Page 107 of One Winter Knight
He shook his head. “We didn’t go into detail on the rare designations. Also, I went to a performing arts high school. Our alpha classes usually ended up with us doing improv or writing sonnets.”
That made me chuckle. Because I could picture it.
“I know you love Fiona, and it’ll all work out.” He grinned. “Maybe we should form a pack. Protect Fiona from the alphaholes her dads want her to be with.”
Laughing, I play-smacked him. “Not sure you can survive the Gallaghers, especially Finn.”
“I’m not afraid of rich alphas,” he replied.
Such fearlessness. Part of me loved that.
I checked my phone again. The last update from Fiona had been a picture of her naked and a text letting me know that she was taking the guys to bed. There was nothing after that, but given the implications, I didn’t really anticipate one.
Not that I’d expected nudes, either.
Dusty put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure they’re fine. They even got Carlos’ phone. Not sure if it works, but at least someone found it.”
“Yes, I was a little surprised.” While we probably should head back, I was enjoying myself.
We found ourselves back in the Christmas village, but instead of immediately getting drinks or food and finding a place by the fire, we took a look at the vendor stalls. I browsed a booth full of handmade knitted goods in beautiful traditional patterns. The tags even indicated the names of the sheep the wool came from.
The hat in my hands had ear flaps, tassels, and a big pom-pom.I’d brought presents for everyone and put them under the tree, though the ones for Hale and Dusty were generic. Just like the host gift I’d brought Dusty for bringing us on such a nice holiday. Even assassins needed good manners, because you never know what situations you might find yourself in.
But had I realized who Carlos’ friend actually was, I might have chosen something I thought he’d like. It would have given him ideas. But was that such a bad thing?
Maybe?
Maybe not.
“Did you want that?” the person said to me in German.
“Yes,” I replied in German, too. “No need to wrap it up,” I added as I paid for it.
“There you are.” Dusty’s arms wrapped around me from behind.
Before I could stop myself, my instincts took over and I flipped him on his ass. A horrified feeling covered me as I saw him lying there on the snowy ground, looking up at me in surprise.
“I’m so sorry. Don’t sneak up on me!” I admonished, offering him a hand up.
Dusty took my hand and let me pull him up. “Don’t sneak up on the Sassy Assassin. Noted.” He nodded as if absorbing some sort of deep wisdom.
“And don’t call me that.” I brushed snow off his ass “Are you okay? Again, I’m sorry. Pure instinct there.”
“I’m fine. That’s a nice move. I might need you to teach me that.” There were no traces of him being mad.
“I got you something. Happy Christmas, Dusty.” I handed him the hat, suddenly anxious. What if he didn’t like it? What if he already had something similar? I had no idea what we were doing here.
Dusty’s face broke out in a huge grin. “You got me a hat? That is amazing. Gracias. Though you already got me that nice bottle ofwhiskey. Oh, and those snacks.”
He immediately put it on his head. “My head is getting cold anyway given I lost my hat. I hope I don’t lose this one.” His expression went anxious. “I do lose them sometimes. If I lose it, apologies.”
Reaching over, I straightened the hat, untwisting the tassels and fluffing the pom-pom. “It suits you and I do understand that hats and gloves get lost sometimes.”
“Thank you, Mi Cielo.” Putting his arm around me, we continued to browse.
“Why do you call me your sky?” I asked.
“You do speak Spanish.” He grinned. “I knew it.”
