Miles pressed a button on his phone as Jingle Bells started to play.Then they started singing.
“Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh...”
Annie covered her open mouth with her hands, laughter forcing its way out.
Miles went hard on some improvisedHo Ho Hos, earning a sharp look from Bella, which he ignored.
Clara stood with her arm around Annie.“Noel would’ve loved this.”
“I love this,” she said through laughter.
When the song ended, Clara clapped loudly and called out, “Bravo!”
“Real life Christmas carolers!”Annie said, unable to contain her grin.“Do you want to pop inside, or are you hitting every house in the neighborhood?”
“I hope not,” Bella said, stepping inside.“I don’t know if you can hear, but he’s tone deaf.”
Miles scrunched his nose.“I’m not tone deaf.I sound great.We should make a firefighter Christmas album.”
Bella rolled her eyes.“Don’t even joke about that, Dad.”
He shut the door, standing in front of it all wide-shouldered and hopelessly masculine, dressed in a red and black buffalo flannel, looking every bit the part of a Christmas album star.
Why did he always have to look so good?
“Merry Christmas,” Annie managed to say.
“Merry Christmas,” he said with a warm smile.“I am going to be presumptuous and assume you don’t have any plans for the day.”
Annie looked around the empty house.It was obvious, and Annie suspected her mom had told him the same.Her urge for Annie to shower made sense.“You would be right.”
“Perfect.Then you won’t mind us hanging out here before heading over to my buddy’s farm for a sleigh ride later.You’re both invited, of course.”
“It’s more of a farm cart being pulled by a horse,” Bella said.
“There’s still a horse,” Miles countered.“And I’m going to bring hot chocolate.”
Though staying home and weeping felt like the right thing to do, even Annie couldn’t imagine turning down an opportunity to see Miles.
She glanced at her mom.“We can’t say no to hot chocolate.”
He smiled that stunning smile.“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Her heart stopped.She blinked.“Would either of you like coffee or tea?”
“I’m allowed to have decaf coffee!”Bella announced.
Annie nodded.“Coming right up!”
Miles followed her into the kitchen.“I hope you don’t mind us dropping in.Your mom said it would be okay.”
“Not at all.”She met his gaze, steady and calm.“It’s nice to see you.”
“How are you doing?”he asked.
She was quiet for a moment, listening to the kettle heating up.“Better now.”
One side of his mouth tilted up.
