“After you just told me what you should have done, you think I would take that risk?”
“I am a gentleman.You’ll be safe with me,” he assured her with a grin.
“All right, I’ll accept that,” she replied with a nod.The male was not a liar.
“I’ve made some changes to my home and I want your opinion,” he explained.“You understand style and color much better than I.”
“Why the changes?You only have to please yourself.It’s not as though you get many visitors,” she pointed out, her curiosity rising.
“You never know.Lately I’ve considered that it’s time I married.I may want to entertain my wife’s family on occasion and…”
“Married!”she gasped.
“Yes, it’s something I’ve thought a lot about.”
“Married to whom?”
“Believe it or not, you’re not the only bright star in the sky, Crystalia Wonderland.Why shouldn’t I marry if I’ve discovered I have deep feelings for another?”
“Do you have deep feelings?”she asked with a laugh.“As far as I can see you’re filled with resentment and sarcasm.Is there a touch of romance hiding away somewhere?Of course it would have to be very deep in your soul for you to keep it so well hidden.”
“About as deep as your sense of kindness and charity,” he shot back.“Will you come or not?I’m asking as one outcast to another.”
Crystalia was quiet for a few moments.He did have a point.They were basically on the outermost edge of normal society.Finally she decided.
“Yes, Jackson.I will go with you.Just give me time to change.I’m interested what sort of alterations you think will entice a bride to reside in a frozen castle,” she said with a slight shiver.“I’ll be ready in a few minutes.Wait for me down stairs.”
“You’d be surprised to find out just how much heat is available inside my home,” he replied quietly as he headed downstairs.
CHAPTER2
He was waiting in his crystal sleigh drawn by four white reindeer.Around their necks were wreaths of silver bells that jingled as they stomped out their impatience.Each snort brought a rush of steam from their nostrils.
Dressed in jeans, a warm red sweater and fur lined boots, Crystalia stood on her porch and slipped on a heavy parka, pulling up the hood.Jackson flipped back a white fir blanket covered with appliquéd silver snowflakes and held out his gloved hand.
“You certainly travel in style,” she remarked as she climbed in and settled on the warm seat.
Jackson pulled the blanket up and over her legs before taking up the reins.
“Why shouldn’t I?I have nothing to spend my money on but my own pleasure.”
“I suppose that’s true,” she agreed, looping one arm through his as the sleigh began to move.“I too have plenty of funds to see me through, at least for now.If worse came to worse I could always sell my stars.They ought to fetch a pretty fair sum.”
“Chrissy, I’m going to assume you’re trying to annoy me,” he replied as they flew over the glistening tundra.“A word of advice, don’t!I’ve been annoyed for several decades already, and mainly with you.Pushing me is not a good idea.”
“Damn, and it’s so much fun too,” she sighed with a grin.
“You think so, but you don’t know the new and improved Jackson Frost.I’m not the gentleman I used to be.”
“You’re not?”
“Not at all, you see once you get your heart broken it’s never quite the same.”
“Don’t even say it was me who broke your heart, Jackson,” she exclaimed.“I’m hardly the first female elf you pursued.I’m just the one that got away.”
“You certainly did, sweetheart.Just don’t count on it happening again.”
“Is that a threat?”
