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“I got worried,” I admit as he pulls his coat off and drapes it onto me. He’s always making sure I’m taken care of, especially when it comes to the outdoor elements. I swear he’d have me looking like Randy from ‘Christmas Story’ if I let him. I’d be so bundled up that I wouldn’t even be able to move. I smile, appreciating how lucky I am to have found him.
“I had to fix the light. It would’ve driven you crazy.” One light went out this morning. I hadn't gotten around to fixing it yet. I’ve been in the kitchen most of the day cooking and decorating cookies for Brendan. Okay, I wasn’t only making them for him. Ilovebaking Christmas cookies. It makes me happy, but I also love to dote on Brendan. I’ve enjoyed taking care of him after he was shot.
Heath had said that blood needed to be shed, and it had. He also said we had to disappear. Easy enough when you’re involved with a hacker. He can make your whole life disappear as though it was never there and create a brand new one. I rather love our new life together. We are now Mr. and Mrs. Claws, born and raised in Finland, where it’s Christmas year-round here in the Arctic circle. I never have to take my Christmas lights down. There’s no countdown to December 1st. It’s magical. There’s no more competition with Brendan because now we share a home. Not that there ever was one to begin with. After all, it couldn’t be a competition when I was always the winner.
“It’s perfect.” I sigh, leaning into him. “You feeling okay?” I ask.
He never complains about the small wound and doesn’t act like it bothers him. We seem to be more active than ever in the exercise department. I smile just thinking about what we did this morning.
“I couldn't be better.” He kisses me on top of the head. “Maybe a little better if you get your cute ass inside. It’s too cold out here, and you’re not properly dressed.” He ushers me into our cabin. I don’t know how he found this place, but our home looks like one you’d see in a catalog. It’s nestled up on a hill all by itself. I’d been shocked at how fast Brendan had found this place for us, but I quickly learned he’d gotten the cabin awhile back as an exit strategy if he needed one for us. Even before we were a couple. Though he says from the moment he laid eyes on me that he considered us one.
We’re snowed in at the moment, and it looks as though it might be like that for a few days. It’s going to be the most perfect Christmas ever. I’m so used to spending them alone that it’s exciting to get to celebrate the holidays with someone I love.
When we enter the cabin, Brendan helps me take off my boots, shaking the snow away before taking my coat off. I do the same, helping him out of his winter gear.
“Go sit by the fire.” I try and make my voice stern and bossy.
He kisses me before he does as he’s told.
I look over to the cat house that’s shaking. “Oh my God! Those two never stop.” I swear those cats get it on more than Brendan and I do, and that’s saying a lot.
“I think she's pregnant,” Brendan says as he drops down onto the sofa.
I stand there with my mouth hanging open. Mrs. Claws showed up and I took her in, and then things happened so fast that I never took her for a vet check.
“We’re having kittens?” I whisper. “Kittens?”
“I thought you’d be—” Brendan stops talking, because I start screaming.
“Oh my God we’re having kittens!” I jump up and down. “This is the best Christmas gift ever!” I can’t control my excitement.
Brendan just smiles at me. I’m sure I look like a crazy person dancing around, overly excited about having little baby furballs, but I don’t care. I need to begin knitting them little kitten outfits.
“Come here.” Brendan motions for me to sit with him on the sofa. He pulls me into his lap. “I think I got you something you might be just as excited about.” He pulls out a small box from between the cushions. What’s with people hiding things in sofas around here?
He opens the box to reveal a ring. “Give me your hand, angel.” I lift my shaking hand as he slides the platinum band on my finger. A red ruby sits in the center, the gem surrounded by diamond sparkles. It’s perfect.
“It’s beautiful.” I stare at the ring as my eyes begin to water. I don’t know how life keeps getting better and better, but somehow it does. I know it’s all because of Brendan. He makes me feel confident and secure.
“I know we’re already married,” he says.
“You never even asked me.” I nudge him with my elbow. He just set us up with new identities that said we were married.
He winces, then tries to cover it with a smile.
“Sorry.” Crap, I nailed him in his wound. The same one I’ve been on him about being careful about. “See? This is why you shouldn’t put me in your lap.”
“I’ll risk it.” He wraps his arms around me. “Now tell me you’ll be my wife forever.”
“I don’t really think I have a choice. You and those magic fingers would just keep hacking into some system and making us married somehow. Deleting divorce papers,” I tease.
“I better never hear that D word come out of that sweet mouth of yours again.”
“Never.” I shake my head, then lean in to brush my mouth against his. “I’ll be your wife forever. There’s no getting rid of me. You’re stuck.” My fingers dig into his shirt. “I'm a clinger, remember?”
“One of the many things I love about you.” He kisses me with his tongue, slipping it into my mouth. I moan a happy sigh. “Who wouldn't love a beautiful sexy woman clinging to him all the time?”
I hold on to him tighter. “I love you.” I smile against his mouth, knowing that I’m about to get lucky. I start to shift to straddle him.
