The Snow Leopard's Christmas Surprise

by Emilia Hartley

  She turned to get a clear look at him. “So no one else knows about this place? Not even Nick?”

  His smile dwindled a bit. “No one at all,” he replied, softly. “Except us.”

  Something sparkled in her eyes before she turned back to the view. Dan couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was, but his bear harrumphed satisfactorily, so it took it as a win. What was more, they finally had their ‘place’. Nick and Jo had their cabin. Tom and Savannah had their lake. And now them.

  They had the hill that overlooked some of the most beautiful scenery that he’d ever seen. It was almost like it was meant to be.

  Lucy stifled a chuckle, but it was heavy with the sound of unshed tears. It instantly set Dan on alert.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice strained as he looked her over for any obvious signs of distress.

  She looked up at him. Her eyes watered, but no tears spilled, and she had a warm smile on her face. “Yes, I am,” she replied, softly. “I’m just… struggling with being treated so amazingly,” she admitted eventually. “Sorry if I killed the mood.”

  Dan was already shaking his head. “No, of course you didn’t,” he cooed, trying to lift her spirits once more. “Did I do something wrong?”

  Lucy shook her head, face exasperated. “No, no. I don’t mean it in a bad way. I mean, this is good,” she tried to explain. “Really good, and nice, and I’ve never been made to feel so… special?” Her brows knitted together as she struggled to find the words that fit her emotions. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to react.” Then she smiled. “You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met before, Dan Hart.”

  Dan chuckled. “I could say the same thing about you, Lucille Winters,” he breathed.

  “Call me Lucy,” she retorted automatically, grinning. She sighed, and some of her smile left with it.

  “I know I should be happy,” she began. “And I am. I guess I’ve just been afraid, you know? Afraid that this was all a carefully crafted illusion and not to be trusted. I didn’t want to put my faith into this—into you— for fear of it all crashing down around me at any moment.”

  Dan paused a moment to process her words. “You thought I only wanted to spend a few nights with you and then break things off?” He tried to keep his tone neutral, but even he heard a bit of hurt as it slipped through.

  She winced slightly, catching the tone change as well, but still she nodded. “At the back of my mind, I’ve been questioning this thing we’ve had going since the night it began. Was it real or was it fake? Was it a few nights of fiery passion that ended as quickly as it began, or was it something that I could center my life around? Was my home here with you, or was it out there somewhere else in the world, still waiting for me to find it?”

  She glanced up at him before returning her eyes quickly to the view. “You have to admit, Dan, for a while there, nothing seemed secure. I’d stumbled upon a pack where no one knew me. One alpha hated me and I’m not even entirely sure he doesn’t still hate me, and no one has any reason to believe my story. Only you did, and I’ll always be grateful for that, but your word was hardly enough to get by.” A sigh slipped passed her lips. “But somehow, it worked. I was here, in a pack that promised to keep me safe; something I never thought I’d find on my own.

  “Everything that came immediately after felt like a dream. Like I’d wake up at any moment and see my brother’s face looming over me. And when I was finally convinced that it wouldn’t happen, this pack still didn’t feel like home. It felt like a nice rest, like a cozy bed and breakfast that I’d made a pit stop at before heading along on the rest of my journey. Sure, everyone was certainly kind, but it was only because you paid them to be. Only, I paid in secrets, information, and aid in a turf war, not money.”

  Dan opened his mouth to protest, but she shook her head before he could speak. “I know, I know, I missed the mark big time on that one. It took a lot of self-convincing, but I realize now that looking back, there was no ill will, no ulterior motives guiding Nick’s hand when he offered me a bed to sleep in, or when Jo gave me clothes from her dresser until we could buy more of my own. You’re all just so damned nice that it’s literally unbelievable.” She shrugged with a sheepish chuckle. “I told you, I’m not accustomed to kindness, sailor.”

  She grinned out over the twinkling houses, the purples and pinks of the evening sky that made her skin glow. “But something’s changed,” she continued. “That doubt and worry that I’d felt for so long at first receded a little more each day that I spent around you guys. And tonight, overlooking this beautiful view with you, I’m happy to say that feeling of darkness inside of me is completely gone.”

  “Completely?” Dan asked, his heart doing a little flip-flop as she nodded her confirmation. “Good,” he breathed in relief. “That’s great to hear.”

  Lucy smiled up at him. “In case you were wondering, I’m in this for the long haul if you are.”

  He felt his old familiar smile creep across his face. “Oh, really?” he whispered, leaning in close.

  She nodded, closing her eyes as he gently brushed her hair back from her face. Standing there, basking in the glow of the evening sun, she looked so at peace with the world that Dan hesitated for a moment. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to ruin such a perfect view, and he wasn’t talking about the landscape this time.

  Without another thought, he pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back automatically, sinking into his arms as he held her.

  “We’re going to miss the sunset,” she whispered quietly against his lips, breathless from the kiss they’d shared.

  A shiver of something like anticipation ran through Dan’s body as he held Lucy’s panting body. There was a hunger in her eyes that had nothing to do with the dinner that waited behind them, and for a split second he thought that maybe some things were worth missing. He had much more beautiful matters to attend to tonight, as far as he was concerned.

  But tonight wasn’t about him. With a grin and a chuckle, he gave Lucy one last kiss before stepping away. She had already returned her gaze to the view, the sun just beginning to dip below the horizon. The sheer elation in her eyes was enough to make breaking the kiss worth it. She rested her head back against his arm in silence, but he didn’t have to. He knew that he loved this woman with all his heart.

  She deserved every beautiful sunset that this world had to offer.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lucy couldn’t help but grin goofily as Dan walked into the office the next morning. He’d been the perfect gentleman the night before; he had ended the night with a long, lingering kiss outside the cabin, filled with promises of what could happen between them.

  They’d never gotten around to talking about her conversation with Jo; Lucy had been so blindsided by the sheer romance of the dinner that she could never seem to bring it up without killing the mood Dan had worked so hard to set up for them. He at least deserved the night to relax and explore what could be the most perfect relationship either of them had ever known.

  Still, she knew deep down that even if every night for the rest of their lives was as perfect as the night before, he was still insistent on talking about her shifting issues. Yet, when Lucy neglected to bring it up in conversation, he never once hinted that he was disappointed. He was considerate and kind and understanding that she still had boundaries. It was so different from what she was used to with Dominic. She appreciated that most of all.

  “Morning,” Dan murmured, a wide grin already spreading across his face as he spotted her. “You look especially beautiful today.” Dipping his head, he planted a quick kiss on her lips. “The fresh air must agree with you.”

  Lucy smiled against his lips. “Perhaps it was the company,” she replied before giving him a kiss of her own. “Last night was amazing, Dan.” She loved the way his eyes danced when she praised him.

  “Yes, it was indeed,” he agreed. “Maybe we can go up that way again some time.”

  “How about tonight?” Lucy mused, the
wheels already turning. “Let me organize things this time. We could grab some take out, no need to get fancy.”

  Dan looked moderately surprised before his lips turned up into that grin Lucy knew so well. It made her stomach buzz with a flurry of butterflies. She hadn’t originally intended to ask him out again so soon, but that look on his face was more than enough to make the spontaneous act worth it.

  “That sounds… really good,” he replied slowly, lifting her chin with his finger. “I can’t wait.”

  Lucy gazed longingly into his eyes, a concentrated shot of happiness coursing through her veins. It had taken so long, but finally, right there in Dan’s eyes, she felt like she’d finally found home. Her bear seemed to sigh in contentment, and for once, Lucy couldn’t argue. If this were what peace felt like, she’d never leave it behind.

  “Hey!” came a shout from the entrance to the office before Dan could kiss her, “None of that fraternizing business in the office.”

  Nick’s grinning face appeared from behind the box he was carrying, and Dan groaned appropriately. She knew Nick’s arrival meant that the work day had begun; Dan would soon be swept away in a flurry of pack and mechanic obligations, too busy to even talk most times. They’d only be mere yards away from one another, but Lucy would miss him all the same. At least they had tonight.

  “Duty calls!” Dan murmured brushing her cheek with a light kiss before turning to Nick.

  “I’ll see you this evening, then,” Lucy replied, smiling after him. “Same time, okay?”

  He winked back at her. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  ***

  “You’re putting in good work with the renovations, Lucy!”

  Wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, Lucy tried to smile. There was only one wall with the dated, dusty wallpaper on it, so she’d thought that going to task on it today would make for easy work. No such luck.

  The old paper seemed to have been glued a million times over the next layer. She’d imagined that the previous owners, before Nick and Tom, couldn’t have been bothered with removing it first. Even when she tapped a little into her bear’s innate strength, the old paper proved stubborn, resisting heartily against Lucy’s efforts.

  “Thanks,” she gasped, carefully stepping down from the ladder. She figured a chat with Jo made for a good enough excuse to take a break as any, and she needed it.

  “Did we decide on a definite color for the walls?” she asked, grabbing a small cup of water. “I’m thinking about giving that a shot while you all are finishing up the house.”

  “Nothing more than what we’ve already discussed together,” she replied. “I think we’ll go with the grey that Savannah suggested. It did seem pretty bright.” She shrugged lazily. “If we don’t like it, we can always just repaint.”

  Lucy thought on it a moment. “If you’re willing to hear me out, I do have a few ideas I’ve been thinking on these past few weeks,” she said reluctantly. She didn’t want Jo to think she was trying to take over.

  Jo only gave her an encouraging look as she took the first sip of her coffee, wordlessly beckoning Lucy to present her concepts.

  With a deep breath, she dove head first into the design she imagined, depicting everything from light fixtures, to furniture updates, and even the pictures that would hang on the wall. She then expanded the idea to include the outdoors, refurbishing the siding on the outside and getting a bit of landscaping done around the yard. It wasn’t anything too fancy for a mechanic shop, but Lucy thought that these changes would go a long way to making the mechanic shop truly shine. But did Jo feel the same?

  Slowly, Jo began to nod, eyes looking thoughtful. “I like it,” she finally said. “But it sounds like a lot of work, don’t you think?”

  Lucy grimaced. “Maybe so, but I think it would all be worth it in the long run.”

  “It’s crunch time up at the house build, and with Dan pulling overtime in the shop to keep work orders flowing, Savannah and I have been spending a lot more time there than we’d originally planned,” Jo explained, chewing her lip. Lucy could tell she was worried about how complicated it would be to juggle all the renovations Lucy had proposed here as well as helping at the house.

  She shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t mind doing it myself at all. I know how busy you guys have been these past few weeks, and that’s not even considering what Dominic must be up to,” she consoled. “To be honest, I’ve been having a bit of fun coming up with new ideas. If it means I get to see at least some of them in reality, I’m completely okay with putting things together on my own.” She shrugged again with an understanding smile. “Less people to bump into this way, anyway.”

  There was a moment when Lucy wasn’t sure if Jo was going to go along with the suggestion, but then she laughed. “Well if you think you can handle the work load, I’m not going to stop you,” she agreed. “In fact…” The sentence trailed off as Jo reached for her phone and tapped animatedly on its screen.

  Finally, she looked back up satisfactorily. “Lucy, I’d like to formally offer you the position of interior designer.”

  Lucy could only stare for a moment, not entirely sure she’d heard Jo correctly. “Interior… are you sure? I don’t really have any qualifications or anything,” she worried. “I’m not sure if I’d be up to snuff to be anything official.”

  Jo shrugged, but her smile was confident. “We’ll call it natural talent, then,” she amended. “You have a lot of great ideas that I’d like to see put into action in a way only you can. Savannah and I will try to help when we can as well.” She scrolled down her phone, checking something before continuing. “There will be a budget so that you can work comfortably with decent materials, and there will also be a wage attached, of course.”

  “What’s happening?” Savannah’s head popped in from the side entrance. Her hair was riddled with sawdust and she had a bit of paint on her collarbone.

  Jo turned to Savannah with a grin. “Say hello to Lucy, our newly hired interior designer, of course, acceptance pending.”

  “Oh!” Savannah exclaimed, hands clapping together excitedly. “That sounds amazing, congratulations! You’ve been doing amazing work; I’m sure this’ll be a natural job for you,” she praised with an encouraging grin.

  Lucy was flabbergasted. She didn’t know what to say. First there was Dan with his overwhelming understanding of her feelings and ability to treat her with care, and then this. It all seemed so real, so permanent in the best possible way. She didn’t want to question it, afraid that the slightest bit of doubt would shatter the illusion of the oasis she’d created for herself. “But, I…” Lucy began, not sure how to continue. “I haven’t really spoken to Nick about… sticking around.” She watched their faces fall in unison, as if that were a possibility that they hadn’t thought of. Of course they haven’t; they already have a home. “What if he says no?” she finished solemnly.

  With a start, Jo’s face lit up. Looking to Savannah, they exchanged a quick look and Savannah smiled in return. When they both started laughing, Lucy was thoroughly confused. Before Lucy could muster up the courage to be offended, Jo turned back to her with a gentle smile, closing the distance between them and wrapping a friendly arm around her shoulders.

  “Listen, Lucy,” she began softly. “This place, this pack, this entire town… it’s for people like you. People who don’t have a place to call their own or family to catch them when they fall. For people who don’t know what true love is, or what true kindness looks like. Where you are in life right now is where I once was.” She poked her chin out towards Savannah. “Her, too.” Savannah nodded he agreement wordlessly.

  “We’re a home for shifters who need it,” Jo continued. “You look like you could use a home, Lucy. So why do you think we’d turn you away?”

  Lucy’s breath caught in her throat and with a bit of surprise, she noticed that tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. She had a home. That’s all she’d wanted to know since being here, and
now she had her answer.

  She had a home.

  “I really appreciate the offer, Jo,” she finally spoke, trying to compose herself. “I’d be honored to accept.”

  “Great!” Jo cheered, clapping her hands together. “Happy first official day at work!”

  “Heaven knows it’s been long overdue,” Savannah chimed in with a laugh. “Welcome to the family, Lucy.”

  ***

  Lucy walked up the steep hill behind Dan, too buzzed because of the events of the day to worry about being exhausted by the climb. She had a place to call home, a job she enjoyed, and a new family that supported her in the things that she believed in. Her life had been so different upwards of a month ago; now it felt so overwhelming and almost unbelievable.

  There wasn’t much conversation between them at first, as if Dan could tell she was in deep thought about something. He always seemed to understand the subtle nuances of her behavior, and it made being around him that much more enjoyable. Though it was awkward in form, he was never awkward with her. Barring the first time they’d spoken alone, she’d felt nothing less than comfortable around him, and it only made her crave him more.

  He quietly set out blankets and even a few cushions, laying them in front of the bench that they’d sat on the night before.

  “Here you go,” he spoke quietly, placing her food in front of her as she sat. “Drinks are in the cooler if you want one.”

  “Thank you,” she replied, watching as he dug almost immediately into his food. She could tell he’d worked hard during the day. He had slight traces of exhaustion around his eyes as he tore open the top of the takeout container with fervor. And still he’d decided to come spend time with her…

  “Sorry,” he muttered ruefully after swallowing a mouthful of beef stir-fry. “I’m really hungry.”

  Lucy hid her chuckle behind a hand. “It’s okay. Truth be told, so am I.”