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Nathan nods to a stall that looks straight out of a fairy tale with its snow-dusted roof and twinkling lights. “I need another cup of hot chocolate.”

His phone pings with a text message.

“Clifford says Merry Christmas,” Nathan says. “We should get him an ornament. Apparently, yesterday’s Con was brutal. He came in third.”

“Aw, bummer,” I say. “I still wonder how he moved so fast in all that pleather.”

“The guy lives for a challenge.”

“Now, that I can relate to.” I bite into my mannele, still warm from the oven. “The holiday spirit looks good on us.”

I move toward the chocolate stall, but Nathan pulls me closer to the merry-go-round lighting up the dark night. “You know what would also look good on us?” he asks.

“Ooh, let me guess! The well-rested kind of sleep that only vacation can give you? I know that would look good on me personally.”

He shakes his head.

“You do want one of those hand-knitted pom-pom beanies, don’t you?” I say. “I knew it. We can circle back—”

He gives an uncommitted head tilt.

And then he drops down to the ground.

On one knee.

He removes a box from his jacket and pops it open. Inside is a ring with an emerald halo around a white diamond.

I gasp and take the ring out of its pocket. It’s stunning.

“So?” Nathan asks.

I slide on the ring and hold up my hand to admire the way the gems shine in the string lights. “Camera and audio?”

He stands and makes a pfft noise. “Of course. Only the best for you.” His eyes are playful when he says, “Now you get to technically be my fiancée, not girlfriend.”

“At least this year I get to be armed.” I visualize my multipurpose knife tucked into the side of my left boot.

“You look beautiful in anything,” he says, spinning me around, “but it’s no red dress.”

“Saving that for later tonight.”

Nathan drops a kiss on my lips. He takes a step closer and murmurs into my ear, “Just so we’re on the same page, Scarlett, there’s a real ring on the way.”

My name is sweet on his tongue. “And just so we’re on the same page, Nathan, yes. A million times yes. I want all your Christmases.”

Nathan lights up like the star on a tree.

Special Agent Hall’s voice crackles in my earpiece. “Okay, lovebirds, time to make your way to the bretzel stall.”

“Ready to stop this Grinch from stealing Christmas?” I ask, brushing my thumb over my chin. The weight of my faux engagement ring gets me excited for what’s to come: putting Hawk behind bars for his assistance with last year’s frame job and, of course, a lifetime with Nathan.

After last Christmas, Nathan took some much-needed time off to recuperate, rest, and figure out what it is he wants. Turns out, he missed being an agent, but not the lies. Not the deep cover. Outside of this mission, which we wanted to be a part of for closure, we’re case agents and running our own operations. And I’ve never done a joint operation with our overseas partners, so that’s fun.

Nathan mirrors my movement. “After you, sweetheart.”

We ended up having plenty of hard evidence against the Big Guy himself, and even more photos came flooding in as the social media posts gained traction. We shouldn’t have to worry about Arnold and Bijoux and their threatening riddles for a very long time. Now we need to focus and get Sadistic Santa’s accomplice.

We cut a left at a sausage and foie gras stall. And then I spot him immediately.