Page 55 of It Happened Duo
“That’s fine. We have nothing but time together on this Christmas break. And I already know who I’ll be kissing on New Year’s Eve night.You.If you’ll stay here all week.” She shifted beside me, laying her head on my chest. “I think you’ll find the Holly Creek community’s First Night party is a real blast.”
“I have no car, no way to leave, and I wouldn’t want to. Not now, not when we’ve just started again.” I didn’t think I’d leave her side anytime soon for fear of her slipping away.
“The storm was nasty. I’m so thankful you made it through. What if something had happened to you and you didn’t make it here?”
“Sh. We’re not doing the what-ifs, remember?” I hated her worrying, although in hindsight, she’s right. I was much too anxious to reach her when I left New York City to check the weather or to fear for my safety. “Tell me who to call and I’ll see if I can get the car towed and fixed.”
“This is Holly Creek, and with so much snow dumped on us and being Christmas, the roads won’t clear for a few days. Or the mechanic might have taken the week off. Guess we’re rather far removed from civilization and sunshine for your tastes,” she teased.
“You’re wrong. I have all the sunshine I need right here in my arms.”
“Aw, Rex. I can’t believe I’m in Holly Creek with you. Inever thought it possible to get you out of New York City, much less that we’d be back together.”
“Hey, I leave the city once in a while. I take my boat out every summer and cruise the islands.”
“Don’t tell Maisy that. She’ll hound you for every detail. While I love snow, she’s a beach person. We’ve already blocked out the week of her spring break to go somewhere fun.”
“Send me the dates. We’ll take the yacht and sail to any island you want.”
“Really? You would do that with us? I’d love that.”
“And I’d love to see you wearing nothing but bikinis in the sunshine, lounging on my boat.”
She chortled. “Of course you would.”
“So what exactly is there to do around here, anyway? I mean, I plan to spend a good chunk of time with you in bed, but at some point, we need to eat and find some entertainment. Are there any five-star restaurants in Holly Creek? Plays to see?”
“Listen, city boy, we have plenty of wonderful things for you to see and do in Holly Creek. I dare you to fall in love with this place.”
“I’m already in love withyou.”
She pecked at my lips. “I don’t think I’ll tire of hearing you say that.”
“Because of you, and your love for this place, I’m sure I’ll give Holly Creek a fair try.”
“It’s the most magical time of year to be here, well, except for Christmas in July, of course.” Her lips curved,forming a warm smile, and filled my heart with hope that we’d have many more Christmases together. “Actually, I’ll be right back.”
She got up and dug through the drawer, finding another flannel nighty to put on. I’d rip the buttons off on that one, as well. Nothing would be a barrier between us anymore.
I heard her in the bathroom down the hall cleaning up, and when she returned, she kneeled next to me on the mattress, unfolding a paper in her hand.
“What’s that?”
“When you told me some time ago that Christmas wasn’t your favorite holiday, I decided I would try to change your mind. So, I wrote out Rex’s Bucket List for Christmas.”
I howled. My girl was too much. “Okay, tell me the first thing on the list.”
“Ice skating…although at the time I wrote this, we were in New York City, so it says at Rockefeller Plaza. But now, in Holly Creek, that’d be at the pond where all the locals go to skate, play pickup games of hockey, and drink hot cocoa.”
“Perfect. Here’s the plan. We’ll make love again, then get up and shower together, enjoy Christmas with your family. I can’t wait to meet your mom and brother, by the way. And finally, ice skate this afternoon. And every day until New Year’s Eve, I want to tackle that list with you.”
We held each other and talked more about our plans for the week. Whatever she wanted, I’d do, because somehow it happened. I fell deeply, madly in love with a woman who had the brightest soul.
“Thank you, sweetness, for taking me back, and for loving me despite my faults. You’ve turned this Christmas into the best ever. I don’t see how anything could ever top this,” I said.
“You never know what the future holds for us. But as long as we face it together, anything is possible.” She winked a gleaming green eye at me, and I hugged her closer.
I used to believe I was a lucky man, with all my family’s wealth and possessions. But now, my life was richer, with Chelsea in it.
