The Werewolf's Christmas Wish (Nocturne Falls) (4 page)

“I better keep you happy then.”

She smiled. “Yes, you’d better.”

“That sounds like an order.”

“Well, I
am
your boss now, seeing as how you just agreed to work for me, so you really have to do what I say.”

“Is that so?”

She nodded. “You don’t want to get fired on your first day, do you?”

He shook his head, doing his best to look serious. “Absolutely not. That would look awful on my résumé.”

“Exactly. So when I tell you to do something, do it.”

“Yes, boss.”

She leaned back, eyes bright with wicked intent. “Kiss me again.”

“
W
hat the
—” Julian gasped as he
opened the walk-in door and stared inside.

Bridget got up and stretched, suddenly aware that she and Sam were in their wolf forms. She quickly shifted back to her human one. “Sorry to startle you, but we had no choice to keep warm. What time is it?”

“Nearly five a.m. I was walking through the front of the house on my way out and saw the truck was still outside. Finally put two and two together. Have you been in here all night?”

Beside her, Sam shimmered into his human form as well. “All night.”

“Bloody hell.”

“Yeah,” Bridget said. “Your kitchen helper? She didn’t get stuck in here because she didn’t know how to open the door. The hinge pin on the lever is missing. No one would be able to get out of here. And your cook must have known because there’s a wooden door wedge in here. Maybe your grandmother should learn to speak German.”

Julian shook his head. “I’ll talk to her. I’m terribly sorry. I’m surprised you didn’t just break through the door.”

Sam snorted. “I thought of that, but Bridget said your grandmother would make me pay for it.”

Julian sighed. “She’s not wrong.” He pulled the door wide and stepped out of the way. “You must be freezing. You want some coffee or something?”

Bridget looked at Sam. “If it’s okay with you, I’d rather just get going.”

Sam nodded. “I would too.” He glanced at Julian. “Our families must be worried about us.”

“Of course. It is Christmas, after all. Again, I’m very sorry.”

Bridget shrugged. “Just get the door fixed. I don’t think anyone else would be as easygoing about getting stuck in there.” Because getting stuck with Sam had worked out extraordinarily well.

“That’s for sure.”

“We know our way out.” She gave him a wave and grabbed Sam’s hand.

He squeezed back. “Let’s get out of here.”

They raced through the house and out the front door. The snow had stopped, and in the waning moonlight, everything sparkled and glimmered like a fantasyland. “It’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” He kissed her. “Let’s get you to your brother’s.” He opened the truck door for her. Once she was in, he got to work brushing the snow off the windshield before joining her in the cab.

He got the engine started, then they both checked their phones while they waited for it to warm up.

“Five missed calls and thirteen text messages,” she announced. “Mostly from Hank and Titus. Aw, one from Charlie wondering where his auntie is.”

“Three missed calls and seven texts for me, including one from Charlie too.” He glanced at her. “We’d better answer some of these, but I’m not sure anyone will be up to get the phone calls just yet.”

“Not even Charlie? It is Christmas morning.”

“Good point. He could be. But I’m not sure Hank or Ivy would appreciate being woken up any early than necessary.”

“True. Just texts then.”

They took a few minutes and returned the messages.

“Ugh.” Bridget wiggled her fingers. “Texting with cold thumbs is really hard.”

Sam put his phone back on the dash and adjusted the temperature. “A few more minutes and the heat will be cranking.”

“Good. Right now I’m not sure I’ll ever be warm again.”

He looked over at her, his gorgeous face lit up with a brilliant smile. “It was pretty warm being curled up together.”

She smiled back. “Yes, it was.” Being next to him in wolf form had been perfect. Warm and comfortable and as easy as if they’d been together all their lives. “When’s your shift at the firehouse over?”

“You mean the one I missed most of?”

She laughed. “Yeah, that one.”

“It’s over at nine a.m.”

“And then?”

“Then I’m going to visit my nephew and my sister and give them their Christmas presents.”

“And visit your girlfriend. I’ll be over there too, you know.”

“Yes, and visit my—” He smiled again and shook his head. “I don’t think I can call you that.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

A hint of sadness pulled at the corners of his smile. “I don’t have a gift for you.”

“Tell you what? Next year you’ll get me two.”

He laughed and shook his head. “You’re so sure this is going to work.”

“Sam, how do you honestly feel about me?”

His face went sweetly serious. “I’m crazy about you. I can already feel those possessive wolf urges kicking in. You’ve started something in me that I don’t think can be stopped.”

“I feel the same way about you. There’s no reason we can’t make a go of this.”

He nodded, slowly. “You’re right. My…
girlfriend
is right. And hot. And a really good kisser.” He leaned toward her.

She put her hand on his chest and grinned. “This discussion isn’t over yet. After you visit with Charlie and Ivy and
me
, then what are you going to do?”

Her hand didn’t do much to stop him. He nuzzled her neck while he answered. “Then I’m probably going to go back to the firehouse and crash. I have forty-eight hours until my next twenty-four-hour shift.”

She shivered at what his tongue was doing. She squirmed sideways so she could look him in the eye. “How about you go back to the firehouse, pack a bag, and come to my place? You can sleep there. Then when you wake up, I’ll make you dinner and we can hang out and watch
It’s a Wonderful Life
and maybe do some more snuggling. That could be my present.”

He nodded as his hands came to rest on her hips. “I could do that.” His eyes narrowed. “Does that mean you’re getting me something? Because really, my being there is about the only present I’ll be able to swing this year.”

She laughed with the sudden surge of emotions that filled her. “You’re all I want for Christmas, trust me. Although I’m pretty sure I can find something extraspecial for you to unwrap.”

“Bridget Merrow. Are you propositioning me?”

She poked him in the chest. “Maybe you’re not so dumb after all.”