Tucker’s eyes were still wide and round from his near mishap. “Okay.”
She grabbed the back of Tucker’s jacket and suppressed the urge to hug him. He didn’t deserve to be hugged. Tucker had just taken another year off her life, a life she wanted to spend with Coop. Using her low, no-nonsense mother voice, she whispered in Tucker’s ear. “If you so much as move a muscle, I will personally see to it that Santa does not come down our chimney tonight.”
Corey moved closer to Coop.
“Hey, Corey, can you see okay from down there?” Coop asked as he squatted to the boy’s height.
Corey shook his head.
Coop swung Corey up and placed him on his shoulders. “There are perks to being the youngest.”
“What’s perks?” Corey asked, in awe of his new height.
“It means you get to ride on Mr. Brown’s shoulders, where your brothers can’t.” She grinned up at her youngest.
Corey seemed quite pleased with himself.
Coop glanced out over the water and watched as another boat came into sight. This one was lit up in red and white lights that seemed more powerful than the other boats. He hadn’t realized until tonight how much he had missed this over the years. Somewhere up on one of the hilltops his parents were in their car, drinking their coffee and enjoying the view. It was a yearly tradition with them.
He wanted to start a yearly tradition with Jenni and the boys.
He wanted candlelight and champagne tonight. Jenni deserved them and a whole lot more. There was a question on his tongue burning to be asked, and a jeweler’s box scorching a hole in his pocket. He noticed the death grip Jenni had on the back of Tucker’s jacket and prayed that wouldn’t be part of their yearly tradition. His heart had stopped when he spotted Tucker about to go into the water.
He tugged Jenni closer and whispered in her ear, “What do you think of the lights?”
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Jenni leaned her head against his shoulder and continued to stare out onto the harbor. “Thank you for saving Tucker.” Snowflakes were melting on Jenni’s cheeks.
“I’ll always save Tucker.”
Jenni turned her head and looked at him. A snowflake clung to one of her lashes. “Will you?”
“If you let me.” He could see forever in Jenni’s gaze and knew her answer before he even asked his question. “Will you marry me, Jen?”
Jenni’s smile was radiant.
That night over a dozen boats made it into the harbor and Santa was extra generous at the Wright house on Mistletoe Bay.
ZEBRA BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 2007 by Marcia Evanick
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ISBN: 978-0-8217-8009-1
Mistletoe Bay Page 27
