Her hair was down in long waves, and she had on a Christmas sweater with Rudolph on the front. She was gorgeous. And if everything went well tonight, she might agree to be his.
Words left him at the thought.
“Yeah. We’re all set.” Billy shoved Forest’s side, jolting him back to the task at hand. “Ask her.”
Forest cuffed Billy’s shoulder. “Whose surprise is this anyway?”
Billy wrinkled his nose. “Just hurry.”
“What surprise?” Mitzi cocked her head.
Forest took off one of the heavy mittens and swiped his hand down his side. He’d had a long conversation with Billy in the barn about wanting to date Mitzi and what that meant for the boy. Billy was under the impression that Forest was moving too slowly, but there were steps to take. He wasn’t quite sure how fast he’d move through them; that was something he and Mitzi would have to work out together. But he didn’t want to skip steps important to a woman. “I was wondering if you wanted to meet my family.”
Mitzi giggled. “I’ve met them—remember?”
He smiled. She’d been to the ranch several times as a kid. But there was meeting the Nicholas family, and then there wasmeetingthe Nicholas family. “Third-grade field trips don’t count.” He winked. “Besides, this time I’d like to introduce you as my girlfriend.”
“Finally!” Billy threw his hands in the air.
Forest kept his eyes on Mitzi. Having a wingman was a good thing, but a critique crew was making him nervous. “So how about it?”
A soft smile grew on Mitzi’s lips. “I’d like that very much.”
He grinned. “Yeah?”
She giggled. “Yeah.”
“Whoot!” He picked her up and spun around. “Let’s get going.”
Billy whooped too. He ran to the door and opened it. Forest headed that way without putting Mitzi down.
Her eyes widened. “What? Now?” She looked down at her sweater and skinny jeans. “I can’t go like this. I have to pack.”
Billy grabbed her coat and scarf from the hook. “There’s no time. The Santa parade starts at six.”
“Tonight?” She kicked her feet and Forest set her down. She kept her hands on his shoulders, and he wondered if there was a better feeling in the world than being near her like this. He used to think flying a sleigh was the closest thing to heaven; but he was wrong. “We’ll never make it in time. It’s, like, five hundred some odd miles from here.”
Forest took both her hands in his and lifted them, kissing their backs. She was on the verge of a big moment. She’d decided to believe last night, but he was asking her to take a leap. “We can make it, Mitzi—if you believe we can, we can.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mitzi stared into Forest’s cornflower-blue eyes. There was a depth there that he rarely showed, one that she felt privileged to see. In that depth was a whole lot of faith and trust—and he was asking her to have the same.
She held her breath. Could she do this? Could she throw her heart into the magic and the fun and the childlike wonder of Santa and Christmas and miracles and happiness? The things she’d been through had made her a realist on many levels, but they also stripped her of a part of herself. She wanted that back.
Whatever was on the other side of his question would be a part of her life with Forest—and that was enough for her. Besides, she’d seen some crazy things the last couple of days. She could believe that there was something special about this night—this Eve where the greatest miracle of all happened in a lowly stable. Soft snow fell outside, and there was a level of expectation that made her arms tingle.
She leaned in so her forehead touched his chin, closed her eyes, and whispered, “I believe.”
Forest kissed her quickly—a hot, branding type of kiss that seared her in the best way. Before she could sink into it and really enjoy the moment, he was pulling her out the door.
Billy held the screen door open for them, and Forest helped her into her coat on the way out. He lovingly wrapped her scarf around her neck. “You’re going to love this,” he told her.
She smiled back at him. “I already do.” Being with her guys, seeing them so happy, it filled her up.
Headlights washed across the yard, making them all squint. Billy covered his eyes with his arm. “Who’s that?”
Mitzi groaned. Of course she would show up tonight. “Hang on.” She dashed back inside and grabbed the envelope of money and a loaf of apple spice bread wrapped in a tea towel. Before Louanne could stop her car, Mitzi was at the window, knocking.
