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Jenna’s laugh rang out loud and clear.
I sputtered, wiping the cold, wet snow off my face, then hid my smile as I scooped up a small ball of snow and threw it her way.
The game was on.
She laughed, darting away from it, but not quick enough as it hit her shoulder. “Oh, you’re in for it now…”
I hurried my pace, moving quickly around the yard, scooping snow into my gloved hands and forming it into another ball. She hit me square in the back and I yelped as she laughed with glee. I spun quickly and turned, hitting her in the stomach.
She jumped, her face showing her awe at me hitting my target. She dropped to her knees, a look of sheer determination on her face and scooped more snow into her hand for a larger snowball. I had a feeling it was on now.
I ducked down behind a mound of snow, quickly rolling a few snowballs and setting them beside me, ready for the attack.
The sound of tentative footsteps, the crunching of the snow, echoed. I slid lower, my smile growing as the footsteps stopped as she must have been scouring the area trying to figure out where I’d gone. A moment later, one lone snowball sailed through the air, hitting the ground far to my left. I scooped up two of my snowballs and inched quietly to the right, ducking so she couldn’t see my beanie. I headed slowly back the way I came, hoping I could loop up behind her.
The snowdrift seemed higher, and I dared peek over the edge. She was a dozen feet away, rolling snowballs and setting them at her feet, clearly aiming where I’d just come from.
I was about to stand up when suddenly, she spun and aimed one right at me. I ducked quickly, but it still got me square in the shoulder.
She gave a whoop of joy.
I bent and grabbed my two snowballs, aiming them at her rapid fire.
She covered her head and ran with a laugh, the snowballs hitting her in the shoulder. She jumped as the second one hit her squarely in the middle of her back. “This is war…” She giggled.
I ducked her next several snowballs as I ran, our laughter ringing around us. She tried to dart away, but I reached out, my arms wrapping around her. I’d meant to simply stop her, but now, I had a hold of her. She laughed as I pulled her close to me. Her face seemed lit up, her eyes dancing, and her lips looked so damn kissable this close.
I had to admit it, I’d been attracted to her since her snarky response when she picked me up, even more when she stepped into the house and slipped off that ski jacket, revealing the gorgeous woman beneath. Maybe I’d been worth a Christmas miracle, after all…but I wasn’t anywhere near ready to thank Frank for anything.
I dropped my head closer to hers, our mouths so close, I could lean forward just slightly and be able to kiss her. The way she was looking up at me…her eyes locked completely on mine. “Jenna…”
“What?” Her eyes sparkled, her mischievous smile quickly being replaced by a look of pure innocence.
I jumped at the sudden icy coldness trickling down my neck and then down my back, sending a shock through my system.
She laughed and hurriedly broke out of my arms and turned to run. I reached back behind me, wiping the snow out of the collar of my jacket. I couldn’t help smiling, she’d gotten me…gotten me good.
“Jenna!”
She giggled as she stopped halfway across the yard. “Sorry, not sorry.”
I grinned then scooped up a fresh snowball, tossing it gingerly in her direction. She ducked down out of the way and made another one of her own, throwing it my way. It hit my shoulder, and she let out a whoop. I laughed to myself and went charging towards her. I picked her up and set her over my shoulder. She laughed as she swatted at my back.
“Let me down!”
“Sure, one second.” I looked around the snowy landscape and a diabolical idea began to form. I headed towards where the snow had accumulated the most. I lowered her down into it with a grin. “Your wish is my command. Isn’t that how it goes?”
She looked up at me from the snowbank, her eyes playfully narrowed as she slowly sank deeper, but a spark of mischief there made me grin. “Oh I’ll tell you my wish…but you’d go poof.”
I laughed. “Then maybe I shouldn’t help you back up.” I turned and moved across the yard, as quick as I could, a snowball whizzing by my ear and another soon after.
I heard her running up behind me, her laughter echoing around us.
I turned at the bottom of the stairs, my arms stretched out on either side to keep her from passing.
She stopped a few feet away from me, breathing heavily, her eyes twinkling as her gaze met mine.
“Should we warm up?”
