by Parker, Ali
“Yes, thank you for that,” I said softly.
“It was my pleasure,” she answered. “Now, we need to make cookies for Santa and then decorate the gingerbread houses. I’m going to make my pies for tomorrow. You two probably have things to do.”
“Mom, I’ll help cook.”
“I suppose we could all work in the kitchen,” she said, looking from me to Gabriel.
“I would love to do some baking,” Gabriel said, clapping his hands together.
“You can help me make my gingerbread house,” Autumn said.
“I would love to,” Gabriel told her.
“Actually, I brought a couple of extra kits,” my mom said with a smile.
It hadn’t been by chance. She’d planned to keep us all out of her hair with the gingerbread houses. She’d been using the same tactic since I was Hazel’s age.
“I see right through you,” I told her.
She grinned. “Gabriel, where’s that stash of wine you promised? I need a glass of wine to make my special pies.”
I laughed. “Basically, Nanny likes to be sloshed by dinnertime on Christmas Eve. It’s tradition.”
“It helps me sleep better,” she said with a shrug.
“I will hook you up,” Gabriel said.
“Guys, let’s get out of the kitchen before Nanny starts hollering at us,” I said to the girls.
We spent the afternoon building houses, sampling my mother’s cookies, and having a great time.
“Well?” Gabriel asked, spinning his gingerbread house around for us to look at. “Do I pass?”
Autumn clapped her hands. “That is so cute.”
He laughed. “I don’t know. The roof won’t stay on.”
“That happens,” Hazel assured him. “You have to use a lot of icing.”
He sighed. “Next time.”
“I think it looks lovely,” I told him.
Gabriel got to his feet. “What do you guys want for dinner? I’ve got some frozen pizzas, frozen burritos, or soup.”
“I think pizza is a good choice,” I answered for them.
“Can we just go to bed?” Hazel asked.
I spun around and stared at her, eyes wide. “What?” I felt like I should check her for a fever. She was asking to go to bed.
“I want to go to bed so Santa can come,” she answered.
I smiled, understanding her motive. “Okay, I get it, but I want you to eat a little something. How about a sandwich?”
They both nodded. “Two sandwiches coming right up,” Gabriel said.
I watched him walk into the kitchen, unable to squelch the desire blooming in my belly. He was a damn fine man. The girls going to bed early could be a good thing. He returned a few minutes later with turkey and cheese sandwiches.
“Slow down,” I lectured the girls, who were scarfing down their sandwiches.
Gabriel chuckled. “They seem hungry.”
“They seem anxious to get to bed.”
“Done!” Hazel said like she had just won a race.
“I’m going to get them tucked into bed,” I said, getting to my feet. “Girls, go tell Nanny good night.”
They scrambled into the kitchen, giving me a few minutes alone with Gabriel. He shook his head. “They are amped. How are they ever going to sleep? I remember being so excited, I couldn’t sleep at all the night before Christmas.”
“They know Santa will not come if they don’t go to sleep. It’s a rule. I’m sure they’ll toss and turn, but they’ll stay in bed.”
“And you?” he asked in a husky voice. “Will you be staying in bed?”
I smiled. “Santa doesn’t get to sleep on Christmas Eve.”
“What about Santa’s elves?” he asked.
“Santa would be lost without his elves,” I answered. “Will there be a certain elf waiting up for Santa?”
He chuckled. “With bells on.”
“I thought I was wearing the bells?”
He didn’t get a chance to answer. Hazel and Autumn returned, anxious to get to bed.
“Goodnight, Hazel, goodnight, Autumn,” Gabriel said, waving to the girls.
“Brush your teeth,” I ordered when we got back to the cabin. “Put on your new pajamas.”
I made up the bed while they changed. “Crawl in,” I told them.
They practically bounced across the floor. They jumped in the bed, all giggles. I tucked the blanket around them, knowing there was no way they were going to fall asleep anytime soon. I couldn’t leave them to take care of my Santa duties until they were asleep.
“How about a story?” I asked them.
“No, we’re going right to sleep,” Hazel said.
I laughed. “I think you need a few minutes to unwind. I’m going to brush my teeth and change. If you’re still buzzing, we’ll read a story to help you relax.”
I walked into the bedroom and closed the door. I quickly changed into something more comfortable. I spent a few minutes in the bathroom, brushing my teeth and spritzing on a little perfume. When I emerged from the bathroom, my mother was sitting on the bed, reading the story I promised.
“Are you all done in the kitchen?” I asked her.
“Yes. I’m exhausted. I thought I would stop by and say goodnight and wish them a very merry Christmas Eve before I went to bed.”
“I can do that,” I said, nodding at the book.
“I got it. I have a feeling these little jumping beans are going to be bouncing for some time. You’ll need to get some things taken care of.”
I nodded with understanding. “This is true.”
“Go ahead. I’ll get them to sleep before I go to bed.”
I smiled, grateful to her for so many reasons. “Thank you.”
“Have a nice night,” she called as I walked out the door.
Chapter 27
Gabriel
I brought out the cheese and crackers before pouring two glasses of wine. Laura had suddenly grown tired after Cadence left with the kids. On her way out, she told me she would be putting the girls to bed and to expect Cadence soon.
I was absolutely expecting her. I felt like I had springs in my shoes as I walked around the dining hall, pulling out the extra decorations including the stocking stuffers. I munched on some of the crackers, lifting the covering on one of the fresh apple pies and inhaling. Laura was a hell of a baker. I couldn’t wait to dig into the pie.
I heard the door open and quickly closed the lid, just in case it was Laura. She’d probably swat my hands and scold me for getting into her goodies. I smirked. It was Cadence’s goodies I was hoping to get into. Although I was pretty sure she already knew that. She’d been pushing us together since she’d shown up yesterday.
When I walked into the hall, I stopped, taking in the sight of Cadence in the soft light of the twinkle lights. She looked pretty. She was beautiful, but in the soft light, she looked youthful and pretty. I walked toward her. She’d changed into a pair of what looked like soft leggings and a flowy red shirt. It was simplistic and sexy.
“Did you get them to sleep?” I asked her.
“No. My mom is taking care of it.”
I smiled. “I’m not surprised.”
“Me either.”
“We didn’t eat dinner,” I said, gesturing to the cheese plate. “I thought maybe we could take a minute to eat before we jumped into Santa duties.”
“Yes, please. I’m starving.”
“I poured us some wine as well.”
She smiled. “It’s like you read my mind. This is my usual Christmas Eve dinner.”
“Let’s sit down,” I said and carried the plate to the seating area near the fireplace.
She took a seat, munching on some of the cheese. “This is nice. I could get used to this.”
“To the fireplace?” I asked.
“The fireplace. The quiet. The wine.” She was quiet for a few seconds before she turned to me. “The companionship.”
“I could get used to it too,” I agreed.
“I’ve had a break, but now it’s time to get busy,” she said before finishing the glass of wine.
“Tell me what to do. Your wish is my command.”
She grinned. “I’m going to keep that in mind.”
“I hope you do.”
She got up and headed for the pantry. I grabbed the wrapping paper and necessary supplies and followed her into the dining room.
“You take that pile and I’ll do this one,” she ordered.
I picked up a small, flat case. “What’s this?”
“That is a DS game,” she said with a smile.
I wrinkled my nose as I read the back of the case. “What’s a DS?”
She burst into laughter. “Oh lord, you are really out of touch.”
I smiled. “I don’t own a TV. I think that should have been obvious.”
“I can’t imagine living so simply,” she said, stopping what she was doing. “You seem happy and well adjusted.”
I smirked. “I’m not sure if that is a compliment.”
“It is. I think we get so caught up in our world, we forget to look around us and really see the world. You see the world.”
I shrugged. “I suppose I do. I like to think I do.”
“I’m rethinking my gifts now,” she said, holding a similar white box in her hand.
“Nah, don’t rethink it. These are the things that make them happy.”
“I want to get them outside more often. I don’t want them to have their faces in screens all the time.”
I started the wrapping process. “Bring them here. You are all welcome anytime.”
“When you have paying guests?”
“We’ll figure it out. There’s always my cabin.” I looked up to gauge her reaction.
She smiled. “I was hoping you would say that. Be careful what you offer. I might just take you up on that offer.”
“I hope you do.”
I got back to work, cutting paper and doing my best to wrap the presents neatly. It was a lot harder than it looked. I watched her wrap her gifts and tried to mimic the action. I was lost. I finished my stack of gifts and put them under the tree.
“That looks so pretty,” she said, bringing her own stack to the tree.
“Now what?” I asked.
She took a deep breath. “Now, we take a bite out of a few of the cookies and hide the others.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
She grinned. “Because Santa ate the cookies.”
“Ah,” I said, nodding. “I get it. Should I leave some reindeer poop outside?”
She burst into laughter. “Nice touch, but I think they’ll be okay if they don’t step in poop first thing in the morning.”
“I’ve got hot chocolate and muffins for breakfast in the morning. I’m guessing they’re going to be too busy playing with their new stuff to want to eat anything much.”
“You would be guessing right. That was very smart.”
“Thanks. Next?”
“Usually, I take care of the stockings, but you’ve already done that. My mom has taken care of the pies and done the baking. I don’t know. I’m at a loss.”
“How so?”
“Because usually this is a solo venture for me. I stay up until like two or three every Christmas Eve running around like a maniac. The girls get up at the crack of dawn, so I usually get like two hours of sleep. Christmas is me sucking coffee and trying to keep my eyes open before it’s a big meal that nearly knocks me out, all while chasing the girls.”
“Your ex didn’t help out?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah right. He would usually stay out drinking. He’d get home and pass out. One year, the girls and I waited until almost nine for him to get out of bed. Do you know what it’s like to try and stall Christmas for a couple of very anxious little girls? Have you ever heard that phrase ‘herding cats’? It is worse than that. I finally let them open their gifts. Trent didn’t give a shit. He was never a great father. I wished I would have seen it long before I did. Then again, I guess I didn’t necessarily see anything. The only thing I saw was his ass walking out the door.”
I cringed. “I’m sorry. Truly, I am. I think you are better off without him. I’m not being mean, but really, you are so much better than he deserved.”
“Thank you. I’m learning to believe that.”
“I’m sorry that you didn’t believe that at any point in your life. You are so deserving. You deserve love and happiness. You should be pampered. You should get to sit by the fire after a long day and sip wine.”
I wanted to tell her I would make sure that happened. I would be the kind of man that would carry part of her burden. I would walk beside her and help her. I would spoil her the best I could.
I didn’t say any of it because I didn’t know what she wanted from whatever our relationship was. I didn’t want to push her too hard. When she had told me she had baggage, I thought she meant the ex and her children. It was a lot more than that.
“Well, we have some time,” she said in a soft voice. “How about another glass of wine?”
“Sit. I’ll bring it to you.”
“You’re too kind.”
I moved into the kitchen and poured the wine. I grabbed more of the cheese and carried it out to the fire. “Here you go,” I said, handing her the glass.
“Thank you.”
“What time do they normally get up?” I asked.
She laughed. “Normally, seven. Tomorrow, I would guess around five, six if we’re all lucky.”
“I can’t wait to see their faces.”
“It is a lot of fun. I love being able to make them smile, even if the thrill of the gifts only lasts a couple of days. This year, I’m going to focus more on living in the moment. I’m not going to think about home or work or anything else.”
I smiled. “I’m going to do the same. This is a first for me. I’m going to cherish every moment.”
“I do suggest you get some coffee in you before the madness begins. It is a little much to take in first thing in the morning without the benefit of caffeine.”
I laughed. “I’ve been warned.”
“I should also warn you about my mom,” she said with a grimace.
That scared me. “Do I want to ask?”
“She’s very, um, anal.”
“Anal? I don’t even know what that means.”
“It means she likes to have order in the middle of the chaos—and it is chaos. She will have a big trash bag open and will flutter about picking up wrapping paper. But not before she thoroughly inspects every scrap to make sure there is nothing valuable in the paper.”
I shrugged. “Well, at least she’s not one of those that forbids any tearing of the wrapping paper.”
“No! Really?”
I smiled, nodding as I remembered my mom. “My mother was insistent we use what was essentially a letter opener to slide under the tape to keep from ripping the paper. She piled it up, and I kid you not, she would use that same paper year after year.”
“Wow. Okay. Your mom takes the cake.”
We fell quiet, staring at the fire. I allowed myself the rare luxury of walking down memory lane. I had a good childhood. I sometimes wondered if that was why I had lost them at a young age. I had twenty really great years with them and that was all I was going to get.
“I love it here,” she said, breaking the silence.
I reached over and took her hand in mine. “Good. I want you to visit often.”
I got to my feet, pulling her up with me. I didn’t know how long I had, but I wanted to take advantage of the time I did have alone with her. I took her wine glass, put it on the small coffee table, and then wrapped my arms around her
. I held her close, absorbing the warmth of her.
I bent down and kissed her. It was a slow, passionate kiss. We gently swayed in front of the fire, moving to the rhythm of our hearts beating. Her hands ran up my back, moving into my hair and pulling my head closer to hers. Her breasts rubbed against my chest.
“I think we should go to your cabin,” she whispered.
“I thought you would never ask,” I said. “I need to shut everything down. Give me two minutes.”
“Why don’t you meet me there?”
I bobbed my head up and down, closing the damper on the fireplace. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”
“Bring the wine,” she said with a smile before walking out the door.
I practically ran around the room, unplugging lights, locking the back door, and making sure everything was closed up for the night. In all, it probably took me about three minutes. It felt like three hundred. I was halfway erect and anxious as hell to get to her. The kids had Christmas morning.
I had Christmas Eve.
Chapter 28
Cadence
I stripped off my clothes in the bathroom of his tiny cabin. I looked in the mirror, adjusting the tiny red velvet bra with a white fluffy trim that matched the velvet panties. I pulled on the Santa hat and attached the little bells on the panties. I was supposed to be a sexy Mrs. Claus. I fluffed my hair around my shoulders and sat on the edge of the bed.
“No,” I mumbled, getting up to find a sexier pose.
The door was thrown open before I had a chance to find my sexy pose. Instead, I stood in the middle of the room looking at him like an idiot.
“Holy shit,” he breathed, standing in the open door.
The cold air washed over my exposed skin. I shivered, cueing him to kick the door shut behind him without taking his eyes off me.
“Merry Christmas,” I said, shaking my hips a little to jingle the bells.
“This is crazy. I swear, I had this dream last night. Are you real?”
I giggled, the bells tinkling with the movement. “I’m very real.”
“Holy shit,” he said again. “You look amazing. Don’t move. I want to commit this image to my memory.”
