Page 79 of It's Not Over (Paths to Love 1)
“I’ll help.”
We unloaded the car,and he joined me on the back deck.
“I wish Muriella were here. She’s not spending Christmas alone, is she?” I asked.
His answering smile was secretive. “She’ll be here tomorrow. I couldn’t leave her alone for the holidays, but she insisted we have time to ourselves before she arrives.”
“M’s coming here?” I shrieked, relieved she wasn’t going to be by herself.
“I take it you’re okay with that,” he said wryly.
I shoved at him. “Better than okay.”
He pulled me into his arms. “This lake brings out the aquamarine flecks in your eyes. They’re beautiful.”
I didn’t think he’d noticed, but clearly I was wrong. “Thank you. This place is perfect.” The scenery was incredible, but it was Daniel that made it perfect.
“We’re going to stay a few days.”
My face lit up. “I already don’t want to leave.”
“Neither do I.”
I pecked him on the cheek. “Do you think we could have a fire later? I know it’s not that cold, but it would be nice to have hot chocolate while we sit by a fire and wait for Santa.”
“How is he going to find us?” Daniel asked, eyes dancing with mirth.
“He’s Santa. Heknows.”
After he’d goneto take a shower, I scurried to the kitchen, digging through our haul. There were three stockings hung by the fireplace, and I dumped half a bag of miniature Mars bars into one of them. Then I searched through my purse for the gift I had for Daniel and put it under the tree. A box was there that most definitely hadn’t been before. I wrapped up one more thing for him, using the circulars from the grocery store and some twine I found in the kitchen.
After dinner, we sat in front of the fire and drank hot chocolate, snuggling.
Daniel broke the reverie. “I think we’ve had a visitor. Better go check and see what he left.” I looked up at him suspiciously. “Go on.” He indicated toward the tree.
I scampered over, finding a package to me from Santa. I glanced at Daniel, my stomach jittery. He watched me carefully, and I finally blew out a breath, tearing open the paper to reveal a black velvet box. “What is it?” I whispered, frozen.
“Open it and see.” His eyes brightened as that little upward curve of his lips I loved so much appeared.
I opened the lid. A choker of large black diamonds surrounded by smaller aquamarine stones glittered up at me. I gasped. This was no doubt the most exquisite piece of jewelry I’d ever laid eyes on.
“Daniel,” I breathed. “It’s too much. I-I can’t.” My eyes glassed over, and I blinked the moisture away.
“You don’t like it?” he asked.
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I love it. But I can’t accept it.”
His eyes were sweet as they stared at me. “You can,” he encouraged.
My gaze dropped back down to the necklace, and I filled with longing. I didn’t want it because I loved the jewelry. I wanted it because it was from him. I knew if I put it on, it would be like him touching me, even if we weren’t in the same place.
I noticed a key in the center of the box with ‘Yale’ stamped on it. I was pretty sure that was just a generic brand. It appeared ordinary enough, strikingly similar to the gold one that went to my apartment.
“What’s this for?” I asked, still refusing to touch the contents of the box. If I did, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to let it go.
“One day you’ll find out,” he said, taking the box out of my hand.
“You’re not going to give me a clue?” There were a billion locks in the world this key could fit.