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Her eyes fill with empathy, and she strokes my cheek tenderly, urging me to continue.
“But then I met you,” I say, my voice cracking with emotion. “You turned everything upside down—in the best way possible. You showed me that even though I can’t have children of my own, I can still have a family. A real, loving family, with you and your kids.”
Tears glisten in her eyes as she listens intently to every word, her gaze locked onto mine. I can see the love and understanding reflected back at me, and it fills me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
“Harper, my feelings for you are stronger than anything I ever felt for Georgia. You’re my light in the darkness, the reason I wake up every morning with a renewed sense of purpose.” My hand trembles slightly as I reach up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face.
“Being with you, raising your kids together, and maybe even more children someday…that’s all I want, Harper. That’s my dream, my deepest desire. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make it a reality.”
The firelight dances across her face, highlighting the tears that now spill freely down her cheeks. “Thank you, Hudson,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “That means everything to me.”
My heart swells as I look into Harper’s eyes, seeing my entire world reflected back at me. “Harper,” I whisper, my voice raw with emotion, “you are my Christmas miracle. You’ve changed me in ways I never thought possible, and I can’t imagine my life without you.”
Our gazes lock, and it’s as if time comes to a standstill. “Harper, I love you,” I confess, my words tumbling out like a waterfall, unable to be contained any longer. The truth of it hits me like a tidal wave, washing away all my doubts and fears.
Her eyes widen, and for a moment she seems lost for words. But then she smiles, her entire face lighting up with joy, and the sight of it nearly brings me to my knees. “I love you too, Hudson,” she breathes, her voice barely audible over the pounding of my own heart.
With those words, the last of my defenses crumble, and I close the distance between us, capturing her lips in a searing kiss that seems to consume us both. The heat of her mouth against mine sends a shudder down my spine, and I lose myself in the taste of her, the feel of her body pressed against mine.
As our tongues dance together, exploring and teasing, I become acutely aware of the weight of her hand on my chest, her fingers splayed against my skin. The very touch sends a jolt of desire coursing through me, and I know that this is only the beginning. We have so much more to discover about one another, so many layers to peel back, but for now, this moment of pure and unadulterated love is enough.
“Harper,” I breathe against her lips, feeling a shiver run through her body at the sound of her name. “My beautiful, amazing Harper.”
“Yours,” she whispers back, her eyes shining with love and promise. “Always yours.”
I smile. What more could I possibly want?
40
HARPER
My fingers are coated with a sticky mix of red velvet pancake batter and cream cheese frosting. The warm scent of cooked sausage fills the air as I roll the meat into small “snowballs” for breakfast.
“Harper,” Hudson whispered, his strong arms wrapped around me, “I love you.”
Focus, Harper.
It’s hard to do, when all I can think about is last night with Hudson. I recall the intensity in his eyes, the tenderness of his touch.
“Morning, Harper,” Benedict says as he enters the kitchen, and I snap back to reality. I force a smile on my face, unwilling to let him see the emotional chaos inside me.
“Morning, Benedict,” I reply, my voice wavering slightly. I quickly turn back to the stove, desperately hoping he doesn’t notice the blush creeping up my cheeks.
I pour more batter onto the hot griddle, watching it sizzle and bubble before flipping the pancakes.
“Can you believe Christmas is only a week away?” Benedict asks. I glance over to see him leaning against the doorframe, a playful smile on his face.
“Wow, time flies,” I respond, trying to sound casual as I flip another pancake onto the growing stack. “I still have so much shopping to do.”
“Christmas shopping, huh?” He chuckles, walking toward me.
“Guilty as charged.” I laugh nervously, stirring the cream cheese frosting and feeling flustered under his gaze.
“Do you need any help with the Christmas presents?” he asks, his voice soft. “I know that without a source of income, your shopping funds might be tight, and I just wanted to say that I wouldn’t mind?—”
“Harper doesn’t need help,” Antonio states as he comes into the kitchen. “The insurance company gave her a fat check. She’s essentially loaded now.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Just because I have some extra cash doesn’t mean I’m loaded. But I will admit, this is going to be the best Christmas we’ve ever had.”
