Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 99(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 99(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
But instead…
I feel something else.
Gratitude.
I’m grateful that my mate has all these nice people who love her and have her back, and I’m grateful they’ve accepted me into their warm wonderful world.
“We saw your segment on the news,” one of Veronica’s aunts says as we get into the kitchen. “Tell us everything!”
Everyone wants to hear the story.
“A grizzly bear,” her dad says, handing me a beer without asking. I like this guy already. “That must have been terrifying.”
“It was definitely a wild time,” Veronica says, sneaking a smile to me. “I can’t believe we got it all on camera.”
“And this muscular god,” her aunt says, sidling up beside me. My eyes widen as she drags her palm up my bicep. “Lifting that tree all by yourself. What a man.”
“Can you help me with the appetizers, Carol?” Veronica’s mom says, rushing over, grabbing her sister’s arm, and practically yanking her away from me toward the oven.
Veronica tells the story to the eager audience, making everyone laugh and lean in during the suspenseful parts. She’s unreal. I’m already obsessed with her. She’s so animated and is completely comfortable under the spotlight. I can’t get over her.
She’s so damn beautiful it makes my heart hurt. Her dark hair is down and she’s wearing the most gorgeous dress I’ve ever seen. It’s black and sparkly, and she looks simply radiant. I can’t believe she’s mine.
The silver necklace I gave her this morning is hanging around her neck. She cried when I gave it to her, and said she’d never take it off.
I can’t believe I get to hold her and kiss her and love her as fiercely as I desire. I’m the luckiest man in the world.
I spend the next hour chatting with different people, eating amazing food, drinking warm cocktails, and at one point, some kid shoves a Santa hat on my head.
It’s overwhelming, but in a good way. I’m not used to all this, but I can get used to it. I want to get used to it.
When I’m talking with Veronica’s cousin who keeps going on about something called cryptocurrency I catch her looking at me from across the room, biting her lip, looking happy and a little shy. Like she can’t believe I’m here.
I can’t believe it either.
My bear was right all along. Our mate would change everything. Finding this girl truly was a Christmas miracle.
I spotted a sprig of mistletoe hanging under the archway between the kitchen and the living room, so when everyone crowds around the family room to open presents, I quietly pull Veronica toward it.
We’re all alone, away from the crowd, just for a moment.
“Is that mistletoe?” she whispers, looking up.
I slide my hands onto her hips and our bodies just melt into one another. It’s been torture keeping my hands to myself when she’s here looking like this.
I lean down and kiss her slow and deep while her family erupts into cheers and whoops in the other room.
She melts against me, fingers in my hair, lips warm and perfect.
I love kissing this woman. It’s my favorite thing in the world.
We eventually pull away, breathing heavy, our cheeks flushed, heated eyes locked on one another.
“Think your parents will notice if I steal this mistletoe?”
She smiles and licks her lips. “You don’t need mistletoe to kiss me, Boone. I’m always ready and willing for you.”
I moan as she steps on her toes and kisses me again.
“Merry Christmas,” she whispers.
I kiss her softly, reverently, still in awe that she’s here.
“Merry Christmas, my mate,” I whisper back.
We smile uncontrollably as we stare at each other, knowing the future that lies ahead will be full of magical moments like this one. Just me and my mate.
“Boone!” someone shouts from the other room. “Veronica! Get in here! You have presents to open.”
Well, just me and my mate…
…and her giant family.
EPILOGUE
Boone
Five years later…
“That one is Blitzen, Daddy. And that one is Zuma.”
Beth is pointing at the reindeer with her little mittened hand, her adorable nose pink from the cold and her brown eyes shining up at me. She’s so cute, I can barely take it.
“Zuma?” I say, gazing at her. “Isn’t that from Paw Patrol?”
She looks at me and then looks back at the reindeer. “No, it’s Santa’s reindeer. He zumas all over the world giving presents.”
“Oh,” I say, chuckling. “Makes sense.”
She beams, proud that I finally get it.
We’re standing by the reindeer pen in the middle of Wildpeak Village’s town square, the same spot where I tried to ruin Christmas five years ago.
It’s the Christmas tree lighting ceremony tonight and the town has gone all out. Ever since my grizzly episode went viral, this place has gotten busier and even more festive. This year, they brought in real live reindeers and have a Santa who’s going to turn on the Christmas tree lights.