“Wait.” Lauren grabbed his arm. “Tell her she’s beautiful. Tell her you can’t live without her. Tell her–.”
Jacob wrapped an arm around her middle from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Hey, Beautiful, let’s let Ethan figure this out while I sit out here and tell you how grateful I am that you married me one year ago.”
Lauren looked back and forth between her brother and her husband. She melted against Jacob. “If I must, I must.”
Jacob gave Ethan a thumbs up.
“Here.” Nick slapped a small velvet box into the palm of his hand. The shape of it was unmistakable.
Ethan shook his head in wonder. “Is she going to like it?”
Nick nodded. “It was made from her memories and dreams. She’ll love it.”
He glanced at Lux, who smiled softly. “I know I’m asking the impossible, but you can trust him on that one.”
If only he had that much confidence in himself, in Nick, or Christmas Magic.
A jingle and a whoosh told him the sleigh was off to create the perfect, most petite Christmas wedding, and he was alone.
If this didn’t work, he’d spend every Christmas wishing he could undo his horrible Christmas wish.
What a horrible thought.
Now he understood why Valerie wished that she wasn’t alone. He only hoped she’d let him make her wish come true.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Silver Bellsplayed through the surround sound filling the air. Valerie opted for an instrumental version. Singing was out of the question on this snowy Christmas Eve–she just didn’t have the heart for it.
She’d moved Tanya and Tucker’s beds in front of the couch and pulled upIt’s a Wonderful Lifeon the big screen. Clarence, the clock-working angel, was in his underwear brainstorming on a solution to George’s bad mood when the doorbell rang. The dogs didn’t budge because they were fast asleep, their bellies full of their gourmet Christmas dinners.
She’d eaten a Lean Cuisine.
Sure, all the ingredients for a turkey dinner, complete with stuffing, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, and more, filled the fridge; but she hadn’t felt like making any of it. What was the point when she would be the only one eating it? The image of sitting in the formal dining room all alone was just too sad to create.
“Do you think Auntie sent a package?” she asked the sleeping pups. Her aunt was a kind soul who didn’t forget anyone at Christmas. Even her yoga instructor got a gift.
The dogs didn’t lift their chins, though Tucker cracked an eyelid open.
“Some guard dogs you are.” She headed to the front door without them.
Instead of a delivery man, she found Ethan looking very nervous and a whole lot of chagrinned with his hands tucked into his jeans and his hoodie dusted with some kind of glitter. He looked sad and alone, and cold. Everything she felt inside. She leaned against the open door, wondering what had brought him here. The cold air flooded her face and made her cheeks red, but the warm air from the house caressed her back and gave her strength.
She needed strength. Ethan looked so good with his hair tousled. Withstanding his gorgeousness would take all she had inside of her. “My daddy warned me about guys like you,” she said.
“How so?” he asked, tipping his head to the side.
She sighed. “You’re the ex-boyfriend with an I’m sorry in his pocket and a not-good-for-me temptation on his lips.”
He broke into a smile. “So, what you’re saying, is I have a chance.”
She snorted a laugh and then sobered quickly. “What you have is too much confidence and a long ride back to town.” She glanced past him, expecting to see his truck in the driveway, but it was empty. “How did you get here?”
“Would you believe me if I told you I flew in a sleigh?” he asked hopefully.
She shook her head. “I’m not in the mood for flirting games tonight, Ethan. What do you want?”
He stepped closer, his breath mingling with hers in the soft porch light. “You.”
