Danger Under the Mistletoe Read online

  He winked at her. “Wait until dessert.”

  She loved the food, but she’d never looked forward to dessert as much as in that moment. As soon as everybody was done eating, she jumped from her seat to help clear the dishes from the table and bring new ones and the pies. Sebastian cut the pies, and Rachel and January placed them on plates.

  “Would you like some whipped cream on your pecan pie?” Grandma had a mischievous look in her eyes.

  What was going on?

  Rachel nodded. “I’ll take care of it. In fact, let me help you.”

  “Oh, dear, don’t worry. I’ll do this one for you.” Grandma took a plate with a slice of pecan pie and wobbled to the kitchen. She came back, carrying the plate with a generous dose of the whipped cream.

  Everybody quieted.

  Hmmm, interesting.

  Rachel carefully took a spoonful of the pie. And then she glimpsed it among the whipped cream. Something shiny and round.

  A ring!

  Did it mean what she thought it meant?

  Her heart was beating erratically as she reached for the ring.

  Sebastian dropped down on one knee. “Rachel Evans, will you make me the happiest man in the world? Will you marry me?”

  Rachel stared at him, unable to believe her ears.

  The pause stretched.

  Maya elbowed her.

  “Of course I’ll marry you!” Rachel finally found her voice.

  “Yes!” Sebastian gathered her in his arms.

  There were cheers and applause around them.

  When he let her go, she looked in his eyes, wanting to hold on to this wonderful moment for as long as possible.

  “I’m so happy for you,” Maya whispered in her ear when she hugged her.

  January echoed the words when it was her turn to hug Rachel.

  “Welcome to the family, dear.” Grandma embraced her with surprising strength for an old woman.

  Rachel’s heart sang as she saw a smile on Sebastian’s grandmother’s face.

  She wasn’t just going to have a new life. She was going to have a new family.

  Thank You, Lord.

  When it was time to exchange presents, Rachel watched Sebastian open the boxes with the shirt and the watch.

  “I love them.” He smiled at her.

  “That’s not all.” She handed him an envelope. She’d splurged, but she didn’t regret it. She held her breath, waiting for his reaction as he opened the envelope.

  His eyes widened. “Two tickets to Japan? Round trip?”

  She’d bought the tickets before deciding to stay, adding the second one in case he wanted to take a friend.

  “Well, you talked about Japan so much…” She took a deep breath, trying to gauge his reaction. “And now maybe it could be our honeymoon, right?”

  “I already volunteered to house-sit,” January said.

  January didn’t add that she’d look out for Grandma, too, but Sebastian seemed to understand it without words.

  He lifted Rachel and whirled her around. “You’re incredible! My future wife is amazing!”

  She figured that the engagement ring was present enough, so her eyebrows went up when he handed her an envelope, as well. She opened it, and her eyes grew big at the amount of zeroes on the check. “What’s this?”

  “Down payment on the house you’re renting. Your landlord is willing to sell, but I didn’t want to make an offer without discussing it with you first. We can remodel if you want.”

  Rachel’s heart was beating wildly in her chest. She was getting a new home, too. Her own home. She’d never had her own home in her life.

  She wanted to say how grateful she was, how deliriously happy. Instead, she managed, “A coat of paint would do nicely. Latte color.”

  “Merry Christmas, my love,” he whispered.

  “Merry Christmas!”

  THANK YOU FOR READING

  Thank you so much for reading Danger Under the Mistletoe and other books in the set. If you kindly leave even several words on Amazon and/or Goodreads, I’ll be very grateful.

  Christmas books have a special place in my heart. Christmas is the time of love, faith, and hope. We should always remember about God’s endless love and mercy, about the gifts of grace and redemption. The heroine of this book learns that she needs to concentrate not on her mistakes in her past but on the beauty of her soul that she doesn’t notice until true love blossoms in her heart.

  I hope that you might enjoy other books in the Secrets of Rios Azules series: River of Danger, Color of Danger, Taste of Danger, Scent of Danger, and Touch of Danger. I also write contemporary Christian romance. Rios Azules Christmas series includes sweet, heartwarming books about God, love, joy, family, and the meaning of Christmas.

  If you email me at [email protected], or visit me on Goodreads, Facebook, or Twitter, you’ll make my day. For giveaways, free books, news, and recipes, please sign up for my newsletter. I love to meet up with other authors to give free books to readers, and I enjoy giving news about such giveaways in my newsletter!

  Thank you for sharing your time with me and my books, and I hope we’ll meet again.

  Blessings,

  Alexa

  WOULD YOU LIKE A FREE BOOK?

  If you missed reading River of Danger and would like to know how adventures of Danger Girls started, here’s a link to download it FREE. I hope you’ll enjoy reading River’s story!

  Dallas reporter River Montenegro returns to her small town to aid her father, a recovering alcoholic. After a series of scary events, River knows the infamous Smiling Killer wants to make her his next victim. She grudgingly accepts help from her childhood friend and first crush, Jacob Forrester. Will Jacob and River solve the mystery of the killer's identity in time to have a second chance at love?

  Also, if you enjoy reading contemporary Christian romance, please know that I’m happy to offer a FREE book to my newsletter subscribers, a sweet and heartwarming novella, Season of Faith. Here’s a link to download it. Please note that by downloading it you’ll be subscribed to my newsletter, but never fear: you can unsubscribe at any time. I do love sharing news about free and discounted books and giveaways, so I hope you’ll stay!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Alexa Verde penned her first literary masterpiece, a rhymed poem, at the ripe age of eight, and since has had 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. She has a bachelor degree in Spanish, a master's in Russian, and enjoys writing about characters with diverse cultures. She's worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, model (even one day counts!), caretaker, and secretary, but thinks that the writer's hat suits her the best. After traveling the world and living in both hemispheres, she calls a small town in south Texas home. The latter is an inspiration for the fictional setting of her series Rios Azules Christmas and Secrets of Rios Azules. Please visit her online, on Facebook and Twitter. For news about her books, as well as information about giveaways and free books, please sign for her newsletter.

  OTHER BOOKS BY ALEXA VERDE

  Secrets of Rios Azules Series

  Christian Multicultural Romantic Suspense

  Sweet, wholesome books about faith, love, and murder

  Welcome to Rios Azules, a small south Texas town, where rivers and emotions run deep, and the secrets are deadly.

  Prequel River of Danger (Jacob and River)

  Book 1 Color of Danger (Luke and Mari)

  Book 2 Taste of Danger (James and Soledad)

  Book 3 Scent of Danger (Connor and Maya)

  Book 4 Touch of Danger (Ivan and Julia)

  Book 5 Danger Under the Mistletoe (Sebastian and Rachel) This book!

  Rios Azules Christmas Series

  Contemporary Christian Romance

  Sweet, wholesome books about faith, love, and hope

  Season of Miracles (Book 1)

  Season of Joy (Book 2)

  Season of Hope (Book 3)

  First Street Church Romances
(Kindle World Novellas)

  Love’s Christmas Cheer

  Love’s Ransom