Page 71 of The Best Christmas Choir Ever

“This is a little carried away? We’re gonna have to call in a professional cleaning service or else I’m worried you’ll disappear under all of this mess.”

Charlie rolled her eyes. “It’s not that bad.” She bent down, collecting a few scraps of silver wrapping paper.

Julian caught her hand and tugged her back up. “Leave it.”

“You’re the one complaining about the state of the room.”

“I was simply impressed with your level of dedication.”

“Felt a little judgmental,” she said, poking his chest. “Don’t mess with me or my gift wrapping.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” He stroked his thumb across her cheek, and she caught his hand, guiding him toward the sofa. They plopped down in a sea of wrapping supplies. Paper crinkled under him, and he laughed as Charlie sank against his side.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

He bussed her temple. “It’s growing on me, actually.”

“Is it?”

“Mm-hmm. It adds a certain pizzazz the living room was missing before.” He reached down. A bow had stuck to the back of her shoulder. He peeled it off, and she huffed at his teasing.

“Point taken.” She gestured across the living room to a stack of velvet-wrapped boxes with impeccably placed green bows. “But you have to admit, the end product is impressive. And that’s what matters. How I got there isn’t the point.”

Julian grinned at her. He sort of felt like that about the music program. They may have been taking a messy, indirect route, but if he managed to make it work in the end, what did it matter? Because Charlie was still here. She still wanted to do this choir thing with him. Right? He swallowed hard, part of him wanting to ask again, wanting to be sure after today’s hiccup.

Stay, he wanted to say to her. For Doris. For the choir. For me, he thought briefly, desperately. Stay for us.

“What did you get Doris anyway?” he asked instead.

Charlie smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I would. I want to make sure we don’t buy her the same thing.” He nuzzled closer, his lips hovering against hers. He watched Charlie’s eyelids close in anticipation, but at the last second he swerved and kissed her cheek.

She made a noise of discontent.

“Something the matter?”

She sighed. “No.”

Julian plucked a piece of red ribbon from the couch, using the end to trace a pattern across Charlie’s cheek. “I don’t know why I was complaining to be honest. I actually really like wrapping things.”

Her eyes opened. “Do you?”

“I’m particularly good at tying bows. Would you like to see?”

Now she was staring at him, curious. He took her wrists in his hands, pressing a kiss to each one, giving her a beat to pull away. When she didn’t, he took the ribbon and looped it around her wrists, making his intentions clear.

Charlie let out a little gasp.

“Is this okay?” he asked, tying perfect loops.

“Yes,” she breathed, tugging gently.

The ribbon was loose enough she could squirm free if she wanted. Hell, if she put enough force on it, the ribbon would snap. It was only flimsy gift wrap. But it wasn’t really about how strong it was, it was what it represented.

Charlie was giving up a measure of control to him. She was trusting him to take care of her. To keep her safe.

She was trusting him with all the dark, cracked pieces of her heart.