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“It’s Christmas Day. I couldn’t wait to see if Santa had been.”
Even when she was half-asleep he could still make her smile. “You are such a child.”
“Says the woman who was the last person on the dance floor last night. Catherine made me promise to take you dancing more often.”
“Does she know how clumsy you are?”
“Well, I danced with her, so I’m guessing yes. I trod on her feet at least three times.”
“You never take me dancing.”
“Probably why she told me to do it more often. Are you ready for your presents?” He looked ridiculously eager and she laughed.
“Last time you were this excited was the year you bought me a lawn mower.”
“That was a top-of-the-range lawn mower. But this is a million times better than a lawn mower. Catherine told me a present is supposed to be a luxury, not a necessity.”
“You talked to Catherine about gifts?”
“She’s family now. That means I can ask her all my stupid questions. Also, I suspect she is feeling at least partly responsible for our renewed relationship and doesn’t trust me not to mess it up if left to my own devices.”
“She did an incredible job yesterday. It was a beautiful wedding. I will never forget it.”
“I will never understand why women get so emotional about weddings.”
“Excuse me? I saw a tear in your eye when Dan and Rosie kissed.”
“Probably dust. So—are you ready for your presents now?”
She lifted herself up on her elbow. “How can you be so sickeningly awake and lively?”
“It’s Christmas. It’s snowing, and I’m in bed with my wife.”
She felt warm and happy. “I might need coffee.”
“I already made you coffee. If you sit up, I’ll pass it to you.” He patted the bed next to him and she sat up and adjusted the pillows.
“Do we have time for this? Everyone is coming here for breakfast and present opening, so unless we want to have another embarrassing moment we’d better get dressed.”
“We have time. And I locked the door, so this time no one will walk in unannounced. I’ll unlock the door when you’ve opened your presents.” He reached under the bed, retrieved a stack of untidily wrapped gifts and laid them on her lap.
The wrapping made her smile. There was a reason she’d always been the one to take charge of wrapping at Christmas. Nick managed to somehow make everything look as if it was trying to fight its way out of the paper. If they’d had a dog, she would have assumed the dog had eaten it for breakfast.
Feeling ridiculously happy, she opened the first gift and burst out laughing. “A planner?”
“You obviously aspire to being a planner type of person. I want you to tuck it under your arm and stride around like the power woman you are about to become.” He leaned across and flipped it open. “Also, I may have already written a few things in there to get you started.”
She glanced down and gasped. “Sex with Nick. Seriously? Now I have to hide this from the girls!”
“We’re allowed a private life, Mags. And I don’t only mean a sex life.” He kissed her again. “You’re going to need that to schedule in all the adventures we’re going to take together.”
“Oh Nick.” She put the planner down. “I was dreading this Christmas, but it’s turned out to be the best ever.”
“It’s only just beginning. Open the next one.”
She dutifully opened it and found a brochure for an upmarket bathroom company. “Er—I don’t get it.”
“It’s time we added a touch of luxury to the cottage. We’re treating ourselves to a bathroom, complete with underfloor heating so that you can walk round naked without getting frostbite.”
