"Think it will stop snowing by morning?"
He lifted one shoulder. "Maybe. Or maybe we'll be snowed in. Together."
I leaned my head on his shoulder, an immense relaxation settling in me. As if I'd been holding the weight of something, waiting on tip-toe, stretched too thin, hoping for more than just those three words. Hoping for him.
Which I supposed was true. I'd been wishing for him every Christmas since I was a child.
And he had, no, we had, finally come true.
"How about we enjoy tonight, together, alone, and worry about tomorrow tomorrow?" He pressed a kiss into my hair.
"That sounds perfect," I said.
We kissed again, and then made our way to the bedroom, slowly shedding our clothes.
"Merry Christmas, Ryder Bailey," I whispered against his lips as he pulled us both down onto his huge, soft bed, while the snow gently tapped the windows, and the dragon and dog curled up in front of the fire.
"Merry Christmas, Delaney Reed."
Acknowledgments
Big, big thank you goes out to Dejsha Knight and Sharon Thompson, two terrific beta readers who helped me make this story shine.
I'd also like to give a big thank you to the Deadline Dames and my fellow indie and hybrid writers who offered suggestions and plenty of encouragement along the way.
To my sisters and brothers and all my family: you are the heart of my holidays. Thank you for the adventures and loving memories. Let's make many more.
More gratitude goes to my husband Russ, and sons Kameron and Konner. You are the biggest joy in my life. Thank you for letting me be a part of your world. I love you. And hey, thanks for all your help with my broken ankle situation. This story wouldn't have gotten finished without your assistance with … well, pretty much everything.
Lastly, but never the least, I want to thank you, dear reader, for giving this story a try. I hope you'll come back soon to catch up with the creatures and gods and people who live in Oregon's quirkiest little beach town.