Witness in the Dark (Love Under Fire #1)(59)

“It’s the prettiest tree I’ve ever had.” Truly, it was.

“Me, too.”

She smiled and watched him as he gazed at the tree. He’d said he’d never had a tree before, and she felt lucky to be the one to experience this first one with him.

Even if it would only be this one time.





Chapter Forty-Five


After two ruthless games of Risk, they put the game away so they could set the table for Christmas dinner. Sam couldn’t remember the last time she’d cooked such an extravagant meal, but she loved to cook.

There wasn’t a mixer or a potato masher in the house, so the mashed potatoes were a bit lumpy. Garrett carried the ham to the table while she followed behind with the green bean casserole, complete with the crunchy stuff on the top.

When the rolls came out of the oven, she had to look around for a place to put them on the small table. She checked Garrett to see if he was drooling on the ham, but he was watching her, not the food.

“Come here,” he said before she sat down, and patted his leg. She sat and happily put her arms around his neck. He put his hands on her face and gazed into her eyes. “Thank you.”

She knew from his expression he was thanking her for much more than dinner or the game.

She smiled and gave him a lingering kiss. “You’re very welcome.”

He held her chair and poured the wine before they dug in. He went straight for the potatoes and green beans. She took a roll and passed them. The smile on his face lasted the entire meal, and every time he looked over at the tree.

Afterward, they played another game of Risk and ate apple pie. Then they snuggled on the sofa to watch movies on DVD.

After he finished his second piece of pie around ten, she yawned and announced she was going to bed because someone had woken her up too early.

“This was truly the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” he said, giving her another kiss. “Thank you.”

“You’ll be eating the leftovers from Christmas dinner for the next week, so I’m glad you liked it.”

“It wasn’t just the dinner. I never bothered with Christmas before. But from now on, every year I’m going to get a tree, and I’m going to think of you.”

Tears threatened again as the reality of the situation forced its way into her happy delusion.

She remembered the rules. No way she could forget. She and Garrett had no future together. She knew that only too well. Once he delivered her safely to the trial, they would never see each other again.

But it was just…more painful when he quantified it. By saying it out loud. Next Christmas, their time together would be a memory and nothing more.

“Sam—”

“I’m really tired. Thank you for such a nice Christmas,” she choked out as she fled to the safety of the bedroom. Tears pooled in her eyes, but she looked up at the ceiling to keep them from falling.

She knew this was how it worked with him.

How it had to be.

Temporary.

They’d had such a wonderful day, but his last words had brought everything into vivid perspective. They were supposed to be having fun while this lasted. It was supposed to be casual between them. She had told him she could handle it. But as she crawled into bed, she surely wasn’t handling it.

She heard his footsteps in the hall as he went in his room. A moment later he came out, and her door creaked open. Since arriving, they had slept together in his room. It was no surprise he came looking for her when he didn’t find her in his bed.

Without a word, he crawled into bed with her. She moved under his arm and rested her head on his chest. She fit against him like she’d been born to sleep by his side. But apparently that wasn’t true.

They weren’t meant to be together. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be a federal marshal, and she wouldn’t be a protected witness running for her life.

“Are you mad at me?” he asked quietly.

She shook her head. “No. Definitely not.”

“What’s bothering you?”

“Just thinking about my mom,” she said. Not entirely true, but it wasn’t a lie, either. The whole time she’d prepared their meal, she’d been remembering other Christmases and spending the day in the kitchen with her mother.

“We used to dance and sing Christmas carols. She would tell me stories about my dad. He liked Christmas.”

“Really?” Garrett seemed surprised by that revelation.

“Who knows?” She shrugged. “I never met him. He died before I was born. But I used to have a photo of them together. He was bent down by her stomach. It would have been the Christmas before he died. My mom was pregnant with me. He looked so happy to be my dad.”

Garrett’s arms felt a bit stiff as he murmured, “I’m sorry.”

She sighed. “You know what’s really stupid?” she whispered.

If possible, his body grew even more tense as he waited silently for her answer.

“Everything I chose to do—the classes I took, the plans I made—all of it was to make my dad proud of me.”

She heard Garrett swallow. “That’s not stupid at all. I know your father would be very, very proud of you.” He kissed her hair, sounding so sure.

“You think so?”

“I know I’m proud of you.” He leaned back on the pillows and brushed her hair from her face.