“Yes, sir,” I agreed. “I will.”

The phone clicked off, and I sat there blinking at it. That had to be the strangest conversation I’d ever had with him. I stood up, fully intent to go get dressed, but my phone buzzed again.

Jesus, what was with the calls tonight? I picked up my iPhone and glared down at it. I sighed and answered. “What’s up, Hernandez?”

“I won’t keep you long, but I have a few questions,” he said, his deep voice coming through the line with perfect clarity. “Can I run them by you real quick?”

“Sure.” I walked to the closet. “But make it quick. Carrie will be here soon.”

“Right. So she knows I’ll be staying at your place while you’re away, right?”

“I’ll tell her tonight,” I answered distractedly. I’d left one suit unpacked, and I couldn’t find it. Ah, there it was, behind my jacket. I pulled it out. “What else?”

“She surfs, but she’s not supposed to surf without you?”

“Correct.” I flinched. “Though I didn’t tell her that part yet.”

“Okay. Please do. I don’t want to do it.”

“I will,” I said, yanking the tie off the hanger. “What else do you need to know?”

We spent five minutes going over her schedule, then Hernandez sighed. “Okay. I think I got it.”

“It’s easy. She goes to school. She studies. She shops.” I snorted. “It’ll be the easiest job you’ve ever had.”

Hernandez sighed. “Why does she need someone, anyway?”

“Got me.” I sat down on the edge of my bed. “She got kidnapped as a kid, so I guess he’s more paranoid than normal. Honestly? She’s fine alone, but don’t let that fool you into thinking you can relax. He will want constant updates—and if you let something happen to her? You’ll answer to me.”

Hernandez laughed. “Down, boy. I’m on it.”

“Good.” I paused. “Thanks, by the way. I appreciate it, man. I can’t go over there without knowing she’s okay, ya know?”

“I do.” Hernandez sighed. “Or, I guess I do. I mean, I’m not in love and never have been, but I heard it can be rough on the mind.”

I snorted again. “That’s putting it lightly.”

“I’ll take good care of her, bro. I promise.” I heard him shut a door or a cabinet. “You go focus on the job, and keep yourself safe.”

I hesitated. “If I don’t come back…”

“None of that,” Hernandez said. “You’ll come back.”

“But if I don’t,” I said, my heart squeezing tight. “Tell her I love her, and take care of her until she moves on. Okay?”

Silence. “All right, man. I will.”

I nodded, my throat aching in a weird way. “Thanks.”

“Go woo your girl now. All’s well here.”

I nodded. “Later.”

“Later.”

I hung up and stared down at my phone. I hadn’t really thought about the whole danger involved when I’d agreed to this plan, but hell, life was dangerous. Just because I was going into a hostile environment didn’t mean I was going to die.

A bus could hit me tomorrow outside my apartment, for fuck’s sake.

Why start worrying about what might happen over there when anything could happen here? It was pointless. Life was life.

You lived, and if you were lucky? You loved and got loved in return. And then, no matter how safe you lived your life, when it was all over, you died.

Staying in California wouldn’t change that.

I smoothed my short red dress over my thighs and blotted my lips together. Marie had spent more than an hour on my hair, and even more time debating the best makeup, shoes, and dress to wear. I knew I looked good, even if I felt like a wreck. I wouldn’t let my fear over the future ruin what tonight could be. What it would be.

It was our last night together, and I was going to make the most of it.

I slid the key into the lock, took a deep breath, and walked inside. The lights were dim, and candles were on the table. The whole apartment smelled like Christmas dinner, and soft carols played in the background. A bare tree stood in place at the window, and Finn was nowhere to be seen.

A suit was laid out across the bed, next to his phone. I smiled and walked up to it, running my hands over the soft fabric. I knew how much he hated dressing up, so knowing he was doing it showed me how special he was trying to make tonight. He didn’t have to dress up to make me happy, but he didn’t get that yet.

That’s all right. I’d have all the time in the world to show him that…once he came back. And he would come back. There was no alternative in my mind.

The bathroom door opened, and he came out with nothing but a towel on. He saw me standing there and froze mid-step, his gaze sliding up and down my body. “Holy shit, babe. You look gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” I walked up to him and ran my hands over his damp chest. “So do you. Screw the suit, just lose the towel and we’ll be good to go.”

He grinned and leaned down, kissing me gently before he stepped out of my arms. “Not happening. We’re having the date I should have given you the other night.”

I pouted. “But—”

“No buts.” He dropped the towel, and my jaw dropped as I watched the back view. Hot damn, the boy was fine. I mean, I already knew that, obviously. But still. The way his butt curved from his lower back to his hard upper thighs? Wow. “We’re doing this my way. It’s Christmas Eve.”

I blinked at him. “No, it’s not. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet.”

He stepped into his boxers and shot me a disappointed look. “Look at the calendar on the wall.”

“Okay…” I walked over to the Santa calendar and looked. He’d left the month open to December, and he had crossed off all the days up until Christmas Eve. My heart twisted and tears filled my eyes, but I blinked them away before turning back to him with a smile. “You’re right. Silly me.”

He grinned and stepped in to his pants. “It’s okay. I’ll forgive you this one time. But as soon as I’m all dressed, the festivities begin. We have a tree to decorate, presents to open…” He walked over to me and wrapped me in his arms, smiling down at me the whole time. “And, of course, some good old-fashioned holiday sex to partake in, too.”

I rested my hands over his heart, which sped up as soon as I touched him. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”

“Let me get dressed.” He leaned down and kissed me. “Then we’ll check on dinner.” He kissed my nose this time. “And after that we’ll get started.”

“Okay,” I said, my voice cracking. This was all so sweet and perfect and so Finn. And I was going to miss him so freaking much. I swallowed hard as he turned away, sinking down onto the couch. He’d put out a bunch of tiny Santa figurines on the coffee table, and cinnamon potpourri, too. “You even got Christmas potpourri.”

He looked over his shoulder at me. “Huh?”

“This stuff,” I said, pointing at the bowl.

“Oh, is that what it’s called?” He shrugged into his shirt. “It reminded me of what my home used to smell like when my mom was alive.” He looked off toward the tree, his brow furrowed. “At Christmastime, she used to put out Santa figures, angels, and bowls of that smelly stuff all over the house. Even in my bedroom.”

“She sounds like she was wonderful,” I said, standing up and crossing the room to place my hand on his arm. “I bet I would have loved her very much.”

“And, man, she would have loved you.” He met my eyes, the far-off look he’d had earlier disappearing. But the sadness lingered, despite the smile he gave me. “When I was planning on how to make it feel like Christmas for you, the only thing I could think of was what she would have done. I copied it.”

“I love it.” I reached up on tiptoe. “It’s perfect.”

He curled his hands around my waist. “No, you’re perfect.”

He was wrong. He was the one who said and did all the right things. I was fumbling along, trying to act as if I wasn’t a complete mess. I was probably failing miserably.