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“You want to go on a walk with me?” he murmured, kissing down the slope of her neck and to the swell of her breast.
Honestly, she wanted to stay here in bed and pretend the world didn’t exist. That it was just her and him in their own little world, but she knew she wasn’t going to get her way when he pulled away.
“Let’s get you out for just a few minutes.” He gave her a look, and she didn’t argue. She wasn’t ready to admit that she had started to spiral down a hole without him, but somehow, with that one look, she suspected that he already knew.
It didn’t take him long to have her dressed and out the door, and although she wouldn’t admit it, it was nice to go on a small walk. The birds were about the only noise as the snow on the ground muffled anything else, making the whole walk seem even more peaceful. What made it the best walk she had ever been on, though, was his hand clasped in hers.
“You haven’t been taking care of yourself,” he said, broaching a subject that she would rather he not have brought up. But he was stubborn, and she knew that he wasn’t going to leave it alone.
“I missed you.” She whispered her only defense.
“I missed you too, sweetheart, but I thought you would have…” He stopped and sighed.
“I’ll do better next time. It was just the not knowing that got to me. I was doing okay, but then that last mission had you gone for so long, and I didn’t even know if you were okay.” She looked away and sighed, feeling his eyes boring into her with so much intensity that she could hardly stand it. “It was harder than I thought. But I’m prepared now. I know what’s going to happen this time…”
“I’m not going back.”
His words threw her, and she blinked, gaping up at him.
“What?”
“I signed my release papers when I was overseas. I’m done. “
“You’re done?” She couldn’t help the hopeful lilt in her voice.
“Yes.” His beautiful eyes were searing into her.
“Done.” The tears in her eyes trailed over her cheeks.
“Sweetheart…” His face softened.
“I love you,” she whispered and watched as it washed over him.
“I love you too, sweetheart. Just you and me, okay?” He finally took the step forward that brought his body to hers and wrapped his arm around her.
“Now let’s get you a Christmas tree.”
* * *
“How about you get up in the attic and bring the Christmas stuff while I clean this tree off,” he said while pulling the small tree that she had picked out behind him.
What did it say that he had dragged the whole thing home and wasn’t even out of breath?
She stomped up the back porch steps, making sure to knock the snow off her boots.
“You want me to start breakfast after that?” she asked, leaning down to unlace her boots, hoping that she had enough food to actually make something.
She was regretting not going shopping, especially since she knew she would get that look from James again when he found out.
“Sure, sweetheart,” he replied distractedly as he leaned the tree against the back porch, then followed the same routine as her, stomping his boots before unlacing them and making his way into the laundry room.
Weird that he was taking off his shoes, only to have to go back out and get the tree.
“You need something?” she asked, wondering if maybe he had forgotten something, but when she looked back, he only smirked at her.
Okay, something was up.
She was just about to turn around, when the light in the living room caught her attention.
