Falling In (The Surrender Trilogy 1)

His eyes crinkled. “Of course I drive. Buckle up.”

She snapped the buckle and watched as Lucian navigated his way through the back roads. He drove like he did everything else, in complete control. They listened to carols on the radio and Lucian quietly sang along with the chorus.

“You know all of them,” she said and he glanced at her without fully taking his eyes off the road.

“All of what?”

“The carols.”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“I don’t.”

Sometimes she felt like her background was a piece of Swiss cheese with great big holes in it, while Lucian’s was some expensive aged kind that had been around long enough to see everything. Rather than comment on her lack of holiday experiences, he simply placed his hand on her knee and rubbed and tapped with the beat of the carols.

They pulled up to a small shed with a large sign and an enormous wreath on the peak. Lucian parked and smiled. He pointedly glanced at the sign and then back at her. She looked at the letters, wishing she could read and then shook her head.

“It’s a tree farm,” he said.

“A tree farm?”

“Yeah. They grow trees. We’re going to pick out our Christmas tree.”

Her cheeks rose as her grin bloomed. “Really?”

“Yup. Come on.”

They went into the shed, which was actually a store. A man in a heavy flannel jacket handed Lucian a receipt, Lucian took her hand and led her to the back of the store. They stepped out a set of double doors and Evelyn gasped.

An elegant open sleigh with a single horse hooked to it awaited them. The horse drew her near, his glossy black coat tempting and stunning. Clouds of moisture formed in the air in front of the animal’s large snout. Its eyes seemed so alive behind the dark side blinds. His nostrils were huge. Heavy harnesses connected to his shoulders, and his mane was a glorious shade of black. She stepped close, needing to touch him to know he was real.

His pointed ears twitched and he whickered, his harnesses pulling, the creak of the leather pronouncing their weight. He was incredibly strong and likely the most impressive living thing she’d ever seen. He reminded her of Lucian.

“Shh,” she soothed as she reached up a steady hand.

His wild eyes watched her, but he stilled as she petted the side of his mane.

“You’re quite handsome,” she whispered to the impressive beast.

Turning to Lucian, who was watching her with a soft smile on his face, she asked, “What’s his name?”

“Pegasus.”

“Hello, Pegasus.”

Snow crunched as Lucian quietly approached. “He appears as charmed by you as every other male that crosses your path.” His hand smoothed over the powerful neck of the horse.

She stepped back. Pegasus’s feet were covered in white fur that resembled snow boots. The sleigh was as sleek and black as the horse drawing it. A driver sat perched in the front seat, wearing a top hat with a sprig of holly tacked in the brim.

Lucian directed her to the rear. There was a black leather upholstered bench seat and a red fleece blanket draped over the back. As she stepped up her gaze fell on a single red rose sitting on the bench. Her cheeks pulled tight as she reached for it. There was a note attached. She unfolded it and tried to read it, but couldn’t. It didn’t matter. It was still the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for her. She knew it was from Lucian because at the bottom of the note she recognized the signed L.

Evelyn clutched the rose in her hands and faced him. “Thank you.”

He kissed her temple and they settled into the seat, tucking the blanket over their knees. Her heart raced.

“Ready, sir?” the driver called over his shoulder.

“Ready,” Lucian answered as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. Sleigh bells jangled as the sleigh lurched forward. They moved swiftly over the icy ground. Wind pressed into her cheeks and she shut her eyes, breathing deeply of the fresh air.

As they rode, they passed many displays of lighted Christmas scenes. Although it was daytime, they were still beautiful. When they crossed through a field, the tall pines became denser. They followed a narrow trail, and then the land opened up and they faced a nursery of young evergreens. The driver pointed out trees that he thought were notable, and Lucian did the same. She never had a Christmas before, let alone a Christmas tree, so Evelyn simply sat back and let the men decide.

Lucian had the driver pull over by a tall Douglas fir. “What do you think, Evelyn?”

“It’s perfect.” It was. She remembered seeing an enormous tree when she was a child outside of Mackles’ department store. It was tall and full and as soft as this one.

Lucian reached in the back of the carriage where a chest was stored and removed a saw. She was completely impressed as he sawed through the trunk. The driver tossed a rope over the top of the tree to direct it away from the sleigh as it went down with a soft thump. They wrapped the branches tightly with rope and secured the tree on a board. The tree was towed behind the sled back to the store, and the men attached it to the top of Lucian’s SUV. It was perhaps the most magical afternoon she’d ever had in her life.