You Had Me At Christmas: A Holiday Anthology(91)

“So you’re working on your project again?”

“No. That’s the best part.” His previously concerned face was now as animated as she had ever seen it. He was clearly more excited about his current project than he ever had been about spending a winter traveling from resort to resort.

“There’s a group that’s trying to develop better mobile security for banking, specifically for third-world countries where mobile banking is a community’s lifeline and can mean the difference between poverty and security for a woman selling baskets or cloth.”

“But . . .” Her nervousness returned. “That sounds like something you need to do . . . somewhere else.” Salt Lake had an international airport, but you still have to fly somewhere else first to fly internationally.

He waved her concern away. “This is the computer industry. And it’s software, not hardware. I can work with anyone, anywhere as long as we both have Internet access. I’ll have to travel, yes. You should know that going in. Maybe a lot, even. But I’ve got an apartment here and I plan to return here. Always.”

Her head lifted and dropped and lifted and dropped, slowly as if what he was saying was a ball and she had to roll it into the hole where it would hit a lightbulb and she would understand the importance of what he was saying.

“We could get you a passport,” he said, stepping forward, his hands still extended. She slipped her palms into his. “You said you wanted to travel for vacation. Maybe I’ll be someplace you want to vacation and you could come with me for a week or two.”

Flop. Bang. Ring.

The ball rolling around in her head dropped, and suddenly she got it.

Tears sprang to her eyes as she shuffled closer to him, desperate to touch him and yet afraid that if she let go of his hands, he would disappear and this would all be a dream.

He cocked his head, examining her face. “Are you crying?”

“Yes, but it’s because I’m happy.” She sniffled. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m a crier.”

“Oh, I noticed.” His wide smile was the embodiment of joy. “Is this a yes?”

“Yes,” she said, nodding and sniffling again and then tilting her head up for a kiss. She didn’t know if she was agreeing to a date, or a kiss, or the future he’d outlined, but she didn’t care. She wanted them all.

Almost instantly, she was wrapped in his arms, their lips pressed together. Their kiss was hopeful, as if they had decades of kisses to set the tone for. When they finally pulled away from each other, Marc looked down at her, his eyes soft with the same love she felt warming her heart.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, reaching in to the pocket of his peacoat and pulling out an envelope. “Your present . . .”

Her eyes widened. “What is it?”

He just shrugged so she flipped the envelope over. She tried to be gentle, but the paper ripped as she pushed her finger under the flap. Inside the envelope were two brochures and two cards, which she fanned out in front of her.

“Are these . . . ?”

“Lifetime memberships to the Salt Lake art museums. I didn’t know which one to get, so I got both of the big ones. You can volunteer or get a job in a gallery, but this way you can visit anytime you want, too. They were going to be yours even if you sent me packing.”

She hugged the envelope to her chest. Even if she decided working in the art world wasn’t for her, he was giving her the gift of art. And while he may have given her dreams to her in an envelope, he was a solid, flesh and blood man who wanted to be with her.

And she wanted to be with him. No matter what.

“Merry Christmas,” she echoed, reaching up to her tiptoes to drop a kiss on his cheek.

The End

Copyright ? 2016, Jennifer Lohmann





Thank you, readers!


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Thank you, Molly!


This anthology was Molly’s idea, way back at RWA in San Antonia in 2014. I’ve loved working with this group of women and hope to be able to again (hint, hint).





Want to read more?


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One bad experience years ago was enough for Doug Vanderholt to swear off affairs with students. And he’s keeping that promise, even if he can’t stop thinking about Cassie’s smile. He’s remade his life and is only interested in something serious and real.

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