Page 95 of Eight Days of Christmas
“So no snow angels in New York?”
“Not that I can recall, no.”
She turned and stared up at the hazy, dark sky. But he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, memorizing her body, her profile, her dark hair spilled across the silvery snow. If memories would be all he’d have from the week they’d shared, he didn’t want to forget a single detail.
He rolled to his stomach and crawled over toward her, wrapping an arm over her chest and bringing her close into him. He peered down at her, gazing into her amber eyes, wondering what, if anything, he could say that would make her want to choose him. But he didn’t want to push her, and in truth, he was still reeling from Norah’s words. Could he leave Colorado for Isabella? Should he?
He kissed her again, right there in the front yard in the snow, in front of God and everybody. He didn’t care who saw. He only knew that he wanted more memories with her. They’d lost so much time.
Finally, he pulled away and helped her to her feet. She dusted the snow off her backside, then looked at him. She bit her lip, smiling, staring at him with a glimmer in her eyes, like maybe she…like maybe she loved him.
His heart squeezed so hard it nearly took his breath.
He cleared away the tightness gripping his throat, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “C’mon, beautiful. Let’s get you inside.”
His mind raced as they walked back into the house. Tonight was Christmas Eve. Tomorrow was Christmas, and the wedding. After that, everything would change. Izzy would go back to New York. That was her home. He could tell she wished she could make herself love Pineridge just as much, but whether they liked it or not, she’d made a life in the Big Apple. She’d nailed her dream job there. The only thing missing was real love with a man who truly wanted and valued her.
Leo didn’t know what that meant for him. What it meant for them. All he knew was that he wanted to see her happy, and he knew this Harrison guy wasn’t the one for her. Not by a long shot. Her life was like an incomplete puzzle.
He wanted to be the missing piece.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Isabella
After the giftexchange fun died down, Finn and Nina carried an already-sleeping Ava upstairs to bed. Mom and Dad followed, and Howard went home. Landon, Norah, Isabella, and Leo remained in the living room, the fire flickering and the lights twinkling from the tree whileIt’s a Wonderful Lifeglowed from the TV.
Isabella wrestled over when to give Leo the Christmas Eve box. It felt too intimate to give it to him in front of her siblings. God knew she didn’t need an audience. It already felt like they had one about 99 percent of the time this past week.
Isabella was curled in the chair, her legs dangling over the arm. She made eye contact with Leo from across the room where he sat leaned back, arm slung over the back of the couch and knees wide. He focused his gaze on the TV, but she could tell he wasn’t really watching it. She could see his mind moving behind those dark eyes.
He scrubbed a hand through his hair and looked at her from beneath those feathery lashes. Their desire to be alone buzzed in the space between them.
Abruptly, he stood. “I’m gonna head out. It’s getting late.”
Isabella nearly jumped out of the chair. “Right. And tomorrow’s a big day. I’ll, uh…I’ll walk you out.” She followed him toward the entryway where he sat on the lower step, pushing his feet into his boots.
Norah climbed off the loveseat where she and Landon had been cuddling. “Isabella’s right. I should get my beauty sleep. I don’t want dark circles under my eyes on my wedding day.” She pulled Landon up with her. “And it’s almost midnight. You can’t see me on our wedding day. It’s bad luck.”
“But you know I don’t believe in all that superstition stuff.” Landon went to the entryway too and shrugged into his jacket.
“Well, I do, so we can’t take the chance,” Norah said, following close behind.
After Landon bundled up, Norah kissed him and pushed him outside.
“Hey, bro, you coming?” Landon asked from the porch.
Leo glanced at Isabella and back at Landon. “You go ahead. I’ll be there in a bit.”
Landon waggled his dark brows.
“Good night, babe. Love you,” Norah called before closing the door. She started for the stairs, peering down once she reached the top. “Good night you two,” she whispered in a singsong voice.
“Good night,” Isabella mimicked.
After the footsteps overhead disappeared and a door closed, Isabella and Leo stared at one another. “Finally,” she said.
Still standing in the entryway, he smiled. “But maybe Norah is right. I should go. Tomorrow is a busy day.”
