I shrugged. “That was months ago.”
“So you changed your mind?”
“No, you changed my mind. I wanted to go someplace you wanted to be, and this will be the perfect trip for you.”
Joe growled in frustration. “Dammit, Devil. Why are you so good at this?”
“At what?”
“Making me feel bad about being furious with you.”
“It’s a talent I’ve been working on since birth. Just ask my cousins.”
“I’m sure you have. So where exactly in Vermont are we going?”
I’d thought I was going to have to work harder to convince him. “You’re not going to protest more? You’re not going to tell me you can’t leave town right now, so I better turn the car around?”
“Would you listen?”
“No.”
“Then it’s best for me to go along with your plans and plot my revenge for later.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. I had experienced Joe’s revenge several times now. Ultimately it was delightful, but there was always a painful part first. “We’re going to Christmastown, Vermont.”
“You’re the Christmas junkie, but you’re doing all this for me?”
“I didn’t say it was all for you. I said I wanted the trip to be perfect for you, and it will be.”
“You’re going to make me do all those Christmassy things you’ve talked about, aren’t you?”
“We’d be doing them in Boston if we weren’t doing them in Vermont.”
“Yeah, but this town… Is it as cheesy as I think it will be?”
I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about all the movie-set-like images I’d seen online. “Yes, and you’re going to love it. Think of the snow, think of the sleigh rides, and promise me you’re going to relax and have fun.”
“What about my car and the work I owe X?”
X was the head of Vigilance, the underground organization Joe sometimes worked for. “It’s taken care of.”
“You are so fucking infuriating.”
“You should be thrilled I know how to spoil you so well.” I glanced over at Joe and saw him giving me a murderous look. I knew I was pushing it. My charm could only get me so far, and Joe saw through almost all my games. I both loved and hated that he knew me that well.
“You can’t keep making decisions for me like this.”
I sighed. “I know. Even Angelo told me this was a bad idea, but… I know you think this is all about me and how I need instant gratification—”
He snorted.
“This is about me needing this time with you, and I’m worried about you. You’re working too much, like you were before we met, and that’s bad for you. But I’m good for you. Very good.”
“You are way too much. Just when I think you’re turning into a total sap, you…” Joe laughed, and I knew then the trip was going to work out.
I took his hand and interlaced our fingers. “I’ll turn around if that’s what you really want, but I think you need this break as much as I do. You need to let someone else share the burden of your search for a while.”
“If I just had—”
“There’s always going to be something vying for your attention. Once this is done, it will be something else.”
He rubbed his thumb along mine for a few moments, and I held my breath as I tried to focus only on the road.
“I do want this time with you, but are you sure Vermont is where you want to be?”
“Don’t you dare feel guilty about us going to a destination you would choose. If I want to go to the Caribbean later, I’ll just kidnap you again.”
“Dammit, Devil.”
“It doesn’t matter to me where we go. I know we can go on a tropical vacation another time. This is about sharing things we both want.”
I forced myself to stop there rather than adding something snarky or arrogant. My words seem to hang in the air, then Joe squeezed my hand tightly.
“You’re right. That’s exactly what it should be.”
When we arrived in Christmastown, it was exactly like the pictures online. Main Street was filled with local businesses, which had gone all out with decorations. The trees lining the road were filled with lights, and we passed by a park that had been turned into a winter wonderland.
“This can’t be real,” Joe said. “It’s got to be like a movie set or something. And this snow, it’s… perfect.”
My chest warmed at his enthusiasm. “I thought it couldn’t be real when I first saw it online, but it’s an actual town that knows how to bring in the tourist money.”
“I guess you can’t really blame them for that. How many holiday events do you intend to drag me to?”
“Several, and you’ll love them all.”
“I’ll love being at the cabin with you even more.”
I grinned. “I plan to make really good use of all the rooms. We’ll even be able to fuck in front of the Christmas tree without anyone interrupting us.”