Starstruck with the Krampus: A Monstrous Holiday Tale (Clearwater Monsters Book 3) by Zoe Ashwood

Author:Zoe Ashwood [Ashwood, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-01-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

GIANNA

Dominic’s garden is a winter wonderland. The scene unfolds in front of me, and I can’t do anything but sit and stare, trying to take everything in.

The lights he switched on are cleverly positioned, illuminating bushy fir trees decorated with dainty glass baubles that glitter like ice. White string lights are wrapped around their trunks and tucked between the branches, winking softly and creating a startling, ephemeral effect. On the snowy lawn, several hand-carved bird feeders wait for the birds to return in the morning. There aren’t any inflatable Santas to be seen, nor reindeer, just a whole forest of Christmas trees, all beautifully decorated to create a magical scene.

I knew his company created hand-crafted wooden toys and ornaments, as well as Christmas decorations, but this is beyond anything I’ve seen while creating the branding for him.

Dominic drives slowly toward the house, and I glance this way and that, discovering something different at each glance. There’s a blown-glass swallow on one of the trees, so delicate it looks like a real bird turned to glass, and a whole tree decorated only with icicles, glittering like diamonds.

“This is amazing,” I breathe and finally focus on Dominic.

He’s been quiet ever since he welcomed me to his property, as if he wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this. Now he gives me a slow smile, his sharp white teeth flashing in the darkness.

“I like shiny things,” he confesses. “And forests. I wanted to live close to civilization, though, not in some godsforsaken forest.”

I grin at him. “So you brought the forest here.”

He stops the car in front of the darkened house, then presses another button on his phone. Soft lighting springs up, tastefully illuminating the front porch, welcoming us home.

My heart squeezes at the realization that this is exactly the kind of house I’d get if money was no obstacle. It’s a modern log cabin, with wide windows facing the snowy lawn and a chimney puffing out smoke from what must be a wood fire inside. Now that the iron gate has shut behind us, we’re completely secluded, and I understand why Dominic felt the need to build himself such a fortress of a property—here, he can be himself without the fear of being seen. The walls are tall enough to hide the garden, and the trees further obscure the view of the house.

My brain tells me I should probably be afraid of being here with him, so far away from the rest of the world, but all I feel is peace. A sense of serenity so deep, it permeates right into my bones. This is Dominic’s sanctuary, his safe haven from the world.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” I whisper, throat tight with emotion.

He nods, then exits the car and rounds the front to open my door. I take his offered hand, and he leads me to the door of his house, then ushers me inside. As much as I enjoyed the frosty garden, it’s amazing to be out of the cold. I

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