by Regina Duke
“Ten feet. Bet you a quarter.”
Trevor cocked his head to one side and squinted at the blanket of white. “I say eight. I can still see the radio antenna on my Explorer.”
Hannah looked up at him apologetically. “I hope you weren’t planning on leaving early.”
Trevor grinned. “I’m good. Is there food in the cupboards?”
“Soup and crackers.”
“Mmmmm. My snowstorm favorite.”
Hannah shook her head, smiling. “You are scoring points left and right. Maybe you should call Eva and let her know you’re safe.”
He got Eva’s voicemail, so he left a message.
“More TV?” asked Hannah half-heartedly.
“My dad would always insist on board games on Christmas Eve. It is, you know.”
“Christmas Eve?”
“Yes. And we would gather next to the tree and play games and sneak peeks at our packages.”
Hannah pressed her hands against his chest. “Well, thanks to you, we have a tree.”
Trevor murmured, “It’s the prettiest tree I’ve ever seen.”
“How about spin the bottle?”
“There are only two of us,” said Trevor.
“All the better.” She melted into a warm kiss. After several seconds, the small green nightlight began to flicker, on and off, on and off.
Trevor ended the kiss. “I think your grandfather wants us to go slow.”
Hannah stared deeply into his eyes. “Very wise. As long as you don’t mind?”
Trevor took a deep breath. “It’s probably a good idea to see what kind of board games you like before we let ourselves get serious. Besides, without games, it doesn’t feel like Christmas Eve.”
“That’s a wonderful idea.” She nuzzled his chin. “I never thought I would enjoy Christmas again. I tried to put it out of my mind. But thanks to you, I think I’m getting in the spirit.”
“And I think we should have a dreamcatcher tree every year. Do you have any board games?”
“A closet full.” She pinned him with a challenging stare. “Prepare to lose big time.”
“At what?”
“Doesn’t matter,” she teased. “I’m really good at everything.”
Now it was Trevor’s turn to blush.
Three hours later, they were deep into a game of Scrabble when the lights flickered and went out. A second or two later, they flickered back on again.
“Brown out?” asked Trevor.
Hannah shook her head. “Too much snow on the lines. Probably a transformer somewhere. Don’t worry. The house has its own generator.”
“Sweet.” He laid down a seven-letter word.
“No way!!!”
Trevor laughed. “Beat that, Princess I’m Good at Everything.”
“Oh, game on,” she taunted with a smile.
She was just about to lay down her own five-letter word when Trevor’s cell phone rang. “Don’t distract me,” she warned.
He grinned and checked his phone. “Oh. It’s Eva. Hey, Eva. What’s up?” He tapped speakerphone.
Eva sounded stressed. “Hi, Trev. Power is out all over town. I still have four party guests who got snowed in, and they’re getting hungry. Is Hannah’s generator working?”
Hannah leaned toward the phone. “Do you need a ride?”
“We thought we’d ski over.”
“Good idea. Pack food because all I have is soup and crackers.”
Eva laughed. “Will do.”
“Don’t get lost. If you’re not here in thirty minutes, I’m sending out the Mounties.”
“Very funny. See you soon.”
Trevor looked alarmed. “Is it safe for them to ski here? It took us almost half an hour in the SUV last night.”
“When the roads are like this, skis are faster than cars. Eva’s an expert, and she has made the trip to my house a dozen times on skis. Oh! I think I have cookie dough in the fridge. I’ll bake some while we wait.”
Forty-minutes later, the doorbell chimed. Trevor said, “I’ll get it.”
Hannah said, “Just push the button to open the garage door. I’ll go greet them.”
Eva looked pink-cheeked and refreshed. Her guests, not so much. By the time everyone got out of their ski gear and gathered in the living room, Trevor had a fresh pot of coffee ready, and the new arrivals were thrilled. Hannah carried the two backpacks full of food into the kitchen and returned with a tray of warm chocolate chip cookies.
“Everyone okay?” asked Trevor.
The four stranded guests were couples, and it was clear from their expressions that the guys thought skiing over was a great idea and the gals had not had fun. But it was equally clear they were happy to be inside with power and heat and cookies fresh from the oven.
Eva babbled a mile a minute about the drama and excitement of skiing to safety. Then, when everyone else had their mouths full of cookie, she asked casually, “So Trevor, are we supposed to call you Your Highness or anything?”
Trevor froze.
Hannah stared. “What are you talking about?”
Eva looked like a woman who wanted to shrink down to nothing. “Sorry,” she said to Trevor.
Hannah insisted. “Come on. Out with it. Since when do you have cousins who are Highnesses?”
Trevor patted the air with both hands. “I am not a Highness.” He glared at Eva. “We’re cousins on my father’s side of the family.”
Eva nodded eagerly. “The poor side. It’s his mother who’s royal.”
Trevor pushed his hands back through his hair and then closed his fists around an imaginary throat.
“He’s upset,” said Eva to Hannah, “because when women find out how well connected he is, they swoop in like hawks. That’s why I introduced you two. You’re perfect for each other! Trevor is almost a royal, with tons of moolah, and Hannah, your grandfather left you money from all those patents. You said you were constantly worried that every man you met was after your money.” She spread her hands and made a happy face. “Problem solved! For both of you.”
Hannah and Trevor stood and stared at each other for several seconds. The other two couples watched them expectantly.
Trevor shrugged and said softly to Hannah, “Actually, it does feel good to know you like me for myself. You do like me, right?”
Hannah answered by moving in for a warm hug. “I’d tell you how much,” she murmured against his chest, “but not in front of company.”
Six months later…
Trevor carried his morning coffee onto the balcony where Hannah was waiting.
“Good morning, my love.” He set his coffee down and planted a warm kiss on her forehead.
Hannah smiled, one of those deep, happy-to-the-core smiles that had become the new normal. Arturo meowed and jumped into her lap.
Trevor said, “He was an adorable ring bearer. When did you teach him to walk on a leash?”
“Oh, that was the easy part,” said Hannah. “Grandpa and I needed all four hands to get him into his first harness when he was a kitten. After that battle, attaching a leash was comparatively easy.”
“My mother was delighted,” said Trevor.
“Are they enjoying their stay at South Shore? They’re so close to Lake Tahoe.”
“Yes. Of all the places she’s traveled—and she has been everywhere—she says Tahoe is the most breathtaking sight she’s ever seen. And then she complained about the crowds.”
Hannah smiled. “She’s starting to sound like a local. We get our share here in Truckee, too.”
“It was brilliant of you to choose a Tahoe hotel for my family,” said Trevor.
“And brilliant of you,” said Hannah, “to insist on a small wedding.”
“Believe me, that was not easy. But then, with the Euro the way it is, and the hassle of air travel these days, Mother limited herself to the number who could fly on her private jet.”
“The look on Eva’s face!”
They both laughed at the memory.
>
Hannah said, “We owe her a lot.”
Trevor took her hand. “Yes, we do. And I was thinking, maybe before the first snowfall, we might invite one of my cousins on my mother’s side over for a visit.”
“Really?”
“His name is Tony—Antoine, actually—and he’s not a Highness either, but his father is a Duke, so she can call him royal if she wants.”
Hannah lifted her coffee in a salute. “I’d call that a regal idea.”
* If you enjoyed this story, please take a moment to leave a review. *
Other Books by Regina Duke
Colorado Billionaires — Contemporary Romance
The Wedding Wager (Colorado Billionaires, 1)
The Wedding Hope (Colorado Billionaires, 2)
The Wedding Venture (Colorado Billionaires, 3)
The Wedding Belle (Colorado Billionaires, 4)
The Wedding Guest (Colorado Billionaires, 5)
The Wedding Toast (Colorado Billionaires, 6)
The Wedding Gift (Colorado Billionaires, 7)
The Wedding Deal (Colorado Billionaires, 8)
The Wedding Veil (Colorado Billionaires, 9)
Colorado Billionaires Boxed Set (Contains novels 1, 2, and 3)
Colorado Billionaires Boxed Set (Contains novels 4, 5, and 6)
Colorado Billionaires Boxed Set (Contains novels 7, 8, and 9)
Colorado Billionaires 8 Novellas (Contains: Sunny’s Christmas, Krystal’s Christmas, Christmas Angel, Love Again, Twice the Joy, Jingle Bell Magic, Jingle Bell Wedding, Jingle Bell Romance)
Colorado Billionaires Christmas 2014 (Sunny’s Christmas, Krystal’s Christmas, Christmas Angel)
Colorado Billionaires Christmas 2015 (Jingle Bell Magic, Jingle Bell Wedding, Jingle Bell Romance)
Love on the Lazy B: Love Again, Twice the Joy (Two Colorado Billionaires Stories)
Now and Forever Romance — Contemporary Romance
June Bride (Now and Forever Romance, 1)
Chapel of Love (Now and Forever Romance, 2)
The Christmas App (Now and Forever Romance, 3)
The Christmas Sweets (Now and Forever Romance, 4)
The Christmas Light (Now and Forever Romance, 5)
The Christmas Beau (Now and Forever Romance, 6)
Silver State Romance — Contemporary Romance
North Rim Delight (Silver State Romance, 1)
The Woof in the Wedding Plans (Silver State Romance, 2)
Calin's Cowboy (Silver State Romance, 3)
Silver State Romance Boxed Set (Contains novels 1, 2, and 3)
Paranormal
My Vampire Wedding
Sugar Rising (Mindflesh Saga, 1)
Hope Eternal (Mindflesh Saga, 2) COMING in 2019
Strange Tales
Song of the Elephant Lady (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 1)
Garden Variety (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 2)
Where Shiny Ones Love People (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 3)
Aid and Comfort (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 4)
Face to Face (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 5)
Trickster (A Short Story) (Strange Tales, 6)
Other
Self-Help for Writers: Being Your Own Cheerleader
Loving the Sensitive Dog
If you enjoy Regina Duke’s books, you will love Sandra Edwards’ romances and paranormals.
Also look for Stevie Lynn’s urban fantasy and paranormal.
If you like regencies or firehouse romance, check out Colleen Ladd.
About Regina Duke
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Regina Duke writes sweet romance, cozy mystery, and paranormal. She lives in the High Desert with her three dogs, and when she’s not writing she’s playing the piano and enjoying her friends. For more info on Regina’s books, visit her websites: ReginaDuke.com (fiction) and LindaLouWrites.com (non-fiction).
Visit the author at her author page http://www.amazon.com/Regina-Duke/e/B005KB08YM or email her at [email protected]
