Page 60 of No Business Like Snow Business

“You’re right. Embarrassing sex toys are a one-month anniversary gift.” I took the gift and tore the paper open. “Holy shit, Is this?—”

“It’s a first edition,” Sterling said.

Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion.The 1948 hardcover with a dust jacket, illustrations, and the pages edged in red ink.

“Holy shit.” My throat swelled up with tears—happy ones—and I swallowed a few times to force them away. “Sterling, this isamazing. Thank you!”

“Merry Christmas,” he said, lines appearing in the corners of his eyes when he smiled. “I love saying that.”

“I love hearing it. Merry Christmas.”

We kissed, and I forgot all about the cold as Sterling put his arms around me and warmth spread through me.

“So,” he said softly, his breath a warm puff of air against my cheek, “three weeks is too early for embarrassing sex toys, but it is also too early to tell you something really big?”

My heart skipped a couple of beats. “Um. No? Wait. That depends on what it is. Because if it’s what I think, then no. But if it’s something different, like you’re actually a government assassin, it might be.”

“I’m not a government assassin,” Sterling said, his mouth twitching.

“Good to know.”

“I’m just a guy,” he said. “Just a guy who came to this weird little town and fell in love with another guy.”

And there it was. My heart, which had only just remembered how to start beating, stopped again.

“Too big?” Sterling whispered, his brow creasing.

“No. Not too big at all.” I fumbled the book and almost dropped it when I tried to grab his hands in mine. I ended up cradling the book awkwardly in the crook of my arm while I held Sterling’s hands tightly. “I’m in love with you too, Sterling, and I don’t care if it’s only been three weeks. It’sChristmas.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “What difference does that make?”

I laughed too. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you, Sterling Van Ruyven? Christmas is the time for miracles.”

And we kissed again, while the sun glittered on the snow and made the whole world shine brightly.