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“Look, I know you’ll need to be here in Malveaux for Christmas with your grandparents, and I know it’s a long way off, but would you like to come for a visit around that time of year? Ledonia is magical at Christmas. And that’s coming from a guy.”
The thought of spending Christmas with Alex and his family fills my heart with warmth. “Maybe Christmas Eve, and I could leave in time to get back here to celebrate with my grandparents?”
“I’d love that.”
There’s that word again.
“I need to warn you, my mother is a total Christmas-er.”
“That is so not a word.”
“It is if I say it is. I’m going to be King someday, you know,” he teases.
“Tell me about your mom and Christmas.”
“Well, she decorates everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. Some people limit themselves to a single tree, a wreath at the front door, and perhaps some extra decorations on the mantlepiece. That’s far too restrained for my mother. She has a tree in every room, including our bedrooms, twinkling lights wrapping every regular tree and fence, garlands draped on the staircases, as well as a life-size nativity scene.”
“It sounds magical.”
“It is until she pulls out that year’s Christmas jumpers, which she insists we all wear from Christmas Eve until midnight on Christmas Day.”
I bite back a smile. “I bet you look very fetching in a Christmas sweater.”
“You’ll just have to wait and see when you spend Christmas with us this year.”
“It’s decided then.”
We share a smile and I feel the strength of the connection that we've built between us over these short couple of weeks. It's strong, so much stronger than I would ever have imagined. But there's something about Alex, something real. Something I never expected to find. The last thing I want to do is let it go.
He leans his forehead against mine, our breath mingling. “I care so much for you, Maddie. More than I have about anyone before,” he says, his voice low and soft.
“Really?” I ask, my heart pounding like the rhythmic baseline at a club.
The crack in those rusted-over hinges of my heart has been thrown wide open by this man.
His eyes are darker than usual, filled with intensity that has my breath catching in my throat. “The truth is I’m falling for you, my beautiful Texas Princess.”
His words are sweet, sweet music to my ears.
“I’m falling for you, too,” I murmur, my throat suddenly dry.
I’m in deep.
He pulls me into a dizzying kiss, and I span my palms across his firm back, my heart exploding with my feelings for this man. This man I misjudged.
This man I’m falling for with every passing day.
“I’ve never felt like this before,” he admits.
“Me neither,” I reply, grinning at him. “I think I like it.”
He laughs, low and sexy. “I think I like it, too.” He kisses me once more before he pulls back and says, “By no means allow the feelings I’ve just confessed for you to be in any way an influence on how you answer this.”
“Answer what?”
“Have you decided whether you’re going to stay in Malveaux?”
“Ah.”
