18. Alex

Alex

CHAPTER 18

I wake up on Christmas Eve refreshed and resolved. I’m going to ask Emmie to marry me today. I know it’s soon, but I can’t imagine my life without her.

My mission used to be in the field, serving my country. It was tactical, practical, and often fatal—for the bad guys, not me. Though I certainly took a few hits over the years.

Now, it’s to make Emmie smile, laugh, and feel all the Christmas warm fuzzies—yes, that’s a military term. Look it up.

After a shower and a shave—the guys and I are drawing straws to see who has to wear the Santa suit—the scent of coffee brewing draws me downstairs.

Emmie wears a red sweater that’s snug in all the right places. Turning from the counter, she says, “Merry Christmas Eve.”

I reply by cupping her jaw with my hands and kissing her sugar plum lips.

When we part, my hands trail toward her hips, keeping us close. “I don’t need a single thing under the tree. It’s already the perfect Christmas.” But as I speak the words, my gaze floats to the evergreen.

Tilting my head, I walk closer and point at the angel at the top of the tree. “Where’d that come from? ”

Cheeks rosy and beaming a smile, Emmie shrugs. “Must’ve been a Christmas elf.”

Peering around, I notice all the boxes are gone. “The elf must’ve been busy.”

“Could’ve had a hard time sleeping this close to Christmas.”

“Hmm. Does that also happen to be the elf’s birthday?”

Emmie’s face falls.

And with it, my spirits drop. Maybe my plan isn’t such a good one. But the ring is concealed on the bookshelf right where I left it. Although, someone could spot it if they were seated at a specific spot at the table.

I’ll have to divert Emmie’s attention and stash it somewhere else, like my pocket.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to upset you. For me, like with Christmas, I always wanted a special birthday—a party like the other kids. I’d get invited to these amazing birthday blowouts with entertainment, pool parties, cake, and ice cream. I always wanted that. I never stopped to think that some people don’t want to be reminded of their birthdays. Emmie, I apologize.”

Tears well in her eyes and she steps closer to me. Her palm caresses my cheek and I want to lean into it, but this isn’t about me.

She shakes her head slowly. “I am such a brat.”

Frowning, that wasn’t what I expected her to say. “No, you’re not.”

“I didn’t stop to think that you didn’t ever have a birthday party with friends and pools and presents.”

I shrug. “It’s no big deal. I just come from the point of view that everyone wants that because I did.”

“And I had that. I’m so spoiled. Such a princess.”

“Everyone has a wound or two, a weak spot. It’s part of being human. It’s hard to see through other people’s eyes.”

“Alex, I like to think of myself as self-reliant, but I’m also selfish. It can’t stand. I am sorry for not putting myself in your shoes. ”

I wiggle my foot. “I don’t think they’d fit. Anyway, it works both ways. You didn’t have parents and as lousy as mine were, I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like for you.”

Her eyelashes brush her cheek then she looks up at me. “So, we both have these heart wounds...and now we have each other.”

My entire body buzzes with a smile. “We do.”

“But I have to do something to make up for it. To try to make people happy when I’ve been given so much. Let’s get ready for the event at the church. This elf feels like being generous.”

I chuckle and salute Emmie. “If you say so.”

She turns, but I grab her wrist and then spin her back into my arms. “For the record, you’re not selfish. Maybe a little elfish. You found the missing angel and put it on top of the tree.”

She lifts and lowers her shoulder like it’s no big deal.

“And you tidied up.”

Her smile suggests humility.

“You made us coffee this morning.”

With a wink, she says, “That doesn’t count because I wanted my peppermint mocha.”

But I don’t let her off that easy. “And you’re a feast for the eyes in that sweater.”

“It’s the last thing I have to wear that’s clean.”

My thoughts land on the fact that she was supposed to leave last Monday. “And you’re still here. Your presence is a present.”

Her lips ripple with something like uncertainty. “That’s kind of selfish because I don’t want to leave.”

My spirits soar. Pressing my forehead to hers, I close my eyes for a moment, wondering if I should do it now.

“So don’t,” I whisper.

“I have to,” she replies.

My spirits crash to the basement level. Nope. Now is not the time for a marriage proposal.

Instead, we load the gifts into the Jeep and leave for the church.

There, I introduce Emmie to Pastor Jeff and spot Jesse, Pax, Shaylin, Austin, and his flavor of the month. Thankfully, I don’t spot Kissy.

No sooner do I have the thought, than I hear her shrill voice calling my name as if I conjured her.

I all but flinch like I’m under fire and grip Emmie’s hand only so I don’t make a run for it.

“Who’s going to be Santa because I’m ready to be Mrs. Claus.” She puffs her lips at me.

“Shaylin and I already decided. We’re doing it,” Pax announces.

“But we didn’t draw—” Jesse starts, referring to the plan to draw straws. But he must quickly pick up on Pax’s intentions. Whether it’s because he wants to end the day with Shaylin in his lap telling him whether she’s been naughty or nice, or if it’s because he knows I’m trying to avoid Kissy at all costs, I’m not sure.

Either way, I owe him.

“Anyway, I didn’t want to wear an ugly sweater.” Pax puts on the red Santa coat.

“I thought we decided to wear Christmas slogan shirts?” Shaylin says. “Yours said Naughty for Life .”

“And yours said Gingerbread, Spice, and Everything Nice .”

I don’t think such shirts exist, but I take this to be part of Paxton and Shaylin’s ongoing back-and-forth flirtation if you can call it that.

“Can I get one that says Riding the Yuletide ?” Austin asks. He was a champion swimmer for the SEALs and a surfer in his spare time.

“And the rest of us elves wear these colorful Santa hats,” Jesse says, passing them out.

The military guys get camo. Emmie’s is pink.

Shaylin’s grin tells me she’s the one behind the hat selection. If Pax knows what’s good for him, he’ll treat her right because she’s a gem. I’m lucky to have her as an assistant at Wild Warriors and even luckier to have Emmie by my side for one more day .

“I guess you’ll have to save that white dress for another time,” I say to Emmie before we get to work.

Her cheeks turn rosy and she looks away. I didn’t get to see her in it, but I know she’d make a beautiful Mrs. Claus.

Emmie is assigned to greet everyone as they come in, saying, “Welcome to Tinsel Town.”

I guide visitors toward Santa’s Workshop where Pax and Shaylin are stationed.

Nearby, Kissy waves and bats her eyelashes, missing the point and making it about her, rather than the families and folks visiting and exploring the little village scenes the youth ministry set up.

I say a little prayer for patience because Kissy gets on my nerves. At the same moment, Pastor Jeff approaches.

He says, “Thanks for joining us today. You guys have been making a positive impact on the community.”

“Just doing my duty, sir.” And by that I mean to the Lord, he’s the highest authority in my life.

Pastor Jeff asks if I’d like to help lead a men’s group. He explains that a lot of people have gotten masculinity wrong and sees me as a great example of an honorable and strong man.

“All I ask is that God guides me and that I obediently and humbly follow orders.”

Pastor Jeff smiles. “Thank you, Alex. After the new year, I’ll be in touch about the details. I’m thinking once per month in one of our small group rooms. If we get a bigger response, we can move it in here.”

As he turns away to visit with the rest of the folks here, I say, “Sir, I have a question.”

We have a private conversation that I hope Emmie, or Kissy for that matter, doesn’t overhear.

“Just say the word and we’ll have everything ready,” Pastor Jeff says.

My smile is big enough to light up the tree in Holidayle. It could probably be seen from Santa’s sleigh up in the heavens .

I’m practically floating on clouds for the rest of the day. We give out gifts and everyone leaves with a smile.

After helping to clean up, Emmie and I stop for coffee at the same place we visited before the avalanche. She smiles at the snowman sign this time. Then her expression fades.

Her eyes go hard. Waiting at the other end of the counter is a pasty guy with wireframe glasses. He wears an arrogant smile. Tad Tobin.

She steps closer to me.

I’ll respectfully follow her lead, but my training takes charge. “Does this confirm that we’ve been talking about the same Tad Tobin?”

“Yep. The snake.”

“I have an idea.”

“Does it involve those frosting-covered pastries?” She points.

My grin grows. “How do you know me so well?”

“Great minds.”

While Tad flirts with the barista in the slimiest way imaginable, Emmie and I purchase the entirety of the frosted items in the bakery case. Heading outside, she instantly spots his vehicle—a silver Tesla with California vanity plates and the word 1BadTad .

We coat the thing with frosting in shades of red, white, and green.

He shouts as he exits, “Hey, what’s going on.”

Without missing a beat, Emmie says, “I heard you were looking to decorate Holidayle with your brand of ugliness. You got New York and California by the looks of things.” She tips her head toward the Tesla. “Holidayle is my town now. I suggest you take your dirty real estate development money elsewhere.”

Tad’s expression cycles from shock to showdown as if he’s ready to fight Emmie for the territory. He haughtily steps forward and takes a long sip from his fancy coffee drink—he doesn’t take it black or with a little cream and sugar like a man. The side of it has all the boxes checked off for the extras. I’d like to knock it out of his clammy hand.

He eyes me and then Emmie. “Looks like you’ve moved down in the world.”

She snorts. “Have you checked the altitude around here? I made a vertical move.”

“But a bad business move to sell all your shares in Marry Me.”

Shoulders squared, she says, “It was the best decision I ever made. Anyway, the value of everything isn’t measured in money.”

“I beg to differ.”

I step forward, slinging my arm around Emmie’s shoulder. “Is that so?”

Tad looks me up and down. “I recognize you. You own the acreage up on the hill. Wouldn’t budge. Bad move, buddy. The two of you are full of ‘em.”

“No, Tid Bit, you’re the one who made the wrong move. Turns out, I’m dateable, marriable, and fungible.”

His eyes narrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I have the full force of Almeida Enterprises at my disposal. Try to make a move on the Holidayle Sleighbell Lakeside Hotel and find out just how much your money is worth around here. Or I can save you the trouble. Zero. The currency you carry is not accepted in this town. Now, go find someone else’s life to ruin.”

With that mic drop, Emmie makes a scat motion with her hand.

With a scowl that suggests this isn’t the last we’ve seen of him, Tad gets in the Tesla.

Casting a smile my way, she looks pleased with herself.

And I am beyond proud of her. I don’t think I could’ve handled Tid Bit better myself.

As his windshield wipers swish, I dip Emmie back in a deep kiss, just so it’s clear he knows how valuable she is to me.