by Cate Remy
“Kianna, it’s time to light the tree.”
Brie turned down the smooth tones of Nat King Cole’s “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas on the house speaker system. The lights dimmed in the living room. She saw Jackson by the light switch.
“You have to do that first.” He walked over to her and slipped his arms around her waist. His hands brushed the small bump that would soon grow bigger in the coming months. He gave Brie a slow, lingering kiss while the music softly played.
She looked at her husband when the kiss ended. He pointed up. She saw a sprig of mistletoe hanging over the arch that led from the living room into the dining room.
“You were standing under it.”
“I don’t remember hanging that there when we decorated the tree.”
“Must have been the interior designer before we moved in.” He kept a straight face, though humor made a twinkle in his light blue eyes.
She shook her head. “What will I do with you?”
“If you really could use a hint, there’s more mistletoe in our room.”
Brie heard the sound of jingle bells. Kianna came into the living room, dressed in elf pajamas and matching hat with Cookie, a fluffy brown miniature Schnauzer that was her Christmas present from last year. “What do you think?” Kianna set the little dog down from her lap. Cookie wore a red collar with bells. “I made it from the leftover bells and ribbons we had from the decorations.”
“It’s creative.” Brie watched Cookie run straight for the dog bed next to the fireplace and curl up before the fire. “Are you ready to do the honors with the tree?”
Her daughter gave the tree serious appraisal, even making a frown of concentration. “Hey, we forgot to put the angel on top.”
Brie touched Jackson’s sweater sleeve. “You can do it. You’re the tallest.”
“I think I need a little help from my elven assistant.” He left from underneath the arch and picked up the angel Christmas tree topper that sat on the coffee table. “Do you think we can do the job, Kianna?” He presented her with the angel.
She grinned and nodded, the bell at the end of her hat jingling.
Brie watched as Jackson lifted her daughter out of the wheelchair and carried her to the tree. He set her on his shoulders and stood while Kianna reached up and placed the angel at the very top.
“Good job,” Jackson congratulated her.
Kianna looked over her shoulder as he carried her back to her wheelchair. “Uh-oh, Mom’s crying again.”
Brie wiped her eyes. “It’s just hormones.”
She continued watching her husband interact with her daughter. Two years went by in a flash. They were happy years. She settled down on the couch and put her fatigued, slightly swollen feet up on the ottoman. She felt the baby kick when Jackson turned the volume of the Christmas music up.
“Can I stay up a little longer on Christmas Eve?” Kianna moved her wheelchair towards the couch and presented irresistible puppy dog eyes that could give Cookie a run for her money.
“If your mother says it’s okay, I have a little surprise for you,” said Jackson.
Brie folded her arms and pretended to be perturbed. “Now how can I say no when you tell her you have a surprise?”
“Is that a yes, Mom?”
“Yes, you can say up a little bit longer.”
Jackson returned to the living room, carrying a tray with three mugs topped with marshmallows and peppermint sprinkles. “I had Kianna’s favorite candy cane hot cocoa delivered from Jumpy Java.” He set the tray on the coffee table and handed the elf mug to Kianna.
“Thank you.” She took the mug, along with the TV remote. “I still have the rest of the Grinch to watch.”
Brie groaned under her breath.
“I heard that.” Jackson turned the music off and sat down beside her on the couch. He presented her with a mug of hot cocoa. “Somebody’s acting like the main character of the movie.”
“I’ve seen it so many times I know the script by heart.” She took a sip of the cocoa. “Mmm. I see why Kianna gets this all the time.”
Her daughter was completely tuned in to the TV. Brie turned to see her husband’s eyes were also focused, but it wasn’t on the movie. He took her hand. “Have I told you how much I love you, hormones and all?”
She snuggled with him on the couch. “I never get tired of hearing it. And don’t get tired of saying it, because the hormones are only going to get worse for the next four months.”
“Good thing you finished recording your gospel album. You have time to put your feet up more often.”
“Things are more settled now at Georgie Peach. You can take a load off, too, you know.”
“Finally.” He put his feet up on the ottoman next to hers. They both wore fuzzy Christmas socks at Kianna’s insistence. Jackson had on Santa ones. Brie wiggled her toes in her Mrs. Claus socks. They were corny as can be, but deep down, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jackson pushed her hair back and kissed her earlobe. “I love you, Brie. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas. I love you, too.” She found his lips. While they kissed, the baby kicked between them. Brie liked to think the little one was looking forward to more happy holidays, too.
Thanks for reading My Billionaire Secret Santa. I’d appreciate if you could leave a review on Amazon. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to learn about new releases. You can do that at https://bit.ly/2QlvLlw
Books by Cate Remy
My Billionaire Crush (Peachtree Billionaires, Book 1)
My Royal Billionaire Boss (Peachtree Billionaires, Book 2)
My Secret Billionaire Bodyguard (Peachtree Billionaires, Book 3) Coming Soon
About the Author
Cate Remy loves quirky characters and happy endings. She lives in Texas with her football fanatic husband and little toddler princess. When she’s not writing, she can be found engaging in all kinds of fantasy geekdom and 80s nerdery.
