Happiness for H: A Christmas to Remember

December 29

"Emily I wish you would come with me. I don't like the idea of you here alone." Horatio's voice was mild, but she wasn't fooled.

"Horatio, I won't be alone. I have Grandma and Ghost. And Deputy Opterhoste has promised to check in every couple of hours. He's been in Duluth on vacation for a while, but he's back on duty starting tomorrow. He loves Grandma's cinnamon rolls, so I've no doubt he'll be checking in as often as the Sheriff will let him." Emily spoke with a confidence she was far from feeling.

"This would be a relation of your other neighbor in Miami?"

"Hmm. Grandson. And – he takes his job much more seriously than the Sheriff. I know you and he have been butting heads ever since Ghost cornered one of Josh's friends."

"Well, the Sheriff and I have differing ideas of how to conduct an investigation. That's why I'm taking your laptop Em. I know one of my techs can look into that e-mail you received and link it to Josh. I need evidence before I can get the Sheriff to do anything." Though he tried to keep the frustration out of his voice, Emily heard it, loud and clear.

They were having coffee in the kitchen before Horatio had to leave to drive back down to the Cities to catch his flight back to Miami.

"I looked out the window this morning hoping it would be snowing and you wouldn't be able to go." The words slipped out before she could stop them. Emily looked down at her coffee, blinking back the tears that suddenly flooded her eyes.

"Sweetheart, come with me. It will only be for a couple days. We can fly back on New Year's Eve." His blue eyes were sober as he gazed at her bent head. She swallowed and looked up at him. He had to bend closer to hear her.

"What about Grandma and Ghost? I would be so worried about them."

"Do you have any idea how much I am going to worry about you?" he asked softly, knowing the next 48 hours away from her would be pure agony. Emily looked away from him, knowing that the longer she looked into those blue eyes, the more likely she would be to change her mind and go with him.

She heard him move and then his arms were going around her as he pulled her off the stool and into his embrace.

"Well, then maybe there is another way I can convince you," he murmured, lowering his head and brushing his lips across hers. Emily found herself looking into those eyes after all, and she was lost.

"You don't fight fair, Lieutenant." Her hands had slid up his chest and found their way around his neck into his hair. Emily gave in to the persuasion of his caressing hands and mouth and began to return his kisses, sighing softly.

Grandma Estin stopped in the doorway on her way into the kitchen. Smiling to herself at the couple before her, she decided she would get some coffee later, and slipped back into the main room.

Ghost came pattering into the kitchen, circled his mistress and the red-haired man, and went to get a drink from his bowl. Taking his now cold and wet nose, he decided it was time he got some of that attention and went over to his mistress whining softly. The touch of Ghosts's cold nose on her leg caught Emily's attention and she pulled away from Horatio, putting her hands on her hot cheeks and focusing her gaze on the buttons on his shirt.

"No, Horatio. I can't go with you. Please don't ask me again." She swallowed hard and looked up at him, whispering,

"I love you. Be safe and I'll be waiting for you when you come back." She reached up her hand to cup his cheek and kissed him once more, before slipping out of his arms and running past a stunned Grandma Estin to the safety of her room, where she could cry her eyes out in private.

TBC