He’s right, I did.

I just never imagined a day when anyone else would acknowledge that, let alone approach me to ask for her hand in marriage.

“And you did a great job,” he says, his whole face softening as he thinks about my sister. “I love the hell out of your sister, and so does Amira. We’re a family in every way that matters, I just… I want to make it official.”

It takes me a moment to absorb everything he’s saying, but when I do speak, there’s only one thing to say. “From what I’ve seen this week, you make my sister very happy. If you want to marry her, you have my blessing.”

Tarek grins, all of his nervousness dissipating. “Thanks, Jasper.”

Pressing my lips together almost grimly, I nod. “You better take good care of her, though. I won’t tell you what’ll happen if you don’t, but it won’t be pretty.”

He laughs, thinking I’m joking.

I smile and let him go on thinking that.

The rest of the day is filled with holiday preparations and family time. Right after breakfast, Autumn makes Arlo’s balish cookies. I keep her company while she works, and she tells me she wasn’t sure she knew how to make them, but once she looked up the recipe, she realized she used to bake the same cookies with her grandma, only her grandma called them something else.

I probably should offer to help, but I don’t have the first clue about baking, so I just watch as she fills half the cookies with cherry filling, and the other half with cream cheese.

“Does this mean you don’t know how to cook?” she asks good-naturedly as she fills another cookie.

“I can cook, I just can’t bake. I’m sure I could figure it out if I had to, but strangely, that has never been a skill I’ve needed.”

“I’m gonna teach you how to bake,” she informs me.

“That’s not necessary.”

“Well, it’s not necessary for me to know how to change a tire, either, but you said you were going to teach me. I have skills to teach, too.”

“We’re gonna learn from each other, huh?” I murmur, liking the sound of it more than I should.

Autumn nods, squeezing the bag of cherry filling into another cookie. “If you want, you can teach me how to jam a steak knife into some guy’s neck, too. You know, just in case.”

A mildly horrified laugh escapes me. “I don’t think you have what it takes to kill a man, snowflake.”

“Not just for kicks, no,” she agrees, her tone mild for such a gruesome discussion. “But if I had to, like if they were trying to hurt us… I’m sure I could manage.”

I watch her curiously, her pony tail falling over her shoulder so innocently as she makes cookies and discusses the parameters of when she would be willing to commit murder.

I only hold out for a minute, then I grab her and pull her close so I can steal yet another kiss from the woman I don’t deserve.

Smiling pleasantly as she pulls back, still with her bag full of cherry filling in one hand, she asks, “What was that for?”

“Just being you.”Chapter Twenty-ThreeAutumnChristmas Eve is nearing its end. The day has flown by so quickly—I can’t believe it’s nearly time to go to bed again.

Amira is too excited to sleep, so we try to tucker her out, playing with her and reading some Christmas books. We settle in on the couch and watch the classic Grinch cartoon. Right about the time The Grinch is stealing Cindy Lou’s Christmas tree, Amira gasps and sits up.

“What that?”

She’s snuggled between Nora and Tarek, both of whom look completely clueless.

“Santa is here!” she announces, hopping off the couch and pointing up at the ceiling.

Whatever she heard must have been entirely in her imagination because no one else heard it, but Amira is convinced. She’s too afraid to finish the cartoon, fearing Santa will come down the chimney and then go right back up when he finds her awake, so Nora and Tarek take her in and put her to bed.

It takes them quite a while in there, but when Nora comes back, she’s glowing.

I’m on the couch with Jasper. Nora plops down on the edge and thrusts her left hand in our direction.

“Guess what Tarek just asked me?”

I gasp, grabbing her hand and admiring the lovely diamond ring on her finger. “Oh my gosh! That’s awesome,” I say, hugging her. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

Nora can’t stop grinning, even when she tries to narrow her eyes at Jasper in suspicion. “Did you know?”

“He may have asked for my blessing,” Jasper verifies.

Nora claps her hands together. “I knew it. I knew that’s why he was so dead-set on you coming for Christmas this year. Of course we’ve talked about getting married, but I didn’t know…” She trails off excitedly, realizing her point doesn’t matter. Sighing happily, she looks down at her ring. “God, look how it sparkles.”

Tags: Sam Mariano Romance
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