Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“Nicky, we can’t move in together. We hardly know each other.”
“I see you’re not denying loving me.” I kiss her again, and she looks at me in shock.
“I mean, I don’t know.” But after a second, she sighs. “Okay, yes, you’re right. But we can’t move in together.”
“Why not?”
“We don’t even know each other.”
“We’ll figure that stuff out while we’re living together.” She opens her mouth to say something else, but I shake my head. “I know everything I need to know about you because I’ve been watching you from the day you started at NR Finance. I know that you’re kind and generous and filled with a passion so big it can’t be contained. I fired you so that you could go live your dream, not because you weren’t doing your job. I knew what you wanted to do, and I couldn’t watch your light dim in that cubicle a day longer. I only waited until your severance was up so you’d keep your insurance. I also made sure they gave you the corporate Christmas bonus on top of it.”
“That was you?”
I nod and tuck her hair behind her ear. “There’s no one else for me, and I’ll make damn sure there’s no one else for you too. I’ll be everything you want and more, if you’ll let me.”
“What if I don't want to move in with you?”
“Hmm.” I pretend to think it over. “I guess I’ll just have to convince you.”
“And how would you do that?” Suddenly she’s kissing me back, but I know I have to get her out of here. I want to get her in my home so it’s harder for her to leave.
“I’ve got a surprise for you at my place.” She perks up at that, and I laugh. “Is that all it’s going to take?”
“Does it include hot cocoa?”
I nod and bite her earlobe. “With extra marshmallows.”
“Then you have my attention.”
It takes a little while for me to get her dressed and to stuff a bag full of clothes, but finally when she’s ready, I’m practically carrying her out of the apartment with her little fluffball cat in his create.
“Are you really sending movers here first thing?” I cock an eyebrow at her, and she rolls her eyes. “What have I gotten myself into?”
The ride to my place isn’t too far, and when we get out of the car, I grab her bag, and Star tells the driver Kenny goodbye. I heard her talking to him about his daughter, and I didn’t realize she’d become so friendly with him over the past week while decorating trees.
“I hate that he won’t get to see his daughter until after Christmas,” she says when I take her by the hand and lead her into my building.
“Is there a reason she can’t come sooner?”
“I think it’s too expensive, but he didn’t outright say that.”
“Let me make some calls. I’m sure I can get her a flight or send my private plane,” I say as we walk inside, and she stops in her tracks and looks up at me.
“You would do that?” She looks up at me with adoration in her eyes.
Bending down to kiss her, I nod. “I’d do anything to make you smile. And everyone deserves to be home for Christmas.”
“Is that where we are? Home?”
I nod and pull her against me. “This is it, love. Merry Christmas.” We take the elevator all the way up to the top floor, and when the door chimes, I turn to her and smile. “Close your eyes.” I hold her hand as we walk through the entrance and then move behind her. “Surprise!”
“Oh my god, what did you do?” Star’s face is one of shock and happiness as she looks around the place.
I’ve decorated every inch of it to be a winter wonderland, and although I’m not as good as her, it’s not too bad.
“There’s a lot of glitter,” I say, and she nods.
“So much glitter.”
“Do you like it?” Suddenly I’m feeling shy, like maybe I got it wrong.
She turns to me and shakes her head. “No, I don’t like it.” My heart falls, and I start to think about ways I can change it to make it better. “I love it!”
Wrapping my arms around her waist, I spin her in a circle and pull her in for a kiss. “I love you,” I say, and her smile could light up Rockefeller Center.
“I love you too.”
This might be our first Christmas together, but it most certainly won’t be our last.
Epilogue
STAR
“She might look like me, but she clearly gets this from you,” I whisper to my husband, who fights a laugh. I elbow him in his side, only making him laugh harder. Our baby girl Cindy flits around the tree, putting all kinds of decorations on the poor thing. “Honey, maybe you should put some on the other side,” I suggest.