Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
I really do have it all. I’m winning this life thing, even if I’m a little weird.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that life is short, and you need to enjoy every moment while you can. Make as many memories as possible with the people you love and don’t let anything keep you from experiencing happiness. Whether you love Christmas, knitting or sitting around reading a book, enjoy each moment. Don’t be afraid to take a chance, and if opportunity comes knocking, open the door, it could be your Brendan on the other side. It could also be an assassin or a spy, so maybe check the peephole first.
Brendan finally lets me go, and I rush to the kitchen and pull the cookies from the oven. Something outside catches my eye, and I squint through the frosty windows. Far across the valley, lights flicker, then start to blink steadily. The people who live there have strung lights.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. It’s not a competition. It never was. All the same, I turn back to the living room where Laura and Brendan are chatting about the kittens.
“Brendan?” I should let it go. Their house is over a mile away. Just let it go. I smile down at the gingerbread ladies I just took from the oven. “Never mind. I’m letting it go.”
“Letting what go, angel?” He walks into the kitchen, then spots the glow through the window. Pulling me into his arms, he gives me a devious smile and presses his lips to my ear. “Looks like we’re going to need more lights.”
EPILOGUE I
Spring
The tiny orange fluff ball tries to climb my leg. I sit on the floor and help her to my lap. Her two brothers scurry over, one chasing the other’s black tail.
Charlie sniffs at them, then goes about his business. He’s a bit of a paws-off sort of dad, but sometimes he cuddles with them and lets them nip at his tail and ears. Mrs. Claws watches from her perch atop the Christmas house. Ariadne didn’t want to take it down—or any of our decorations, for that matter—so we are Christmas all year round, and I couldn’t be happier.
“This one made it all the way to our room.” Ariadne strides in, her candy cane pajamas rumpled as she sits beside me, another orange kitten in her arms. “A real traveler.”
I stroke its soft fur as it kneads Ariadne’s chest. “Hey, that’s my job.”
“Don’t be jealous of the kitten.” She laughs.
“I’m not jealous.” I’m totally jealous.
“What’s on the agenda for the day?” She leans against me as the kittens amble all over us.
“I thought we could make some hot chocolate, talk by the fire, and then work on knitting, though I can’t find your knitting needles anywhere.”
She shoots a guilty look at the sofa cushions. “That’s strange. They must’ve been thrown away by accident.”
“Mm-hmm.” I pull her closer. “Sounds legit.” Her mouth is a lure I can’t resist, so I kiss her as the kittens use their tiny claws to climb up my shirt. One’s purring in my ear when I break the kiss. “Are you sure we can’t give one of these to Laura?”
“I’d love one.” She takes a huge bite of an apple.
Ariadne jumps. “Where did you come from?”
“Snow’s melting just a little. Road’s clear.” She takes another big bite. “Well, I’m off.” She steps back.
“But you just got here.” Ariadne frowns.
“What?” Laura reaches down to pet a wayward orange kitten. “I’ve been here for hours.” She finishes the apple, then disappears out the kitchen door.
“Are you sure she’s not imaginary?” Ariadne asks.
“I’m sure.” I kiss her cheek as the kittens find a new toy—their mother. Mrs. Claws is lying on the comfy kitty bed, and the babies are all snuggling up for a snack.
I move to her mouth, sucking on her bottom lip as I lay her down on the warm rug in front of the fire.
She stiffens a little.
I pull back. “What’s wrong, angel? Did I hurt you?”
“No.” She takes a big breath and lets it out. “But there’s something I want to tell you.” The glow from the fire dances in her eyes as her hair spreads out around her like a halo. Like my angel.
“Tell me.” I run my lips along her throat as I unbutton her pajama top. “I’m listening.”
“Okay, well.” She gasps as I lick one nipple and then the next.
“Yes?” Hooking my fingers in her bottoms, I pull them and her panties off, then drop kisses on her perfect pussy.
She tenses again, so I return to her face, my body resting between her warm thighs.
“What is it?” A sliver of worry creeps through me, because she never has trouble communicating with me.
She nods. “I can do this.”
“You can do anything,” I agree.
“So, you know how I’m on meds for my—” She points to her temple. “Right?”