With Crew, she survived. She survived the embarrassment, she survived the party, and she didn’t trip or drop anything the entire night. She’d survived the curse.
The curse was broken.
Shattered.
He’d broken it with a single kiss.
She found herself on the window seat, watching people filter out after midnight. “So. You survived.” Crew settled next to her and she slid closer, leaning her forehead against his shoulder when he pulled her feet into his lap. “Your head didn’t explode. Your luck organ is refilled. I’d call it a successful night, Butterfly.”
She peeked up at him. “Why do you call me that?” she asked softly. “You avoid that question every time I ask.”
Crew stared across the huge room before he met her eyes. “Some girls are like butterflies. Beautiful to look at, but hard to catch.”
“You caught me. Now you need to change my nickname.”
“Nah. It’s too late. It’s stuck.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
One year later
Azura curled in the window seat, watching the snow. The only light in the room was from the giant Christmas tree behind her. The rest of Crew’s family were getting ready for bed, exhausted from a day of Christmas shenanigans. It was warm in Crew’s arms—her favorite place in the entire world—and she didn’t want to move. Not yet.
Crazy, since they spent so much time together, that she still couldn’t get enough of him. They worked together, although on different floors.
Crew had even taught her to play football. He’d made her a running back.
She’d taught him the nuances of every horror movie out there and got him addicted to Stephen King.
And yet, she couldn’t get enough of him. Even after a year.
She sat with her knees drawn up, between his legs with her back against his broad chest and her head resting against his neck.
Heaven.
His strong arms were around her, doing more to keep her warm than the fireplace ever could.
Definitely heaven.
“So,” Crew yawned behind her. “Has your heart grown three sizes yet? Do you love Christmas?”
She snuggled closer. “I love spending Christmas with you. Does that count?”
“So, we’re going to do this again then?”
It startled her how much she wanted that. Desperately so. “I hope so.”
He nodded, lifting her off his lap and setting her on the couch. “Good. I was hoping you would say that. I have something that I’m hoping will help.”
Crew winked at her. “Help you to love Christmas. I can’t believe I forgot your present.”
“You gave me a present. You gave me lots of presents.” She motioned to the small mountain by the window. “You gave me a puppy.”
“Yeah.” Crew nodded distractedly while he poked around underneath the tree. “Maybe two. If the shelter doesn’t find a good home for her brother before we have to pick her up, we’re bringing him with us.”
She sat forward, watching him curiously. “What are you looking for?”
“This.” Crew turned, on one knee in front of her, holding a small box.
Azura froze.
“I’m hoping this will give you a reason to love Christmas. I’m hoping this will mean we’ll spend all the rest of our Christmases together. You’re everything I’ve ever dared hope for, and I want to spend the rest of my life convincing you of that. Marry me, Butterfly?”
Azura sobbed, her heart thundering in her chest.
He loved her.
He wanted her. Forever.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, Crew.”
Crew’s entire face lit up. “Really?”
Laughing, crying, she wasn’t even sure what, Azura nodded. “Yes, Crew! Yes!”
As he slid the sparkling sapphire ring on her finger, his family cheered. Crew winced. “I guess they weren’t getting ready for bed after all.”
Azura didn’t care. She loved his family. She loved him. Because of Crew, that mistletoe curse hadn’t stood a chance. Because of him, her frozen, anti-elf heart had thawed, and she would never be cold again.
“I love you, Galahad.”
About the Author
WENDY KNIGHT IS AN award-winning, USA Today Bestselling author. She was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call...). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big: her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S.
You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion may be. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing.
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