Near daybreak, Lisiantha, Ichirou, and Mére were in the living room, hanging the gingerbread men on the tree, when the back door banged. Footsteps followed. Lisiantha looked up to see a familiar figure framed in the doorway. Snowflakes melted on the broad shoulders of his black coat, and a scarf was thrown over one shoulder, more for show than protection against the elements. His curly chestnut hair tumbled around a pale, perfect face and a jawline peppered with stubble. She met his eyes, dark midnight blue eyes framed with heavy lashes, and the world dropped away, leaving only the intensity of his gaze and the fluttering inside her.
The sound of feet on the stairs brought Lisiantha back. She shook her head, to clear the lingering effects, as Maegan and some of the others appeared.
"Well?" Maegan asked, lips pursed and eyes alight with worry.