sorts of terrible scenarios."
"I'm sorry. My phone died and?—"
"Don't apologize." Sadie pulls back, studying Piper's face with laser focus. "You look...happy."
The flush that spreads across Piper's cheeks is adorable and incriminating.
"Come on," Ledger says, clapping me on the shoulder. "Let's get you inside. Everyone's waiting."
Everyone turns out to be my brother Kade, his new girlfriend Nia, and her Aunt Meredith—a little woman with sharp bespectacled eyes and an even sharper tongue.
"So you're the other park ranger in the Giles family," Meredith says, looking me up and down. "My goodness, you are large. Do they grow everyone supersized in your family?"
“Everyone but me,” Sadie says cheerfully.
Nia, who's barely taller than Piper, laughs. "Welcome to the land of giants. I feel your pain." She extends a hand to Piper. "I'm Nia. Nice to meet you."
"You too, Nia." Piper's smiling, relaxing slightly.
