“I already did. We’ve been together for less than twenty-four hours, and we’ve already had a major misunderstanding.”

“I was responsible for that. I shouldn’t have slept on the sofa. I mess up, too, Alix. The difference is that I don’t give up.” He lowered her to the bed and came down on top of her. “But to minimize the chances of misunderstanding, from now on we’re saying aloud everything we’re thinking. Every single thing. What are you thinking right now?”

“Um, you’re heavy?”

He grinned and shifted his weight slightly. “So how do you normally spend Christmas Eve?”

“I hang up my stocking with Christy’s, and we pretend to go to sleep so that we don’t interrupt Santa. My stocking happens to be in Christy’s cabin. I hope that this year Santa won’t be confused.”

“I’m sure he’ll figure it out. And as you can’t be with Christy, I have another suggestion about how we might spend the evening.” He lowered his head and kissed her. “Sauna, and then we snuggle in bed and watch the snow and the stars.”

“You think you’re going to make me see stars?”

“I intend to do my best.” He stroked her jaw with his fingers. “I want to make this the best Christmas Eve you’ve ever had.”

“It already is.” She hesitated. “Zac... I don’t know how this is going to end.”

“It’s okay.” He covered her lips with his fingers. “No one knows how anything is going to end. We start at the beginning and take it from there. This is a date, Alix. That’s it. One date. If we have fun, we’ll have another date. And then maybe another.”

“A thousand first dates.”

“Exactly.” He stood up and tugged her to her feet. “We’ll start with a sauna. We might even see Santa. How does that sound?”

It sounded like the best gift she could have been given.

“I think that sounds perfect.”

20

Christy

“Imagine being surrounded by this much snow on Christmas Day. It’s like a fairy tale. Unfortunately I’m too full of food to go outside and enjoy it. If I eat another thing I’m going to explode.” Alix sprawled full length on the sofa, her head on Zac’s lap and her feet on Christy’s legs.

Christy nudged her. “Get up. We have to clear the wrapping paper. Robyn is arriving in a minute.”

Alix closed her eyes. “Clearing up is a job for the adults in the room. You and Seb. And I hope Robyn’s not bringing more food.”

“She’s bring Suka, and we’re going to play with the sled.”

Alix opened one eye. “You expect me to move after that meal?”

“You can cheer from the sidelines. This isn’t any old sled. Erik has a beautiful wooden toboggan. It’s a family heirloom. We’re going to pull Holly along on it. It’s the perfect Christmas activity.”

“In other words, I’m taking the place of the dogs.” Seb scooped Holly into his arms before she could fulfill her ambition of climbing the Christmas tree.