SEALed Under the Mistletoe

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

VICKIE

S he heard the laughter and chatter spilling out from the dining room as she approached it. Both double doors were propped open, and Vickie couldn’t help but smile at the sea of holiday cheer made even more ridiculous by the kaleidoscope of ugly Christmas sweaters. After pulling herself out of Knox’s arms, she quickly dressed and rushed off to her own room to shower and change before meeting him to walk down to dinner together.

Vickie glanced down at her own sweater—bright red with an oversized, sequined reindeer head on the front, complete with antlers that stuck out at awkward angles. Knox stood beside her, his dark green Star Wars sweater covered in tiny blinking LED lights shaped like light sabers.

“Still can’t believe Melody convinced me to wear this,” Knox muttered, tugging at the fabric with a rueful smile.

“You look adorable,” Vickie teased, nudging him playfully.

“Adorable isn’t exactly what I was going for,” he said, but the soft glint in his eyes told her he didn’t really mind.

The room was packed, tables decorated with red and green runners and twinkling string lights hanging overhead. It was a stark contrast to the formal dinner their first night at the lodge. Tonight’s dinner was much more relaxed and there was no assigned seating. The taco bar stretched along one side of the room, a mouthwatering spread of tortillas, seasoned meats, sautéed vegetables, and every topping imaginable. The aroma of cumin, lime, and roasted peppers filled the air, mingling with the scent of cinnamon from the dessert station nearby.

Both Knox and Vickie’s families were scattered throughout the room, mingling with other friends and guests. Laughter erupted as someone’s sweater—a hideous creation featuring Santa in a muscle shirt—began to play “Jingle Bell Rock ” loudly from a hidden speaker.

“Come on,” Knox said, leaning close so his breath tickled her ear. “Let’s grab some tacos before Carson eats all the steak.”

The two of them filled their plates with an assortment of tacos and fajitas, piling on guacamole, salsa, and shredded cheese. Between the skiing and bedroom activities, Vickie had worked up an appetite. They found seats with Knox’s parents and Campbell, who was currently debating with Carson whether or not nachos were authentically Hispanic.

As they ate, Vickie couldn’t stop smiling. The room felt alive, a vibrant reminder of the joy the holiday season could bring. She reached for Knox’s hand under the table, and he squeezed her fingers in response. When Grams came into the room a minute later, Vickie jumped up and rushed over to help her.

“I’ve got her,” Vickie’s mother Elizabeth said. “Go spend time with Knox. You two seem awfully cozy tonight.”

“I told you; she loves him.” Grams said. “What do I see over there? Is that a margarita station?”

Vickie laughed and had just reached the table when her sisters, Eve and Eliza, stopped in front of her, both wearing sweaters that looked like they’d been attacked by a glitter factory.

“Vickie,” Eve said, her tone sweet but with a pointed edge. “We need you for a second.”

“Yeah,” Eliza added, looping an arm around Vickie’s shoulders. “Girl talk.”

Vickie raised an eyebrow but allowed them to pull her away from the table. Knox shot her a questioning look, and she mouthed, “I’ll be back.”

Her sisters led her to a quieter corner of the room, their expressions a mix of curiosity and mischief.

“Spill,” Eve said, crossing her arms over her light-up snowman sweater.

“Spill what?” Vickie asked, feigning innocence.

“Don’t play dumb,” Eliza said, narrowing her eyes. “We all saw you and Knox disappeared from the ski trip, and now you’re all glowing. What happened?”

Vickie felt her cheeks heat, and she glanced over her shoulder to where Knox was sitting, chatting with his father. His easy smile and relaxed posture made her heart flutter.

“Nothing happened,” she said, but the blush creeping up her neck betrayed her.

Eve scoffed. “Oh, please. You’re practically radiating ‘something happened’ energy. Not to mention, the color of your cheeks and the way you are avoiding eye contact.”

Vickie hesitated, biting her lip. Her sisters were relentless when it came to prying, but they were also two of her best friends.

“We talked,” she finally admitted. “About…everything. About what happened three years ago, and about us now.”

“And?” Eve pressed.

“And…” Vickie glanced back at Knox again, her heart doing a little flip. “I was wrong. The woman wasn’t his girlfriend. I misread the situation between them. He’s amazing. I’m cautiously optimistic. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can finally breathe around him, you know? Like he sees me for who I am.”

Her sisters exchanged a knowing look, their teasing expressions softening. Before either of them could respond, a commotion by the entrance drew their attention. The man who entered the room was a mountain of a person, even larger than Knox. His broad shoulders filled the doorway, and his deeply tanned face lit up in a wide grin.

“Lewis!” Knox called, leaping to his feet. If Vickie hadn’t been paying attention, she would have missed the pained look that crossed his face before he masked his. His knee was definitely bothering him, even if he was putting on a good show of it not being a big deal. The room seemed to shift as Knox, Carson, Campbell, and their parents all rushed to greet the newcomer. Lewis swept his mother into a bear hug before clapping his brothers on the back.

“Who’s that?” Eve whispered, her eyes wide.

“Knox’s oldest brother,” Vickie said, watching the scene unfold with a smile.

Lewis had an undeniable presence, his booming laugh filling the room as he greeted everyone. Knox seemed lighter around him, his usual stoicism giving way to easy camaraderie. It was clear how much Lewis meant to his family, and she found herself eager to get to know him better.

She wanted to respect Knox family time together, instead of returning to the seat next to him, she went and sat with her sisters, mother and grandmother. After the tacos had been devoured and the plates cleared, the tables were rearranged to make room for the gingerbread house competition. Teams were assigned based on bridal party pairings, which meant Vickie found herself partnered with Lewis.

“I would have paired you up with Knox, had I known,” Gage said apologetically.

“No, you wouldn’t.” Vickie said. Gage raised his eyebrows at her.

“I wouldn’t?”

“No, Melody spent a lot of time matching us all up by height. I’m her tallest bridesmaid and Lewis is the tallest groomsman. It would have thrown off her plans.”

Gage laughed. “You are right.”

“You know what this means, right?” Vickie said loud enough for Knox and Eve at the table next to them could hear.

“What’s that?” Gage asked.

“Lewis and I will win this competition.”

“Keep dreaming,” Knox said.

“Yeah, we’ve got this with one hand behind our backs,” Eve teased back.

As they sat down at their station, surrounded by bowls of icing and candy decorations, Lewis flashed her a grin. “They don’t know what they are up against.”

“Exactly.”

“So, you’re Vickie,” he said, his voice warm and teasing.

“And you’re Lewis,” she replied, matching his tone.

“That I am. The one and only,” he said, picking up a gingerbread wall and inspecting it critically. “Knox has made it clear how he feels about you.”

“Oh?” Vickie asked, her cheeks flushing.

“Don’t worry,” Lewis said, smirking. “He’s only said good things. Though I’m guessing you already know how much he likes you.”

Vickie ducked her head, focusing on the gingerbread pieces in front of her. “He’s…special,” she said softly.

Lewis’s smile faded slightly, his expression turning thoughtful. “He is,” he agreed. “But he’s also complicated.”

Vickie looked up, meeting his gaze. “I… I’m surprised he picked me.”

“Why?”

“Um,” she said, biting her lip. Did he see Knox? And then see her? She didn’t say anything. If Lewis was anything like Knox, he wouldn’t like her even alluding to the fact that physically they were far from matched. The three orgasms Knox gave her early was proof enough that he found her very attractive.

“Did he ever tell you about his dyslexia?” Lewis asked, carefully pressing a wall into place.

“No,” she said. What a random thing to say.

“He’s had it his whole life,” Lewis said, his tone gentle. “School was hell for him. Kids were brutal, and he struggled a lot before he finally found his footing.”

Vickie’s chest tightened. She couldn’t Knox, shy and unsure, struggling to find his place. He came across very confident and sure of himself.

“He didn’t really come into his own until later in high school,” Lewis continued. “That’s when he started working out, getting bigger. It gave him confidence, but it also made him put up walls. He’s spent most of his life trying to prove himself—to everyone else and to himself. We’ve all made it clear he doesn’t have anything to prove, but Knox, sometimes that insecure little boy comes out.”

Vickie nodded; she knew what it was like to put up a brave face when inside she wasn’t as sure.

“And now,” Lewis said, glancing at her, “he’s in a weird place. Transitioning from operator to instructor has been hard for him. He won’t admit it, but I can see it. He’s worried he won’t feel useful anymore.”

Vickie swallowed hard, the weight of Lewis’s words sinking in. Knox hadn’t made it seem like the career switch bothered him.

“I guess what I’m trying to say,” Lewis continued, his tone serious, “is that Knox deserves someone who’s all in. He’s been hurt before, and if you’re not sure about this—about him—you need to be honest. Don’t break his heart, Vickie.”

She looked down at her hands, her chest tightening with emotion. “I wouldn’t,” she said softly. “I couldn’t do that to him.”

Lewis studied her for a moment before nodding. “Good,” he said. “Because he’s one of the best men I know, and he deserves to be happy.”

By the time the competition ended, the room was filled with a dozen of colorful gingerbread houses, some more structurally sound than others. Knox came over to admire their creation, his eyes crinkling with amusement as he took in the lopsided roof and candy-covered walls.

“Nice work,” he said, smirking at Lewis.

“Hey, we tried,” Lewis said with a laugh. “You can’t rush art.”

Knox turned to Vickie, his expression softening. “Having fun?”

“Yeah,” she said, smiling up at him. “A lot.”

Twenty minutes later and the votes were all in. Neither Knox nor Vickie won the competition.

“They ambushed us. Came in quietly when no one was looking and took us all out,” Carson said, standing before the perfectly symmetrical gingerbread house.

“Never underestimate your mothers,” Elizabeth said, high fiving Knox’s aunt, Gage’s mother.

“Who would have thought,” Knox said with a grin. “The mother of the bride and mother of the groom teaming up would make the best house.”

“Truly, I’m so glad both sides of the family are getting along so well,” Vickie said. “Not every girl is lucky enough to have a mother-in-law who adores her.”

“My mom already likes you,” Knox said, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “She’s a quiet observer. She’s seen you with Grams and your actions have won her over.”

As the evening wound down, Vickie found herself feeling more connected to Knox than ever. And as she leaned against him, his arm draped protectively around her shoulders, she couldn’t help but think that maybe—just maybe—this was exactly where she was meant to be.