Christmas Miracle (6 page)

Christmas in Chicago had never been more beautiful. The lights along the Miracle Mile looked so much better when you weren’t starving or envious of all the shining things in the storefront windows. Leslie had even managed to score tickets to the
Nutcracker
. Mikki had always wanted to see it, but never thought she’d ever have the chance. And who knew you could have a fireplace in an apartment? Okay, a penthouse apartment, but still.

“This is the best Christmas ever,” she sighed happily, snuggled up close to Leslie in front of the fireplace, sipping peppermint-flavored hot chocolate.

She felt positively decadent, being nude under the fur blanket. There had been a lot of firsts being with Leslie. It was so unreal, yet so right.

“For me too,” Leslie murmured, pulling a little red box out from under the pillows they were lying on. “I want more Christmases with you.”

No. No, it couldn’t be. They hadn’t known long each other long enough for what she thought might be in the little box. Her hands were trembling as she opened it, her stomach in a jumble of knots. When she lifted the lid, she dissolved in a fit of laughter. Oh, God, she’d been so afraid it would be a ring! Instead, he had managed to fit a lollipop ring inside. Cherry, her favorite.

“Keep it up,” she giggled, “and you’ll get your wish.”

“I’m planning on it,” came his murmured reply as she felt something slip on her ring finger.

Ohmigawd, he really had bought her a ring. A gorgeous blue sapphire surrounded by sparkling white diamonds. “Leslie, it’s too soon.”

It was, wasn’t it? Every relationship book she’d ever read said it was best to wait at least a year.

“So we will have a long engagement,” he shrugged. “But you need to know I’m not going to let you go. Not ever. I want you by my side for every Christmas I have left.”

She should say no. It was the responsible thing to do. But this was one time Mikki wasn’t going to be responsible. She was going to let go and take a chance.

“Yes,” she found herself saying to him yet again. “A million times yes.”

Merry Christmas!