Up the Chimney Read online

  She slipped her cell from the pocket of her robe and snapped a picture. If they were going to tell their kids about tonight, she’d need proof. He swiveled and she snapped another one.

  “Do you want that pretty ass smacked?”

  “Time for us to get the hell out of here,” one of the medics stated and they wheeled the stretcher and equipment to the ambulance.

  Ciera and Mason stood, staring at each other. Silence stretched between them and she couldn’t take it. “I’m sorry I shot you. I’d finally been able to get to sleep with that headache I had and I wasn’t in my right mind.”

  “Are you in your right mind, now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Because I’m going to ask you a very important question and I don’t want you changing your mind in an hour or a week or a month. What I want to ask you is a forever kind of question.”

  “Then come back to the bedroom, take off that silly suit, and put these on. Crawl in bed and hold me in your arms when you ask me your forever question.”

  She helped him back the hall and took charge of removing his Santa clothes, kissing his chest and shoulders and arms. He unbuckled the wide black belt while she knelt to remove his boots and socks. Once he had on his pajama bottoms, she gave him three aspirins and water. She crawled in the bed with him.

  He removed the black velvet jeweler’s box from her stocking. “I have loved you since soon after you came to work at the station. I can’t recall the exact day it happened. I only know I soon knew you were the one I’d been searching for without even knowing it. I love you, baby. I will always love you. Marry me.”

  “Yes. You’ve helped me realize I’m stronger than I thought. You make me feel cherished. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  He snapped open the box to reveal a large solitaire diamond set in a band of smaller diamonds. Slipping it from the white satin, he kissed it before slipping it on her finger. He tucked her under him and kissed her over and over. “No long engagement, baby. I’m willing to wait until May. No longer.”

  She laughed. “Maybe you better open your present before we discuss dates.” She leaned over her side of the bed and grabbed the gifts she hoped wouldn’t send him running. “Here, hero. Open the small one first.”

  His gaze was intent on her as he pulled the wrapped pee stick from under the green ribbon. He ripped away the paper and stared at the plus sign. “I knew it! Holy shit, I knew we were pregnant! You said your periods were regular and you’re six days late. Plus you haven’t been taking any pills for your migraines.” He pulled her close and kissed her long and hard. “What a Christmas Eve! I’ve been shot in the ass and in the heart all in the same night!”

  “Open the other gift.”

  He tore away the paper, throwing it across the room like an excited kid. “’What to Expect When You’re Expecting’. Oh, baby, this is awesome.” He flipped through the pages, shifting to find a comfortable spot. “Look it shows what the baby looks like now.”

  “Let me get some pillows to prop against your wound. Imagine I shot a Santa up my chimney tonight.”

  “Yeah, and now you have to keep him forever. It says so in the rule books.”

  VALENTINE’S DAY

  Thanks to one excited groom, everyone knew the bride was pregnant, including the ushers Jackson and Dillon. Because they were family, they found out on Christmas Day when Mason, leaning on a cane, announced their engagement, pregnancy, and date of marriage.

  Ciera had been worried over how her future in-laws would react to the pregnancy, but they’d been thrilled. Mrs. Holt, who insisted on being called Momma, said she couldn’t recall seeing her son so happy, even if he did have to sit on a pillow.

  After much shopping with Momma Holt and Eva Marie, all the big and small details of what was to be an intimate ceremony had come together. Mason had a bid on his condo. He wanted his child to have a back yard to play in, which meant living on Rainbow Road.

  After criss-crossing the red satin ankle straps of her stilettoes, she tied the bows in the back. She slipped into her bridal dress, a street-length sheath of red lace. The long sleeves were sheer lace that ended in scallops at the wrists just like the hemline.

  Rhinestones sparkled on the low-cut bodice that showcased more breasts than she thought proper, but both Momma Holt and Eva Marie said that part was for Mason and giggled. Those two would be trouble. And she already adored them.

  She turned sideways to glance in the church’s dressing room mirror. “At least I’m not showing very much yet. I had visions of not being able to fit into the dress.” She tugged on the bodice. “Although the boobs do keep getting bigger.”

  Momma pinned a comb of three red roses with babies breath into Ciera’s hair. Then she handed her a box. “Something borrowed, my dear. They’re pearls my mother wore at her wedding as did I and Eva Marie and now you.” Ciera opened the box and gasped.

  “You’ll make me cry. My nerves are on overload anyhow. I’m marrying the most special man.”

  Her remark earned a wink from Momma Holt. “Yes, you are. But you make him happy, so that makes you special, too.” She clasped the pearls around Ciera’s throat.

  “You know, that brother of mine’s been awful mysterious about his best man. Who did he decide to ask?” Eva Marie looked stunning in her red satin dress. Both Mason and Ciera had kept the big secret from her until they knew for sure Sean was on U.S. soil.

  Ciera fiddled with her hair. “Oh, the best man. Ah, I think his name is Sean or something.”

  Ava Marie squealed. “Where is he? I need to see him just for a minute.” She grabbed Ciera by the shoulders. “You’re sure? My husband is here?”

  A pounding sounded on the door. “Where’s my wife!”

  “Sean!” One very excited wife jerked open the door and leaped into her husband’s arms.

  When Ciera walked down the aisle on the arm of her future father-in-law, the church was packed with policemen, firemen, EMT’s, men from Special Forces, dispatchers, and Mason’s family.

  The groom waited until she was about ten feet away and then he strode back toward her and reached for her hand. “Walk the rest of the way with me, love. Let’s begin life’s journey together now, this moment.”

  She placed her hand in his in his warm, strong one and said something she thought she could never truthfully say to another man. “I trust you. So much so, I’d follow you anywhere.”

  He leaned and kissed her where her neck joined her shoulder. “Yeah, ʼcause if I’d screw up, you’d only shoot me in the ass.”

  She chuckled. “Right up the chimney, hero.”

  About the Author:

  Vonnie Davis is an award-winning, international author who writes mainly contemporary and paranormal romance, often with strong elements of suspense and dashes of humor. She likens herself to a croissant: warm, crusty, wrinkled, a tad flaky—and best served with strong coffee. Vonnie lives in southern Virginia with her hero and author husband, Calvin Davis. She’s been blessed by six fantastic grandchildren and three grown children, who take pride in the fact Mom is finally pursuing her life-long dream of writing.

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