“Forest!” she yelled. “We’re … we’reflying.” Mitzi squeezed Billy and held on.
Snowflake bellowed like a trumpet.
“Take us home, girl.” Forest pulled on the reins, angling them toward North Dakota.
Mitzi held on tight—not out of fear, but because she was in love with this moment. Forest turned, and she realized he had a worry crease between his eyes. Reaching up, she smoothed it away. He kissed her, and her stomach dropped out.
Snowflake cried out, and Forest pulled away quickly to correct their course. “Sorry,” he called to the reindeer. “You’re not the only one who hasn’t flown in a while. We’ll behave ourselves.”
Mitzi leaned up and whispered in his ear. “Speak for yourself.”
His eyes went wide.
“I intend to make good use of the mistletoe.”
“I look forward to that.” He winked and then focused on where they were going.
Mitzi leaned forward and looked over the edge. Houses blurred past them, all lit up for Christmas like one of those villages people collected. She settled back in her seat, vowing to buy herself one of those villages to help her remember this absolutely perfect Christmas moment.
It wasn’t long at all before Snowflake lowered her antlers and made her approach on the town. They landed in the alley behind the grocery store and then trotted out to join the rest of the Christmas Eve parade already lined up and ready to go. The place hadn’t changed much, and she felt her heart leap. Being here felt surreal and perfect.
“It’s about time,” called Jack. He wore a warm rancher’s coat and a gray felt cowboy hat. He grinned widely. “As of twenty minutes ago, you have a new nephew.”
Forest grabbed onto her hand and squeezed, his joy at the announcement flooding through her.
Jack didn’t give them time to ponder over the announcement. “I see you brought some passengers.”
Forest grinned. “Snowflake refused to leave this guy behind.” He patted Billy’s head. “And I wasn’t leaving Idaho without my girlfriend.”
Jack’s eyebrows shot up and he broke into a sly grin. Though he had to know that things were serious if Forest had flown her in the sleigh, announcing it as bold as a Christmas wish was not usually his style. “Welcome back, Mitzi.”
Mitzi blushed all the way down to her toes. “Thanks.”
Jack turned to Billy. “You wanna come with me? We have some secret Santa business to take care of tonight.”
Billy bounced out of the seats as if it were made of springs—Mitzi knew it was not, because she was the one who’d stuffed the padding. “Yeah!” He looked at her, asking permission.
“Go ahead.” She waved him off. He bounded after Jack, asking a hundred questions a second. Mitzi smiled after him. This was a safe place for her boy. She’d loved roaming around Sleigh Bell County with her friends. It was a child’s haven.
Forest nudged her with his shoulder. “I love that kid.”
She nodded. “He’s the best kid in the whole world.”
When Forest didn’t respond, she turned to look at him and was captured by the love in his eyes. Her breath slowed, sounds dropped away, and all she could see and feel was him. He took off his gloves and cupped her face. “I mean it, Mitzi. I love him.”
She gulped, overwhelmed by the honesty of his words.
“And I love his mom.” He tenderly traced her cheek, waiting for an answer. Something solidified the feelings reaching through her for a place to hold on to—it was the fact that he didn’t rush her. He nuzzled her neck and kissed her ear and made her lower belly burn so strong that she had to grab on to his jacket for fear she’d lose her mind.
Finally, she was able to breathe out the words, “I love you.”
When his lips claimed hers, she let go of his coat and fell into his heart. It was there that she found all the love she’d been searching for. It was there that she settled in and never wanted to leave.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Christmas morning didn’t so much dawn as it got less dark. A large snowstorm had moved in overnight, blanketing the town with clouds and a layer of fresh snow. It looked like it would be a record-breaking snowfall by the end of the day, and they were only a fourth of the way through the winter.
Forest tapped lightly on the door to Mitzi’s room. Neither she nor Billy answered. A pang of worry hit him, and he tapped again before opening the door, only to find the bed made and the place empty.
