We each yank out a sleek emerald green gift card.
I suck in a quick breath. “A one day ski pass to the resort up the way. Thank you, Opal. I haven’t skied in years. But I can’t wait.”
The rest of the crew thanks her as well.
Stephanie bumps her shoulder to mine. “I think she’s trying to get us killed,” she whispers.
Regina scoffs. “I get the feeling we’re not that lucky.”
Opal gives me a wily grin. “Turn it around.”
I give the gift card a spin, and it reads also good for one brick pizza oven.
Both Stephanie and I let out a scream that sends the other women in the room taking a full step back.
“All right. A pizza oven. We get it.” Regina slides a silver package the size of a box of tissues my way. “I drew your name, Bowie.”
Thea gives my sister a gift, and Flo happily holds a small box wrapped with newspaper and hands it to Thea. Steph gives Flo a gift, and I slide my shiny red package across the counter to Regina.
Regina and I stare at one another a moment as if we were at a standoff before tearing into our respective gifts.
And to our amazement we each pull out a sprig of mistletoe. The parchment card attached to hers reads find someone to share this with. And the card attached to mine reads enjoy the hell out of Shep.
I hold it up and look at the woman who has caused so much difficulty for Shep and me these last few months.
“Do you really mean this?” I ask with an air of disbelief.
Regina closes her eyes a moment and nods. “I do.” She bears those root beer-colored eyes into mine. “I’ve never seen him so happy with any other woman the way he is with you, not even me.” She glances to the mistletoe in her hand. “Here’s hoping I get to put this to good use in the new year.”
And just like that, I think Regina Valentine and I have stopped butting heads over Shepherd Wexler.
It’s a Christmas miracle indeed.
Since our big shindig is officially tomorrow afternoon, Shep invited me over tonight to help him decorate his Christmas tree. And since I don’t have it in me to leave my sister alone on Christmas Eve, I bring her along for the merrymaking and the noshing of Nana Rose’s cookies.
“Knock, knock!” Stephanie says, swinging open the door to Shep’s cabin as she strides on in with a box of Nana Rose’s cookies in her arms. “Bet you’re glad you gave me a key.”
Shep’s place has a masculine vibe with dark floors and chocolate-colored couches. It’s at least three times the size of my place, and yet it still somehow manages to feel homey. The fireplace is blazing with roaring flames, and the scent of a fresh cut pine fills the place with its heavy scent.
“Did you bring food?” Shep offers my sister a lopsided smile.
“Do cookies count?” She hands him the box because we all know they count in the best way possible.
“Every time. Merry Christmas, ladies.” He steps over and lands a heart-thumping kiss over my lips. “Is that peppermint I’m tasting?”
I waggle my brows. “New lip gloss with a little Christmas kick to it.”
“It’s kicking me in all the right places.”
Stephanie grunts. “All right, you two,” she says, plucking Pixie from my arms. “Let’s deck the halls before I’m forced to douse you both with eggnog to cool you off.”
Stephanie turns on some Christmas carols, and the three of us light up Shep’s tree and decorate it within an inch of its evergreen life. Soon we’re planted side by side on the sofa, with me in the middle and Pixie lying over my sister’s lap.
“Well, that was fun.” She knocks her foot to mine. “What’s next, kids? A snowball fight? Building Frosty out on the front lawn? If we steal some of the neighbor’s snow, I think we can swing it.”
“How about you take Pixie and head to bed?” I don’t hesitate giving her the boot. The edict to include my sister on some Christmas Eve fun expired about five minutes ago. “Don’t wait up for me, sweetheart.”
“Fine,” she says, getting up and taking Pixie with her. “But don’t stay too late. We need to get up early. That meat sauce isn’t going to cook itself.”
She takes off, and soon it’s just Shep and me.
“Bowie.” He pulls me close and lands a kiss to the nape of my neck. “I’ve got a gift for you.”
“And I’ve got a gift for you.” I walk my fingers down his tie to give him a little hint of gifty things to come.
Shep reaches back onto the sofa table and hands me a small red box, the size of something expensive.
“Oh, Shep,” I say as I carefully examine it. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’m positive.”
I open the box to reveal a pair of emerald cut emerald earrings encrusted with miniature diamonds all the way around.
“Shep.” My fingers float to my lips. “They’re beautiful. Thank you so much. I love them. And I love you.” I wrap my arms around him with excitement.
“You’re welcome,” he says, pulling me onto his lap. “They were my grandmother’s.”
My mouth falls open. “Are you sure you want me to have them?”
He nods. “My grandma used to say she could see the future when she looked into those beauties. I think she would love for you to have them.”
“They’re perfect,” I say, holding them close.
“You’re perfect.” He steals a kiss from my lips. “We’re perfect.”
We spend the next few hours sharing more than a few perfect kisses.
Back when my mother and grandmother used to have the run of the kitchen, major holidays
