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“Sorry—Uncle Finn is silly. He made a big boo-boo.”
But that boo-boo was turning out to be the best thing that had happened to him in a long, long time. Natalie continued her conversation with Addy and told her to have a great Christmas morning. She was trying to hide it, but sadness swam in her eyes. Being separated from one’s child on any given day was difficult, but on Christmas? It was probably one of the hardest parts about being a single parent.
Declan hit play on the remote, but Natalie didn’t go back to her book. Her gaze flicked between the fire and her phone.
“Hey, bud,” Declan said as soon as the credits rolled. “Let’s get the cookies and milk out for Santa.” Declan walked over to Natalie and offered her a hand after Chris bolted to the kitchen. “You want to help us?”
She stood and set the blanket aside. “I don’t think that task takes three of us. I know what you’re doing.” She placed a quick kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”
Natalie helped Chris write a note to Santa while Declan poured a glass of milk. It took Chris five minutes and help from Natalie to pick which one of his cookies Santa would like best.
His son was really getting attached to her. But until Declan descended the stairs an hour later, he hadn’t realized how attached. He rubbed a hand down his face as he stepped into the great room, unsure of how to ask this favor.
“Everything okay?” Natalie asked, looking up and tucking her long blond curls over the shoulder of her long-sleeve fitted T-shirt.
“Yeah.” Declan swallowed. “Um—Chris always readsThe Night Before Christmason Christmas Eve.”
“I think every kid does that.” Natalie chuckled and tossed out a line from the famous book with the kind of animation that made the motivation behind Chris’s request clear.
“I, uh, don’t know the book by heart, and Chris says I don’t do the voices well when I read to him…” He better just ask. “Which is why he wondered if you’d read it.”
Natalie dropped her head back and laughed. “Grumpy bear doesn’t know how to be animated enough for storytelling?”
“Itisphysically impossible for me.” He shook his head.
She popped up and set her book on the arm of the couch. “Don’t worry, I love the book, so I would be honored to read it.”
She brushed past him, but he caught her wrist, forcing her back and focusing on her intently.
“Thank you for being so amazing with my son.”
She shook her head. “You have an amazing kid. That makes it easy.” The smile she flashed was heart-stopping.
She trotted up the stairs, but Declan stayed put, rubbing his chest. He felt a lot like the Grinch at the moment—like somehow his heart had grown a few sizes.
15
Natalie setthe last of the presents that Declan had wrapped under the tree and stood up, looking over at where he sat in the plush, oversized chair.
“I’m sad that’s the last one.” A corner of his mouth turned up slightly, and his heated gaze tracked up her leggings, sending a jolt through her.
“Why?” The work part was done, and now they could enjoy each other. They only had two more nights.
He chuckled. “It’s along the lines of I hate to see her go, but Iloveto watch her leave.”
It took Natalie a second, but then she huffed a laugh. “Staring at my ass, were you?”
“It’s impossible not to.” He stretched both arms out along the armrests before he brought one hand down and patted his thigh. “Bring that perfect ass over here and sit on Santa’s lap.”
Was it his voice or the white-hot need in his eyes that made her stomach flip? Probably both. The red flannel and jeans weren’t exactly Santa’s suit, but she wouldn’t pass up a chance to get up close and personal with every inch of his body.
She added an extra sway to her hips as she moved toward him. And when she lowered herself onto this thick thigh, he rested a palm low on her hip, his thumb curving into the crest of her thigh. So close but not quite where she craved his touch.
Declan’s breath skated along her throat as he edged closer, his nose running along her skin and brushing the loose curls of her hair. “Have you been agood girlthis year?”
The deep timbre of his voice echoed through her.
“Yes, Santa.Verygood.” Wrapping an arm around his broad shoulders, she wet her lips, drawing his gaze to her mouth.
