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“Merry Christmas,” she said, brushing a gentle kiss on his cheek.

His hand found hers instantly, giving it a gentle squeeze. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten,” he said, his voice quieter than before, and a little gruff.

She squeezed his hand back, her thumb brushing lightly over his knuckles before leading him to their seats.

“Did you know about this?” he asked, leaning closer, not quite ready to let go of her.

“Not until about five minutes ago,” she said, her shoulder brushing his. “Once we were seated at a table for five, I started asking questions.” She glanced at her father with a grin. “I’m seriously impressed with your secret-keeping skills, Dad.”

“Well, we were all talking about you two a few days ago and hated the idea of you spending Christmas apart. It was really Marlene’s idea,” Martin said.

Reece laughed softly, shaking his head. “Well done, Mom.”

“I keep telling you, you should listen to me more,” she said sweetly.

Their server arrived, but even as orders were placed and conversation flowed, Reece found it hard to focus on anything but the warmth of Alesha beside him—the occasional brush of her arm against his, the way her laughter seemed to settle something deep in his chest.

It had been a good day before, but now it was perfect.

It wasn’t until dessert that another surprise surfaced.

“Reece,” Henry began, “the room we booked is actually for the two of you. Of course, if Alesha would rather stay with Martin…”

“Dad,” Alesha interrupted, turning to her father. “Is that why you wouldn’t let me unpack?”

Martin shrugged. “We had to make it work somehow. Though I didn’t realize you were quite so attached to unpacking.”

“I just like…”

“Oh, she is,” Reece cut in, glancing at her with a grin. “Both times we’ve stayed here, she’s unpacked within ten minutes.”

“What can I say? I hate digging through a suitcase,” she said primly, though the smile she shot him was anything but.

The conversation continued easily, but now there was an added undercurrent—an awareness that lingered every time their eyes met, every time her knee brushed his beneath the table. By the time they stood to leave, Reece was already counting the minutes until they could be alone.

“There’s a Christmas lights walking tour around the resort property,” Marlene said. “They’re serving peppermint cocoa, and I hear there are some real reindeer to see…”

Reece glanced at Alesha. He could see the same thought flicker in her eyes—the same longing for something more private—but then she smiled because…this mattered too.

“That sounds great, Mom,” he said. “We’ll just need our coats since it’s freezing out.”

It took several minutes for everyone to go grab their coats before meeting up again in the lobby. They stepped into the crisp night air, their breath visible as they walked arm in arm behind their parents.

“This has been the best night,” she said, leaning into him. “But I’m still a little bummed.”

He huffed out a quiet laugh, turning his head so his temple brushed hers. “That doesn’t seem possible.”

“I know. I love that we’re here—and how they surprised us—but I don’t have your present. It’s back at my dad’s.”

“Yours is at my place,” he said, his hand tightening slightly around hers. “Which just means we’ll have to…”

“Your gift to Alesha is here,” Marlene called over her shoulder.

He blinked. “Wait… what?”

Martin glanced back. “And your gift to Reece is here too. I packed it with the rest.”

Alesha laughed in disbelief. “How? When?”