Chapter Thirty-Five
The inn had nearly emptied on Christmas Eve. Only Zane, Wren and Noah remained. It was a relief and a bit disappointing. She’d been looking forward to having a full house. For now, she’d enjoy the peaceful silence of her first Christmas morning in her new home. Perhaps later she’d head out to Uncle Robert’s ranch and spend part of the day with her family. But for right now, she was excited to spend the morning with her new friends. She pulled a fresh pan of bacon maple cinnamon rolls from the oven and set them aside to cool.
“Those smell incredible. Did you sleep well?” Zane asked, strolling into the kitchen looking like a million bucks, his hair still damp from the shower. He brushed a kiss across her lips. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning, handsome. Merry Christmas.” He kissed her again, sending warmth flooding through her, lodging at the base of her belly. She was going to have to act on this attraction before too long or she was going to incinerate from the heat his touch generated in her core and her heart.
“Merry Christmas, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than kissing you.” He dove in again, pulling her close so their bodies were flush together. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips.
“I love you too,” she whispered back, her heart soaring. “Can I ask you a question? A personal one?” It probably wasn’t the right time, but she needed to know.
* * *
A boltof terror ran through Zane. What was she thinking? She went so abruptly from love to questions. Something must be worrying her. “Ask me anything. This sounds serious. But I have no secrets from you. None.”
Her cheeks flushed. “Um. I don’t know how to ask this.”
“Hey, we’re in a relationship here. A serious one. Honestly, you can ask me anything. No judgments.” He wasn’t going to like this question; he could see it in her face. Her mouth opened and closed several times and she swallowed hard.
“Do you think I’m stupid?” she blurted, at last. Dropping her gaze to the floor.
The question startled him, as did the glimmer of moisture she blinked away. Her self-doubt stabbed at his heart. Hadn’t he made his opinion clear already?
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because I want to know. I need to know.” Her voice trembled.
He led her to the sitting room sofa and sat her down and knelt before her. He waited until she was looking at him before he spoke. “We’ve been over this, more than once. I do not think you are stupid. I think you’re capable and smart and beautiful and caring and loving. You are so many things, all of them good. Stupid, slow, dumb, dim, none of them ever entered my mind. Maybe you don’t have a college education, who cares? Certainly not me. Not your family, or your guests. I think you’re pretty much perfect the way you are.”
“You’re sure?” Her frown lessened and he thought he detected a hint of happiness.
“You are far from stupid, and I have nothing but love and respect for you. You, Clara Everett, are practically perfect in every way. I adore you. And no, you are not stupid, not even a little bit.”
Her smile blossomed until it covered her entire face and shone in her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Thank you for being part of my life and loving me,” he responded. “Now, I hear our guests stirring upstairs. Let’s get ready for breakfast and for opening those gifts.”
He helped her to her feet and kissed her again because he could.
* * *
Clara,Noah and Wren sat in the common room sipping coffee, waiting for Zane to join them. There were only a few gifts under the tree, but Clara was anxious to open them. She watched Delilah slinking around under the tree, batting the bows, and pulling ribbons. If Zane didn’t hurry, Delilah would have the gifts destroyed.
Clara couldn’t wait to see if everyone liked the gifts she’d found for them. The jackknife for Noah who had confessed he wanted to learn to whittle. A lovely hand-knit set for Wren and her baby, complete with matching mommy and baby sweaters, and a book on basic mechanics for Zane who was starting his new career in January.
“Where in the world is he?” she grumbled.
Solid thumps and clanks rang out over the instrumental music playing in the background. The sounds came closer and closer. “What in the world is that?”
Zane, dressed as a nutcracker walked woodenly into the room. Clara burst out laughing. “Oh my gosh. What are you doing?”
He stamped over to stand in front of her, moving stiffly like a wooden soldier. “Clara Everett. I have a question for you. I’d kneel, but this suit doesn’t bend. Can you stand?”
She moved shakily to her feet. He wanted to kneel. That didn’t mean … No way!
Zane grasped her hands as best as he could in the stiff costume. “Clara, heroine of the Nutcracker, love of my life, will you do me the honor of being this nutcracker’s wife?”
She giggled.
