Mallory:
The mont the car rolled past the towering, wrought-iron gates of the Thorne Estate, I had to bite my tongue to stop the gasp trying to escape my mouth.
I had been here once before with Eva, but apparently, the awe factor didn’t fade with familiarity. The place looked like sothing pulled straight out of a fairytale... if that fairytale had been dipped in snow, wrapped in pure aesthetic vibrs, and sprinkled with just the right amount of Christmas magic.
Through the frost-speckled window, I took in the mansion as it ca into view, standing proudly beyond the sweeping front gardens. Twinkling lights were lining the edges of the massive windows, wreaths were hanging like erald crowns, and a towering pine - decorated to perfection - was standing in the center of the lawn. The whole scene looked like it belonged on the cover of a holiday magazine.
Leaning closer to Eva, I murmured, "How does it even feel living in a place like this? I would get lost just trying to find the kitchen."
She gave a sideways smile, that knowing little look she always had when she thought I was overreacting. "You get used to it. Mostly. Just... don’t wander off without telling soone. This place has more hallways than common sense."
I chuckled softly, shaking my head. Easy for her to say - she actually belonged here now.
Instead of turning toward the mansion, the car took a side road lined with bare-limbed trees wrapped in fairy lights. The glow followed us like a trail, guiding us to a smaller but equally picturesque ho. The vehicle slowed before a charming villa with warm light spilling from its windows, snow blanketing its roof, and smoke curling lazily from the chimney.
We had barely co to a full stop before my door swung open from the outside, and there he was.
Jasper.
My mate.
His welcoming brown eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as his lips curved into that smile - the one that made my knees threaten to give out. "Evening, birthday girl," he greeted, offering his hand like so old-fashioned gentleman.
I took it without hesitation, warmth blooming in my chest as I stepped out of the car. The mont my palm touched his, my pulse jumped. The cold air nipped at my cheeks, but he didn’t let go until I was standing close enough to catch the faint scent of pine and sothing unmistakably him.
Over his shoulder, I spotted Eva already out of the car, smirking at in a way that made my face heat. She breezed past us and greeted Jasper. "Sorry for dropping in unannounced," she said, offering Jasper a polite smile.
He brushed it off imdiately. "You are always welco. The more, the rrier. Lily’s been missing you anyway, she’ll be thrilled to see you."
I smiled softly at the ntion of the little girl. I had heard about her so much from both Jasper and Eva, and despite anxiety, a part of was really thrilled at the idea of our first eting.
Jasper still hadn’t released my hand as he led us toward the entrance. I tried subtly pulling away, thinking it might be better to keep so distance in front of Lily, but his grip only tightened, bringing closer until our arms brushed.
I opened my mouth to tell him that maybe we should keep it low-key, but before I could say anything, a high, cheerful voice rang out from inside.
"Eva!"
The front door had been left slightly ajar, and a small blur of movent ca hurtling toward us. A little girl launched herself into Eva’s legs with the kind of fearless affection only a child could manage. She had Jasper’s eyes and the sa golden-brown hair, though hers was curly and tied with a red ribbon.
"Lily," Eva laughed, bending down to hug her back. "You have gotten cuter!"
I hung back a little, unsure if I should interrupt. eting a mate’s family, even just one mber, was intimidating enough, but eting his daughter? That was a whole different kind of pressure.
Eva must have sensed my hesitation because she gently took Lily’s hand and guided her toward . "Lily, this is Mallory. She’s a very good friend of mine... and Jasper’s mate."
Lily blinked up at , studying like she was deciding if I passed so invisible test. "You are pretty," she finally declared.
The complint caught off guard, and I smiled, crouching down to her level. "Thank you. You are really pretty too. I love your ribbon."
That earned a shy little grin, and in the next mont, she was showing her sparkly shoes and telling about the gingerbread house she had been working on all afternoon.
The awkwardness lted away like frost in sunlight, and before long, we were sitting at the kitchen table with Eva, helping Lily add gumdrops to her sugary masterpiece.
Dinner was warm, cozy, and full of laughter. Jasper kept slipping little glances my way, his expression soft but tinged with sothing deeper. Whenever our eyes t, his lips would quirk just slightly, like he was thinking sothing he wasn’t going to say out loud in front of his daughter.
At one point, he passed the breadbasket, letting his fingers brush mine for just a second too long. Later, when he refilled my glass, he leaned in enough that his breath grazed my ear as he murmured, "Hope you are hungry... because dessert isn’t just cake tonight."
The heat that rushed to my cheeks had nothing to do with the food.
By the ti dinner was over, Lily had gone back to her gingerbread house, and Eva was helping her find more candy decorations. Jasper stood close beside , his hand brushing the small of my back.
It was dangerous... how good it felt.
When Eva finally straightened and turned toward us, her brows rose slightly. One look at Jasper’s arm curling around my waist and my flushed face, and her lips curved into a sly smile.
"I can take Lily to the mansion for the night," she offered casually. "Give you two... privacy."
I imdiately waved my hands. "Oh, no, that’s not necessary-"
"Yes," Jasper cut in without a second of hesitation, his voice low and sure. "Thanks, Miss Evaline."
I whipped my head toward him, eyes wide, but he only looked back at with that slow, wicked grin that told exactly what he had planned.
And suddenly, I was very aware of how fast my heart was beating.
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