Winter stared after Piers as he disappeared into the hotel. “I had a drink with him and let him tell me what happened. He was hurt, RJ. He was lied to and mistreated. He thought he was doing something bad, sure, but he didn’t think he was hurting anyone. That’s the difference, isn’t it?” He turned to study my face. “When he met me and realized he was doing something really wrong, he helped me. He even killed for me.” Winter’s steady gaze made me feel stripped to the soul. “I believe that people can change. An old part of someone can die and a new part can be born.” He gave me a bitter little smile. “I wasn’t always like this. I didn’t like the man I used to be, so I became someone new. I’m Winter Janvier! Not Jake Smith.” He winked at me.
“Your name is—”
“Was!Never speak it in my presence,” he grumbled, but a smile still turned up a corner of his mouth.
I brought his hand up and kissed it. “You’re not staying at the Courtesan anymore.”
“I could go home now,” he said, cutting a look at the grand old hotel. “I want to buy a new bed though.” He stuck out his tongue, and I had to laugh.
“Come stay with me. Not the night. Stay till you’re sick of me.”
Winter tilted his head. Almost a minute ticked by and nerves clawed at the inside of my chest.
Finally, he smiled. “Yes, Daddy. I would like that.”
“You’re such a good boy. I don’t deserve you.”
“Yes, you do,” he said firmly, then leaned over and kissed me. The sweet press of his soft lips against mine was a miracle, and I could tell he was going to transform my life into something new, something different—something worth living.
EPILOGUE
WINTER
Christmas Eve
My lower back ached asI slid the chair away from the dining room table at RJ’s house. I had tools scattered around and a few opals I hadn’t needed winked in the overhead light. I’d been inspired, and this necklace wouldn’t be the replacement I owed Madam Winters, though I was still going to give it to her. No, this was a new idea. I teared up as I stared down at the delicate choker.
I’d been so inspired by theessence of mistletoefor my first idea that when I’d made my original piece I hadn’t incorporated enough elements of wintertime into it, or at least, I didn’t think so. I touched my fingertip to the opals set in white gold surrounded by diamond chips—which represented ice—and caressed along the links I’d studded with emeralds to mimic the greenery of the plant.
“I’ll be home for Christmas,” RJ sang lowly as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I laughed and noticed the old song playing over the sound system. I’d been so focused on my work I hadn’t been aware of much going on around me. “You’re home for Christmas,” he whispered in my ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine.
“Mm-hmm,” I said, leaning to the side so I could press a kiss on his cheek, but he was too tall for me to reach that far. I settled for smooching his neck instead.
“This is beautiful.” He leaned closer to the table, bending me along with him to examine my creation.
“Thanks. I hope Madam Winters likes it.”
“She’ll love it. Come on. I have a surprise for you downstairs.” He grabbed my hand and tugged on it, urging me along.
“Okay, okay,” I said with a laugh, following him. I sighed as we reached the bottom of the steps because the smell of pine was heavy on the air. He’d set up a live Christmas tree in one corner, far away from the fireplace, and the lights were lit. There weren’t many ornaments, but the tasteful icicles arranged here and there all reflected the green and white lights, making the room glitter with holiday cheer.
“Oh,” I said, going up on the balls of my feet as I framed the scene with my hands to really take it in. “My sister Mary would love this.”
RJ gave me a squeeze. “Your sister’s name is Mary?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “She texted me and told me that since Mom is in the middle of packing up her house for the second time this year she was just staying with a friend from school. Thank you. I love this.”
“Good, but the tree isn’t your surprise.” He turned me toward the fireplace, and I’d been so snagged by the pretty lights that I hadn’t noticed what he’d done over there. A thick red comforter with two snow-white pillows at the top was spread out on the floor, and I shook my head with a smile on my face as he led me over there. When we were beside the blanket, he pointed upward.
I laughed at the sprig of mistletoe he’d hung from the ceiling. “You got me. Now I owe you a kiss.”
RJ leaned down and turned his cheek toward me, and I went up on tiptoe to kiss his lips instead. He pulled me close and attacked my mouth with his, crashing our bodies together. He cradled me closer and didn’t let go. I was a quivering mess with a huge problem by the time he dropped me down on my feet again.
“Happy Christmas Eve, baby.” He kissed my forehead, and I hugged him tight.
“Is this my present? Because an evening by the fire with you is perfect.”
“No, this is,” he said, then bent down to tug a small, tissue-wrapped package from between the pillows. He handed the present to me, and I frowned and opened the folded paper. As black leather and diamonds came into view, I gasped, ripping the paper faster.
