“Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We also celebrate our blessed beginnings. To Holly and Noel, who have found one another in this holiday season.” Noel stroked her fingers in his palm. Warmth spread through her chest and her neck pulsed. “To my new and dear friend Maureen Shale. And to Maxwell and Charlie, who have brightened our Christmas. May we gather at this table this holiday, next Christmas, and the in the coming days. Lord, please, bless this bountiful meal for which we are eternally grateful. Amen.”
“Amen,” everyone joyfully resounded.
Maxwell carved the turkey. Mashed potatoes and an assortment of festive vegetables were passed around. Silverware clattered against the fine china.
Noel stood and raised his wine glass. “Merry Christmas!”
They all clinked their glasses.
Noel linked arms with Holly in their own intimate salutation. “I’m so happy I bumped you from your O.R. that day!”
Holly grinned from ear to ear. “Me, too!”
Holly sliced, the still steaming from the oven, spiced apple pie. Her mom’s recipe, Holly had two servings herself! After sitting back in their chairs and rubbing their bellies while telling jokes, the men rocked out of their seats and cleared the table. Aunt Mae and Mrs. Shale followed them into the kitchen.
“Ah, alone at last,” Noel quipped. He grabbed Holly’s hand. “Let’s go sit by the tree before the others make their way there. And by the sound of the laughter coming from the kitchen, I think they are going to be huddled in there for quite a while.” His eyes twinkled. “I have something for you.”
Holly hugged him. “And I have something for you!”
Noel gently touched his forehead to hers. “Hold onto that thought for later.”
Holly thumped him on his chest and shook her head teasingly. “That’s not what I meant.” She grinned. “At least not yet!”
They snuck away into the living room and ran hand in hand to the evergreen waiting for them in the corner. Its bright lights beckoned them. Holly and Noel skidded to the tree like kids on Christmas morning and knelt. Noel grabbed a big box wrapped in gold foil with a huge red satin ribbon cascading from the top. “This is for you!”
“Noel!” Holly whispered. She grabbed his gift. “For you.” She felt her cheeks pink. She could always blame the heat from the Christmas lights. “The paper’s kind of dated.”
He kissed her lips. “It’s great. I love it.”
Holly nudged him. She bounced on her knees. “Well open it, silly!”
“You first!”
“How about we open them at the same time?”
Noel winked at her. “I love a woman with brains!”
“One,” Holly shouted.
“Two.”
“Three,” they yelled together.
Wrapping paper crinkled. Bows flew into the air.
Holly ripped open her box. “Noel!” She tugged out a pair of white leather ice skates. A rainbow of lights flashed in the polished silver blades. “Oh, I love it. Thank you! Thank you!”
Noels eyes shined. “Look inside, Holly.”
Holly squinted. She dove her hand in one boot. She shrugged.
“The other one. Check the other one.”
He leaned in to her, his breath heating her cheek. Holly pulled out a small box and unwrapped it. She popped open the box. A silver chain with a glimmering diamond studded snowflake lay mounted on deep blue velvet. “Oh, Noel! It’s beautiful.” She gently freed the necklace. “Put it on me, please.” She turned her back to him. Noel slipped the snowflake necklace across her neck and clasped it. He kissed the back of her neck. “Merry Christmas, Holly.” He whispered in her ear. “Wait until Valentine’s Day.”
Holly whipped around to face him. “I love this. I love you.”
She pressed her mouth to his, not caring whether anyone caught them. Noel raked his fingers through her hair, settling them at the back of her neck sending tingles down her spine. At this rate he’d not even get to her present. She eased from his embrace. “Open mine,” Holly whispered.
Noel thumbed open the box and pulled out the leather key ring. “I need one of these. Thank you.”
Holly bobbed up on her knees. “The key. The gold key. Read it.”
Noel held the gold key up to the Christmas lights.
“It doesn’t fit anything,” she interrupted, “but....”
Noel read the inscription. “The key to my heart.”
“Holly!” he said softly, his voice cracking a bit.
Holly grasped Noel’s hands. “You’ve unlocked me from a very dark place I’ve hidden in for a long time.” Now her voice cracked. “I love you, Noel Shepherd, even though you took my O.R.” She grinned. “Just don’t do it again!”
“You’ll have to pry me away.”
Under the very evergreen tree that she had chosen for a purpose unknown to her that night, Dr. Holly Green kissed Dr. Noel Shepherd for a very long time.
The End
About the Author
Tanya Goodwin is a physician and an author who loves to write medical romance and romantic suspense with a medical edge. Tanya is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. For more about her sweet holiday medical romances, please visit www.holidayheartbeat.com. For readers who would like to discover Tanya’s “suspense side,” she would be thrilled for them to stop by at https://www.tanyagoodwin.com
Books by Tanya Goodwin
Medical Romance
An Evergreen Christmas
An Evergreen Wedding (coming soon)
Roxanne
Paranormal Romance
Fang Hospital (Dr. Gabriella Van Court, Book 1)
Mystery
Do Not Disturb
Suspense
If Memory Serves (Dr. Tara Ross series) (Book 1)
The Embalmer (Dr. Tara Ross Series) (Book 2)
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