Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Hey, next year, I can be a surfer!” One of Liam’s brothers spoke up, apparently looking forward to middle school.
“Yeah.” I gave a weak smile.
“Mr. Bell is tired.” The mother patted my arm as she led her quartet of kids away. And eventually the courtyard dwindled to only Merry and me. The boys had left with the family hosting the sleepover, and Cara and the girls had walked home with the sleeping baby. Several teachers and parents had helped with trash pickup, but there was still much to do, including moving all the decorations, lights, and the sound system indoors.
“Oh my, this is a lot of cleanup.” I resisted the urge to slump in one of the chairs and not move until Sunday.
“We can do it.” Merry pushed the sleeves of his long-sleeve T-shirt up, revealing toned and tanned forearms. All right, now I was paying attention. “And besides, we’ve got a good incentive to hurry.”
“We do.” I wanted to see a heck of a lot more than those sexy arms, so I put some effort into putting away decorations while singing an old favorite about waiting to be alone together. I danced around with one of the candy canes simply to hear Merry laugh.
“You really do have a nice voice.”
“Thank you.” Somehow, his praise meant more than any reviewer or producer. Showing off a bit, I launched into another song, this one a seasonal tune.
“You must be incredible on stage.” Merry’s smile positively glowed under the lights, warming me from the inside out.
“I’m something.” I basked in his gaze before sobering. “All I ever want is the audience to leave happy.”
“Well, you make me happy.” Merry matched my serious tone, and I melted like a snowman on a beach. Done. Gone. I was his as long as he kept giving me those smiles.
“Me too.” Caught up in the moment, I stepped over to the stereo we still hadn’t brought inside. I linked it to my phone again and hit my Christmas Romance playlist before stretching my arms wide. “Dance with me?”
“Me?” Merry shook his head. “You’re the performer, not me.”
“I’m not asking for a performance.” I took his hands anyway. “I’m asking you to dance with me.”
“Oh.” Merry nodded and let me lead us into a slow dance. Well, he let me lead at first, but after a few bumped feet, we figured out I was better at following. Which was fine because I could rest my head against his neck, sway to the music, and pretend this might become a holiday tradition for us. It was achingly romantic under the archway of lights. I wanted the song to last forever, but like all good things, it ended, and Merry released me.
“I almost don’t want to pull these lights down.” I sighed, and Merry hugged me from behind.
“I get it.” He dropped a kiss on my ear. “But the faster we do it, the sooner we can be in my bed.”
“Well, when you put it that way…” I started scooping up decorations with a bit more purpose.
“And I have cookies for after.” Merry waggled his eyebrows at me.
“Sugar cookies with icing?” My tone was so hopeful Merry laughed again.
“You’re worse than the kids. Yes.”
“Someday, I’ll take you to my favorite bakery,” I said off-handedly like there was a chance Merry would find himself in New York someday, holding my hand and gazing into a bakery shop window. “The black-and-white cookies are to die for.”
“I bet. I wish…” Merry matched my casual tone before quickly changing the subject. “Here, help me wind this strand.”
In short order, we had all the pretty lights wound into coils for easy use next year. The courtyard was back to normal, magic packed away, and I was understandably a bit down on the drive to Merry’s place. I brightened after he parked, and I remembered we had a whole evening in front of us.
Merry quickly dealt with a very excited Barney, who was easily distracted by a chew after his outside time.
“Boy, this place is much quieter without the twins.” The foil tree twinkled in the corner, and Merry hadn’t bothered flipping on the overhead light.
“I know.” He pulled me to him, dropping a soft kiss on my forehead. “Love my kids, but I love adult time too.”
“Mmmm.” I made a purring sound because being in his arms felt that good. “I like the sound of adult time.”
“Come on, time you met my bed.”
“High time.” I let him lead me to the smaller of the apartment’s two bedrooms, which was just big enough for a queen-size bed, a dresser, and two mismatched nightstands. He tugged at my shirt, but I stepped back. “I…um…it was a long day.”
“Want to meet my shower first?” Merry accurately guessed the reason for my hedging. I knew what I wanted, but fucking wasn’t necessarily compatible with having spent all day directing kids in the muggy courtyard.