Page 18 of Christmas With A Stranger

"Yeah. College wasn't for me."

"Brave move."

"Best one I ever made."

She settles back against the headboard beside me, bare legs disappearing under the sheet. I mourn the view and welcome her skin against mine.

"Sounds like you love it."

"I do. I don't get back East much unless Hildie needs me. My life out there is pretty full."

"Mine too."

For a second, neither of us says anything. Then she looks over at me.

"So does this mean I get to see you again before you disappear back to Wyoming?"

I smile. "I was hoping you might."

"Good." She tucks one leg beneath her under the covers. "Because I have six days left, and this trip just got considerably more interesting."

"Six days."

"Then you go back to wrangle cows and ride bulls, and I go back to bank meetings and one stoplight."

"Sounds like a perfect Christmas holiday to me."

She holds my gaze for a second. "I can work with that."

"So can I."

She checks her phone. "It's almost one. I have to get back before my mother realizes I'm gone and calls the FBI."

She's dressed before I've got my boots on. I shut off the tap she left dripping when we walk through the kitchen.

"One more look," she says when we reach the living room.

She stops in front of the tree, and I stop beside her. The lights catch in the glass ornaments and throw color across her face.

"Okay," she says after a minute. "Worth the felony-level parenting violation."

I tip my head but don't say anything back.

The roads are empty on the drive back, Christmas lights still burning on houses we pass.

I pull to the curb at the beach access and put the car in park. Mackie doesn't reach for the door right away.

"Mom's going over to Sabal Point at nine for the Christmas morning thing. They’re doing crafts and singing and whatever else they've got lined up." She turns the fob over in her hand. "I might ride with her, if you're going to be there."

"I'll be there."

She nods once and gets out. I watch her walk through the gate and wait until it swings shut behind her.

Nine o'clock suddenly feels a long way off.

FIVE

Mackie