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“Why are you still hiding?”

“I’m scared,” I breathed.

Rose nodded. “I get that. But this game can’t last forever.”

The moment sizzled between us.

Rose leaned forward, brushing her mouth against mine. “You’ve made this Christmas magical.” She pulled back to look at me. “I would like to think that magic is strong enough to stand the test of time.”

I could do it.

I just had to reach up, pull the ski mask off my head, and face the future with her.

“But…I get it. Let’s enjoy the season for just a few more days,” she suggested and pulled the mask back over my face.

I wanted to disagree. But for the first time in my life, I took the coward’s way out.

Wobbling to our feet, we stumbled off the ice. I was going to have a bruise on my hip and a limp. But that paled in comparison to the smile on Rose’s face.

“I vote we try this at least once more,” I said, pulling my skates free.

Rose kicked her boots on the snow piled under the bench. “The twins are going to drag me out here every day, so I’ll be forced to become an Olympic skater before the ice melts.”

“All the more reason for me to come out and practice,” I chuckled ruefully.

The walk back to their house was quiet. The tension was thick, at least on my part. She knew what I was and wasn’t running. But what happened when she learned who I was?

I need to trust Uliva’s matchmaking.

“Why don’t you come in for a nightcap?” Rose suggested, turning on the porch and grabbing my other hand.

“Is that your way of unmasking me?” I tried to sound light and breezy, but my heart felt like it would explode.

Rose lifted a shoulder. “Doesn’t have to be. I’m really just not ready to watch you disappear into the dark.”

I felt the same way.

Giving her fingers a squeeze, I let go of her hand to open the door. It wasn’t locked. Frowning, I pushed Rose to the side and stepped into the front hall. I didn’t think she would leave without securing the front door. But she could have twisted the lock before leaving and me not have noticed. Or maybe she hadn’t, which was why it was unlocked now.

I paused only to slip my boots off and padded softly down the hall.

Rose shut the door behind us.

“Stay there,” I whispered.

I didn’t wait to see if she followed. I ducked into the living room. The tree winked and blinked invitingly. The timer would shut the lights off at midnight. Unable to shake the coil of dread in my belly, I ghosted to the kitchen.

A shape moved behind the L of the counter, and I realized too late that I should have drawn my gun.

Chapter 19 – Rosetta

“Don’t move!”

Lost in the tangle of thoughts, I’d been distracted as we walked through the front door. Mittens tossed on the bench, I was in the process of hanging up my coat when a familiar voice rang through the house.

I stopped short.

My ears were deceiving me.