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“How long do you think it took to decorate the tree?” Melissa asks once we’re standing right next to her. “There has to be at least two miles of ribbon and tens of thousands of little lights. Walker, how many ornaments? Five-hundred?”
I laugh and take Carson while my sister and Walker talk about the specifics of decorating the tree, including, but not limited to, how they replace lights that have burned out and who tests the lights before putting them on the tree.
“Those two,” I murmur to Carson as we stare up at the tree. “Can’t they just appreciate the magic of the season without having to analyze it to death?” My nephew bobs his head in agreement. Or, at least I assume he’s agreeing. An auntie knows these things.
Walker slides his arms around my waist and pulls my back into his front. “Are you saying disparaging things about me on Christmas Eve?” he whispers into the shell of my ear.
“Who, me?” I say with an innocent smile. “I would never!”
He gives me that playful look that I’ve only just started seeing more and more of. I love that I could bring that out in him.
Melissa takes Carson from me and adjusts his stocking cap before holding him on her hip. “Would you two stop flirting for thirty seconds? It’s starting!”
I laugh, while Walker smiles sheepishly. The man is freaking adorable. And sexy. And mine. He holds me impossibly closer, resting his chin on the top of my head. I sigh contentedly and snuggle into his embrace.
We watch silently as the massive tree comes to life, the lights casting a soft glow on everything and everyone in town.
“I love you, pixie,” Walker murmurs, lighting me up brighter than the tree in front of us. I’ll never get tired of his sweet words.
“I love you, too, Walker.”
* * *
It’s Christmas morning,and I’m sitting in the car while Walker stops by his office. Even though we agreed not to exchange gifts, I have a feeling the sly bastard got some presents for us anyway and hid them here.
I should be used to his generosity and stubbornness by now, but it’ll take some time. I moved in with Walker the day after we made love for the first time. It’s crazy, I know this, but then again, I’ve been called that for most of my life.
Despite our many protests, Walker bought a freaking new car for my sister and one for me. However, I didn’t argue when he went ahead and paid rent for Melissa for the entire next year. Melissa deserves a break and a chance to build up her savings again. Walker has assured me many times that he has enough money to cover all of our expenses and he never had a good reason to spend it – before now.
I look up when the door to his building opens, then drop my jaw when I see him wheeling out a veritable mountain of presents. Walker has an infuriating shit-eating grin on his face.
“We said no gifts,” I remind him when he gets in the car.
“You’re the greatest gift I’ve ever been given, so I have to start balancing the scales somehow,” he says with a wink.
I roll my eyes but return his smile. "When did you get so sappy?"
“About a month ago when I met the most gorgeous, intriguing, perfect pixie.”
“Was it really a month ago?”
“Feels like we’ve already spent a lifetime together, doesn’t it?”
“It really does,” I whisper. Walker takes my hand in his, lifting it up to his mouth to kiss my palm. I smile and shake my head, still not believing this man is mine. “But that doesn’t excuse all of these presents,” I say, bringing us back into the moment.
“Would it make you feel better if I told you only one package is for you?” My eyes immediately drop to his lap, where I see he’s already half hard. Walker groans when I lick my lips, making me smile. “A different package, my dirty little pixie.”
“Shame,” I tease. He chuckles and laces his fingers in mine squeezing softly. Yeah, this is the best Christmas ever.
When we get inside the cottage, Melissa glares at Walker just like I knew she would. We unload present after present, setting them in front of the gorgeous tree, courtesy of one Walker Evans.
“This is too much,” Melissa insists. “You’ve already done enough. Way too much, in fact. A car? Paying rent?”
“These are for Carson,” Walker says in his defense, making Melissa’s face soften ever so much. “And some for you,” he adds with a wink. My sister knows better than to argue.
We get settled on the couch, me tucked into Walker’s side with a cup of hot chocolate in one hand, Walker with his arm slung around my shoulders. Carson is still too young to know it’s Christmas, but he smiles and giggles at the bright colors and lights, filling the little cottage with such joy as my sister opens their gifts.
Walker leans down and kisses my temple, then nuzzles into the side of my neck. “Soon we’ll have one of our own, you know.”
