“Good. And I don’t want to hear anything about needing a more exciting example. Reading next to you is one of my favorite things. I don’t know what kind of circus act the women you’ve dated before were expecting, but you exciteme, Preston. Seeing you excites me. Talking to you excites me. Touching youreallyexcites me.” She drew in a deep breath and then gave a short laugh. “Hell, even seeing your boring gray sedan excites me because it means you’re nearby. What you and I have is all I’m ever going to want.”
He kissed her, lifting her off her feet, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss was tender, full of emotion and longing, and she sighed with contentment when he lowered her to her feet again.
“I have a present for you, too.” She nodded toward her tiny Christmas tree. “It’s under the tree.”
His hands slid down her fuzzy penguin pajamas. “I’d rather unwrap you.”
“Merry Christmas Eve to me,” she said, and then she laughed as he swept her into his arms.
Epilogue
Their next Christmas...
Zoe stepped up behind Preston, who’d been staring at the twinkling colored lights on the Christmas tree for a solid five minutes, and looped her arm around his waist. “You need to relax. Have a cookie or something.”
“I’ve never hosted a Christmas Eve get-together before.”
“Noah and Carly are stopping in for a little while on the way back from his parents’ house. We’re not hosting a party.” She laughed and pressed her cheek against his back. “And they haven’t seen the living room since we painted it.”
That made him laugh and she felt some of the tension ease out of his body. She’d teased him mercilessly when they were choosing colors for the home they’d closed on a month before Thanksgiving—a beautiful Cape within walking distance of the lake—and he’d gravitated toward the many shades of pale gray.
She’d closed Cedar Street Books late one night, due to tourists using indecisiveness as an excuse to stay in the air conditioning, and found a huge splotch of fuchsia paint covering one of the living room walls.
“It’s not gray,” he’d said when she stopped walking and actually dropped her phone.
It had been awful, but he’d laughed so hard at her reaction she hadn’t even minded themanycoats of primer it had taken to cover the fuchsia. She loved his laugh, and the few seconds she’d thought making fun of Preston had led to a hot pink living room had been worth it. Now the walls of their first home together were a pale gray with just a hint of icy blue brought out by the blue accent pillows on the sofa.
And the framed art he’d given her last Christmas sat above the fireplace, between their stockings. It usually hung over their bed, but they’d decided they’d bring it out when the house was decorated for the holidays.
Even though he’d relaxed slightly, he still felt more tense than a visit from their closest friends merited, so she moved around him so she could see his face. The brightly wrapped gift he was clutching in both hands caught her attention.
“Who’s that for?” They had gifts for tonight, of course, but they were still under the tree. “Is it for me?”
He nodded, but when she tried to take it from him, he didn’t let go. “I can’t figure out when to give it to you. I think now, but I’m not sure if I should wait until after Noah and Carly leave.”
Since they’d planned to open their gifts in the morning, the curiosity got the best of her. “Definitely now.”
Their eyes met and just as he was about to say something, the doorbell rang. She was tempted to ignore it—she really wanted to know what he was so nervous about—but he pulled the gift back. “They’re early.”
“I’m opening that as soon as they leave,” she said as she went to open the door.
Wind sent a flurry of snow into the foyer as Noah entered, followed by Carly. Usually chivalry won out, but he was carrying the baby seat, so he got to go first. He’d barely set the seat down before Zoe crouched to peel back the blanket he’d draped over it for the walk from the car.
“There’s my girl,” Zoe crooned as Harper Elizabeth Stafford blinked up at her. “Auntie Zoe’s going to get you out of there so we can see your pretty Christmas dress.”
She was aware of Preston greeting Noah and Carly and showing off their finished living room, but Harper squealed and kicked her feet and Zoe didn’t give them any attention until the baby was free of the car seat and in her arms.
“I am totally her favorite aunt who’s actually her cousin,” she said as she joined the others in the living room.
Noah laughed. “Give up. You’re just Auntie Zoe and the rest...she’ll probably figure it out someday.”
They ate perfectly baked cookies—Preston had seriously upped his cooking game over the last year—and sipped spiked hot cocoa, and Zoe relaxed against Preston’s body on the couch. Normally he’d put his arm around her and hug her close, but Harper had hold of his finger and she wasn’t letting it go. Not that her totally smitten honorary uncle was making any effort to get free.
They exchanged gifts, which included Sandra Boynton’s entire library available in board book for Harper, but it wasn’t long before Carly started getting sleepy and Noah made the call.
“It was a long day and the little duchess isn’t sleeping through the night yet,” he said, pushing to his feet. “And tomorrow will be busy, too. You guys will be at Joe’s for dinner?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Preston said. “But we’re flying to Denver the next morning to see my parents, so we won’t stay late.”
