Page 70 of Cold Mercy

He chuckles, a low, warm sound that vibrates in the empty house. He looks at the grumpy reindeer, then back at me, his eyes glinting with mischief.

“You know… usually these things come in pairs on those displays.” He tilts his head. “Wasn't there a matching one? Just so I’m not the only one walking around looking ridiculous?”

I press my lips together, a laugh bubbling up in my throat that I can’t suppress.

“Maybe...”

I reach into the bag again and pull out the second sweater.

It’s bright crimson red, with a matching reindeer. Except this one looks chaotic and tangled in Christmas lights. When you stand next to each other, the reindeer look like they are staring at one another.

I hold it up, and we both burst into genuine, unburdened laughter that seems to chase the shadows out of the room.

“Okay, you caught me,” I admit through the giggles. “I just thought it was funny.”

Thomas looks at the red sweater in my hands, then at the green one in his. His expression softens, the amusement blending with something warmer, something that makes my heart stutter.

“Tell you what,” he says, his voice dropping to a low, playful rumble. “I’m only wearing this if you wear yours.”

I look at him holding a ridiculous Christmas sweater like it’s a peace treaty. A spark lights up in my chest.

I offer him a smirk, my eyes locking with his.

“Deal,” I say. “Go shower, pretty boy. ”

CHAPTER 14

THOMAS

I step into her bedroom on my way to the bathroom, intending only to grab a quick shower before I make this evening any more of a disaster. But the moment I see the nightstand, everything in me stops. There’s a small open box beside her bed, and inside it, carefully kept, almost protected, are every single note I ever left her. Right there, where she sleeps, she had kept the facts, the stupid jokes, and all the soft attempts I'd made to make her mornings less heavy.

For a moment, something inside me loosens and tightens at the same time. It’s a dangerous game that tells me whatever we’re pretending to be, it’s already more than that for me.

I force myself into the shower before I can think any further, letting the water cool the part of me that reacted too strongly to a box of paper scraps.

I dry off and stare at the green fabric sitting on the vanity.

Fuck. Not only has Thomas Collins apparently developed a romantic streak, but for the first time in my lifetime, I am about to wear a Christmas sweater. Where is my cynicism? Where is my grumbling? I used to be a man who intimidated suspects just by walking into a room, and now I’m putting on a goddamn reindeer.

As I pull the sweater over my head, I can feel the wool strain tightly across my chest and shoulders. One look in the mirror is all it takes for me to let out a long sigh. God, I look ridiculous.

A soft knock sounds at the door, and when I tell her to come in, Sophia peeks her head in, still holding her red sweater. Her eyes widen, and a slow, delighted smile spreads across her face.

“See?” she says, leaning against the doorframe. “You look…approachable. Much softer than the ‘dangerous Thomas’ from the alley.”

I cross my arms, feeling the ridiculous reindeer distort over my muscles.

“I look pathetic, Sophia. And for the record, I’m dangerous, but it’s hard to be terrifying when I have a grumpy moose on my chest. This…” I gesture to the sweater. “…is false advertising.”

“Good,” she teases, her eyes dancing. “I think I like this false advertising.”

I shoot her a dark look from under my brow, a warning that lacks any real heat.

“Don’t get used to it.”

“Oh, the relief is over,” she declares, pulling her phone out of her pocket. “I have to take a picture. James and Liz will never believe me, I need evidence.”

“Sophia, no. Don’t you dare.”