But then she’d squeezed my hand like she meant it.
And now Saint was standing out there, and my brain decided this was the perfect moment to panic.
Marcy cleared her throat.“He’s here.”
“I see him,” I said faintly.
“Are you going to make him stand out there like an abandoned Christmas tree lot employee?”she asked.
“What does that even mean?”Jessa asked.
Marcy waved her hand at her.“Shush.It means she shouldn’t leave the man waiting in the cold.”
“In what world?”Jessa whispered.
“I’m going,” I laughed.Jessa and Marcy could be a whole comedy show if I let them.
Marcy smirked.“Good.Go.And Belle?”
I paused with my hand on the door handle.
Marcy’s expression softened.“You deserve a little good.”
My throat tightened.I nodded once and opened the door.
Pepper practically knocked me over trying to get to Saint.Salt followed at a steadier pace, but his attention was locked on Saint like he was confirming the man was real.
Saint straightened when he saw me, his gaze hitting my face first like it always did.He didn’t look at the dogs, didn’t look at the street.
Just me.
“Hey,” he said, his voice low.
“Hey,” I managed.
And then, because my mouth had apparently been replaced with a malfunctioning sprinkler system, I blurted, “Your mom invited me to Christmas.”
Silence.
The world didn’t stop, but it felt like it did.Like the snow paused midair, like the streetlight held its breath.
I immediately wanted to shove my own head into the nearest snowbank.
Saint blinked once.
Then his mouth twitched.
Then he smiled.
Not a smug smile.Not a teasing one.
A real one.Warm and quiet and… pleased.
“Yeah?”he said.
My stomach twisted.“Yeah.She came into the bakery on Thursday and bought enough baked goods to feed your entire club, and then she told me I should come over for Christmas and that if I didn’t it would ruin Christmas.I laughed because obviously that’s dramatic, but then she looked at me like she was serious, and now I’m worried you’re going to think I’m—” I sucked in a breath, my lungs burning.“Like I’m pushing myself into your family or something, and we’re still new, and I don’t want you to think I’m trying to—”
“Belle,” Saint cut in gently.
