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As if sensing the shift in him, she pulled back just enough to breathe, her forehead resting against his.

“That was some kiss,” she whispered.

At first, all he could do was nod. Then reality rushed back in.

They couldn’t keep going like this.

“Alesha… there’s something I need to say. I…”

“We’re not very good at keeping this casual,” she said quietly, cutting him off.

A breath escaped him, almost a laugh. “No,” he agreed. “We’re not.”

His hand was still at her waist. Hers still pressed to his chest—neither of them ready to let go.

Alesha lifted her head slowly. “This…wasn’t supposed to turn into something,” she said carefully. “We both knew that.”

He nodded, his gaze locked on hers. “Yeah.” He hesitated, then pushed forward. “But it doesn’t feel that way. It almost never has. You don’t spend Christmas with someone when it’s temporary. You don’t think about the future every day when it’s temporary.”

Her eyes widened, but he couldn’t stop.

“And you don’t wish this wasn’t going to end if it was temporary,” he added, his voice rough as he brushed his thumb along her cheek. “Maybe this isn’t the best time to say all this. It’s Christmas, and I hope I didn’t just ruin it, but… I needed you to know.”

She let out a slow breath but didn’t answer right away. Instead, she stepped back and moved to one of the upholstered chairs by the fire.

Reece followed, taking the seat across from her.

“Alesha…”

She lifted a hand, stopping him. “Everything you just said? I’ve been thinking the same thing.” Her eyes shimmered in the firelight, sadness threading through them. “When I made plans to come here, it was simple. And now… it’s not. I don’t want you to think I’m eager to go back to Oregon, because I’m not. But it’s also not as simple as deciding to stay.”

And there it was.

The truth they’d both been avoiding.

“I would never pressure you,” he said carefully. “But I need you to know… I want you to stay. Or at least come back. Not just for a visit.”

A single tear slipped down her cheek.

“Can we put a pin in this for a few days?” she asked softly, brushing it away. “It’s Christmas Eve. Tonight has been so perfect, and I don’t want to lose that.”

Reece swallowed, forcing himself to nod. It stung more than he expected that she saw this conversation as something that might ruin things, but he kept that to himself.

“That’s fair,” he said. “Tonight has been amazing. And tomorrow we’ve got brunch, then gifts with our parents…” A quiet laugh slipped out. “This is definitely not how we usually do Christmas. My parents always host—extended family, same traditions every year. It feels strange to be doing something so different.”

“Are you disappointed?” she asked.

He didn’t hesitate. “No. Getting to share this with you makes it better. And how often do you get to pet reindeer before they take off with Santa?”

Her laughter was soft and warm. “The guide was very clear—they’re not Santa’s lead team. Just backups. But feeding them carrots was fun.”

He smiled, biting back the thought that everything felt better when he was with her. His brain kept telling him that, but he needed to stop thinking so damn hard and stay firmly rooted in the present. It was more important to savor the moment rather than fixate on all the what-ifs.

The day had been long, though, and even the quiet crackle of the fire seemed to urge them toward rest, he wasn’t ready for it to end.

So he stood and held out his hand. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s curl up in that enormous bed, watch the fire, and talk about everything we hope Santa brings us.” He winked as she slipped her hand into his.

When she stood and stepped close, she let out a soft sigh. “He may not have left you under the tree, but you’re the best gift I could’ve asked for.”