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“Oh, and this is Pax. He’s my…” She looks up at me, a twinkle in her brilliant green eyes. “He’s my teddy bear,” she finishes. Gwen laughs and holds out her hand for me to shake.
“Nice to meet you, Pax,” she says with a knowing smile.
“You as well. Thanks for watching out for my angel over the years until I found her.” Gwen’s face softens and she gives me a genuine smile.
“Youfoundme?” Avery interjects. “I believe I’m the one who found you. Fell right into your life, if I remember correctly.”
I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her against my side, leaning down to nip the shell of her ear. “And I found a dirty little angel covered in soot, and couldn’t wait to clean you up and make you mine.”
She bites her damn lip, knowing how crazy it drives me. I’m about to suck it into my mouth when Gwen clears her throat.
“I’m happy for you guys. Truly. But…”
I chuckle and Avery swats my chest. “Sorry, he’s not fully socialized yet. I’m working on it, though.” She peers at me over her shoulder and I give her ass a playful smack. “See what I mean?!”
Gwen laughs and I offer to take her coat and overnight bag while the girls get settled on the couch. I go to the kitchen and gather everything for them to make more hot chocolate, then pull out the fudge, peppermint bark, and sugar cookies we bought at the store. My girl has a sweet tooth, and I’m guessing her sister does, too.
“I’ll give you girls time to catch up,” I say once I step back into the living room. “There are a few errands I need to run, but then I can pick up dinner and we can watch Christmas movies. How does that sound?”
“Perfect!” Avery exclaims as she hops off the couch. My angel throws her arms around me and I catch her, lifting her up against my chest. “Thank you, Pax. You’re amazing.”
“You are,” I insist, nuzzling into the side of her neck.
“No, you are,” Gwen says in a mocking voice from the couch. Avery giggles as I set her down and grab my jacket. She gives me one last kiss on the cheek, and then I head out the door.
ELEVEN
Avery
I roll over in bed,reaching out for Pax. Only, he’s not there. His side of the bed is cold, and I frown. Grabbing my phone, I see he sent me a text half an hour ago.
Needto pick up a few more things. Be back soon. Cinnamon rolls are in the oven.
Smiling,I type back a quick response, telling him to be safe and hurry home. I hop out of bed and throw on some leggings and a sweatshirt. We didn’t talk about me practically moving in this last week, it just sort of happened. Pax put away all of my food in his cupboards and helped me pack up a few clothing and personal items so I wouldn’t have to keep going over next door to my place to grab them.
The man really wants to spend every second with me, and I love it. No one has ever paid this much attention to me or taken care of me the way Pax does. I’ve craved love like that for so long.
Love? Is that what this is? Is he feeling it too?
All I know is that Pax makes me feel safe and seen. He seems as obsessed with me as I am with him. The way he touches me and handles me, playing my body like an instrument… This man is too good to be true. It’s too fast to fall for him, but I think it’s too late. Maybe he’s my Christmas miracle.
“Morning! Merry Christmas,” I greet Gwen when I get out into the kitchen. She already has coffee going.
“Merry Christmas,” she says with a grin. “He made cinnamon rolls.”
“Yup. I think I’ll keep him around,” I tease.
“I’m so happy you found your person,” she tells me with a smile. There’s a hint of sadness, or maybe longing, in her voice.
“You’re my person, too,” I insist, taking a mug out of the cupboard and filling it with coffee. When I turn around, Gwen is looking down into her mug. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She pops her head up and gives me a reassuring smile. “You deserve someone who takes care of you the way Pax does. It’s kind of entertaining to watch the beefcake dote on you like that.”
“Ugh, beefcake?” I scrunch my nose up and then giggle when she pokes my side.
“Whatever, you know what I mean. All six and a half feet of him and hundreds of pounds of muscle, and he uses all that power to make you hot chocolate and rub your feet.”
I can’t help the dreamy look that takes over my face. She’s right. He’s so good to me. I’d be lucky to keep him forever.
