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Knox grabbed the cookie tin and then my hand to tug me along with him toward the house. “We’ll tell her we had a hard time finding the tin.”
My lips twitched. “She’ll never believe that.”
“Oh, I can be very convincing,” he teased, and I enjoyed this back-and-forth even more than the kiss. I let myself fall a little more. I imagined that this was my life, that we spent evenings at his house or mine, and we spent holidays together and planned vacations at the beach.
“Where were you?” Addy looked away from the TV to us when we came in.
“The tin fell on the floor, and we had to look for it.”
“Seriously?” Addy asked, probably concerned they fell on the floor.
“I’ll make some hot apple cider,” Knox said, and I was positive it was to distract her.
I opened the tin and shoved the container under her nose. “Cookies?”
She raised her gaze to mine. “How many can I have?”
“Two for now.”
“Yay,” Addy said, our disappearance already forgotten.
I settled onto the couch, leaving a space for Knox. He brought in two mugs, handing them to us before getting his own.
“Mmm. Good,” Addy murmured when the cider was cool enough to sip.
“I aim to please,” Knox said, flashing her a smile and placing his arm over the back of the couch. He cradled the mug in the hand nearest to me.
I wanted to touch his thigh, to feel connected in all the ways, but I couldn’t. Not with Addy here. I was surprised when Addy cuddled into his side and rested her head on his chest.
Knox’s startled gaze moved to mine, and I smiled my assent. Then I took the mug from his hand so he wouldn’t accidentally spill the hot liquid on her and curled my feet under me.
“Do you like the movie?” Knox asked Addy.
“It’s not a movie. It’s a show. I think there are six of them.” Her voice was softer, almost sleepy.
“We’ll have to plan to watch every one.”
“That sounds perfect to me.” The series was about introducing a new Santa to the North Pole. It was both funny and endearing. The best part was that none of us had seen it before. We watched two episodes before I realized that Addy had fallen asleep against Knox.
“I’m sorry. We can go.” I moved to close the tin and grab the empty mugs.
He stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Don’t. Why don’t you put her in the guest room, and we can spend more time together? Just us.”
“That does sound nice.” I liked the idea of getting more time with him, here in his space where he felt comfortable.
“We only get to spend time together in the evenings, between the farm and my light decorating clients.”
I let out a breath. “I suppose it’s okay. If she asks, we’ll say she was tired, and we didn’t want to wake her by taking her all the way home.”
“I’ll carry her to the guest room. Want to follow and tuck her in?”
“Sure.” I moved out of the way while he shifted to carry her up the steps. It felt domestic, as if he were her father. I followed the two of them to the top of the stairs and into the second doorway on the right.
“She’ll be comfortable in here,” Knox said.
The room had a double bed, but the comforter was pink. “Ember stays here sometimes.”
My heart squeezed that he’d decorated a room specially for his niece.
