“Good morning.” He dropped a kiss on her lips, long and slow. Intense. “And merry Christmas Eve.”
Her husky laugh shook her body as well as his. “Happy Christmas Eve, you crazy person.”
He loved the sound of her laugh. It was like a burst of sunshine and a kick to the nuts all in one, powerful and so real it was almost uncomfortable. “Crazy about you,” he told her and covered her body with his, smashing his mouth to hers so no part of him left any part of her, untouched. His mouth took over, loving her with all the hunger and passion inside of him because he needed her to know. To feel just how crazy, how out of his mind hot, how mad he was about her. She tasted faintly of the chocolate they’d eaten sometime between the third and fourth round.
He pulled back and grinned. “I’m already a fan of this day.”
“Good. Get up so you and I can exchange our gifts.” He smacked a kiss to her neck and slid off the bed to retrieve her gifts.
“Gifts?”
“Yes. It is customary to open one on Christmas Eve,” he said slowly, making her smile like an angel with those wild copper curls.
“I’m aware. Usually it’s reserved for children and happens right before bed,” she shot back, leaning back on her elbows and crossing her legs so all he could see what that perky little ass.
“We can make our own traditions,” he told her with a shrug and set a box right beside her hip, caressing her shapely leg as he pulled back. “I wrote to you after I left. Once a month until I realized I needed to stop torturing myself or end up dead.”
She carefully opened the gift and gasped when she lifted up the first stack of letters. Ally carefully ran a gentle finger over the ink, smiling wistfully at his sharp, messy pen strokes. “There have to be thirty letters here.”
“Forty-two, actually. I thought about you every damn day, Ally. I missed you so much it was all I could think about, but eventually every time I thought about you all I could see was the hurt and devastation in your eyes that last time we spoke.” He sighed and his head fell back with a groan. “Years passed before I could think about you without seeing that last snapshot of you. Eventually I could hear that deep sexy laugh, and see the way your eyes lit up every time you smile.” Archer held his breath as an eternity passed before she said a word.
“Archer,” she whispered, both hands went to her face to swipe away tears falling down her cheeks. “Thank you for this. I don’t know what to say, but thanks.”
“There’s more.”
“Archer,” she laughed. “You don’t need to get me stuff.”
“I know. I want to and now that I’m not a broke college student…,”
“You can get me a box of letters you wrote from a decade ago?” She tried not to laugh and it worked. For a while. But the laughter mixed with her tears, and to Archer it was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.
He flashed a grin as he reached for the next box, big and wrapped in a shiny silver and blue winter wonderland. “This is so you can have some time just for yourself. ‘Me’ time, as they say.” He set it in front of her with a waiting grin.
This time, Ally didn’t take it slow. She ripped the paper off fast and pulled the lid off the box. A soft sigh escaped as she took it all in. “I do love a good spa day.”
“And you deserve one as often as you can fit one in.” He nodded towards the thick robe, baths salts, oils, beads, candles and even a couple gel masks. “Just say the word and Glory and I will go away for a few hours, let you get all relaxed and fragrant.”
She laughed as he intended her to. “I’ll be so smooth. All over,” she said in a husky voice that made those sweet dark beads pebble into hard peaks. His gaze was glued to her body as she stood and disappeared into her closet before reappearing.” This is just part of the gift, but I wanted to give you this in private.”
Archer had no clue what it could be based on the size and shape, maybe a book, he figured as he pulled off the wrapping paper with the elegance of an elephant. He lifted out the square shape and realized it was a picture frame. “It’s you,” he said lamely, unable to tear his gaze from the photo of her, mouth smiling but eyes sad as she rubbed her belly. “Fifteen months?”
She laughed. “It felt like it. Cindy took this photo about a week before Ally arrived with plenty of fanfare. I love it.” Her voice sounded wistful.
“I love it too. And I love you Ally.” Archer dropped the shutters on his emotions, hoping that Ally would see, would believe the words he said to her. “I love you.”
A slow smile spread across her beautiful face and her tears started to dry. “Archer,” she said and pressed her lips to his. The kiss damn near knocked him over, literally and figuratively, as her tongue swept inside his mouth. And it was too damn short when a knock sounded at the door just as he’d spread Ally out across the bed. He wanted to devour her. “Yeah?”
“Mama, grandma said it’s breakfast so get your butts moving! You too, Daddy!” She giggled at that last part, letting her little hand smack against the door before she ran off.
He groaned and rested his head against hers. “How long do we have before they come again?”
“Not long enough,” she laughed and kissed him again, this time she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him closer. She kissed him until he was dizzy with desire and breathless to have more of her. But she broke the kiss too soon. “Let’s get going. Your brothers will be here soon.”
He reluctantly pulled back and rolled off the bed. “We should conserve water and shower together.”
“Then you’d better make sure the water is nice and hot,” she told him and arched her back to tease him.
He grinned and ducked into the bathroom. And realized she hadn’t yet said she loved him back.
But he wasn’t worried. She would say it. He was sure of that.
Ally felt full to bursting with love and warmth. Satisfaction. Lust. And breakfast. By the time she and Archer had emerged from the bedroom, Cindy had whipped up a proper Christmas Eve feast. Thanks to Archer and all the calories they burned last night, and in the shower this morning, she might have eaten her weight in eggs, bacon, hash browns and cinnamon buns. Two mimosas had her feeling warm and relaxed, or maybe it was the man stroking her thigh under the table.
“Ally, what a babe you turned out to be. Too bad you’re taken,” Finn winked and they all laughed when Archer growled.
“Am I a babe too, Uncle Finn?” Glory looked up at him, the same blue eyes shining inquisitively.
“You’re a mini babe, but you’re gonna be a knockout and drive your dad insane. I can’t wait.”
She giggled right along with Finn, looking up at him adoringly. “Me neither!”
“Thanks,” Archer grumbled, sending everyone into another fit of giggles. Breakfast turned into brunch before everyone settled in the living room while Ally cleaned up. She wore a perma-smile at the sound of Glory’s constant laughter. Her little girl was fascinated by her twin uncles, and they quickly fell under her spell. It felt nice to know there were so many other people who loved Glory.
And it was really nice to have Archer back. In Blissful. In her and Glory’s lives. In her bed. In her heart, where he never really left, if she was being honest.
And right now, things felt just about perfect.
Except she hadn’t told Archer that she loved him, and she really should. She did love him and there was no reason to keep it to herself any longer. I just need my moment.
But first she needed to check on the food for dinner tonight. She loved the holidays because it was perfectly acceptable to sit inside all day and eat foods with way too much fat and watch entirely too much television. But snow had fallen steadily over the past few days so the boys took Glory outside to play in the snow. The last she looked, they were in the midst of a snowball fight.
“Sounds like they’re having fun out there.” Cindy quietly entered the kitchen and placed her hands on Ally’s shoulders. “It’s so nice to see, Ally. I’m glad things are wor
king out. So very glad.”
Ally smiled. “Me too. My biggest worry all these years was that I didn’t have enough family to give Glory all the love and attention she deserves, but today, watching the way she lit up so easily with Finn and Stephen, I felt like crying.”
“That’s how I feel watching Glory and Archer together, Ally. There is something special about watching your child turn into a parent. I got to witness it with you and now with him. They’re so natural together.”
Ally couldn’t agree more. They laughed easily. Glory trusted him implicitly, jumping into his arms with all the assurance of a little girl that he would catch her. And he did. “I don’t think I ever stopped loving him, Cindy.” She patted the older woman’s hand and rested her head on her shoulder.
“I know, honey. He never stopped loving you either. That’s why everything is so perfect. This Christmas season has been magical, Ally.”
Magical. That was the perfect word for everything that had happened since Archer returned to Blissful. It could only be the magic of the season that had twisted everything up into such a beautifully wrapped bow. “Where is your male friend today?”
Cindy stepped back and laughed, tossing the tea towel at her. “Let’s just say I’ll be back in time for dinner and any announcement you might want to make.” She wiggled her eyebrows, planted a kiss on her cheek and left as quickly as she came.
Ally smiled. “Bring him later…if it’s not too soon.” She chuckled to herself when Cindy made a strangled noise and quietly closed the door behind her.
A quick check in the oven showed the ham and potatoes and vegetables were cooking perfectly, the chicken in the slow cooker had thick gooey barbecue sauce starting to bubble. Satisfied everything was done, she went to put her feet up in front of the fire, and promptly drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 13
“I don’t think I’ve ever cleaned that much in my entire life.” Archer groaned and dropped down onto the sofa beside Ally.
She grinned when she felt the weight of his head on her shoulder, using one hand to run her fingers through his hair. “Big family meals tend to use up a lot of dishes, but luckily Cindy is cooking tomorrow.” She kicked her elf-slippered feet up on the table and crossed them at the ankles.
“Today was a good day. A really good day.” He slid down until his head was cradled by her thighs. “Glory said it was her most favoritest Christmas Eve ever, except the year she got the kiddie computer.
Ally laughed and shook her head, fingers still massaging his scalp gently. “She loved that thing. I want to get her the next one since she’s starting school next year.”
“I got it.”
“You did?” She frowned down at him and he shrugged with a smile.
“It wasn’t the first time she mentioned how cool her kiddie computer was. You’re not mad are you?”
“No, shocked. And happy. She’s going to love it.” Ally sighed. Dinner had been a success except Cindy kept shooting her disappointed looks across the table. “We should talk.” Glory was already in bed and his brothers had left before Cindy could rope them into helping clean up.
“Uh-oh. Nothing that comes after that has ever ended well for a man.” He tried to keep his tone light, but she could see the worry shining in his gaze.
“I love you too, Archer. I probably never stopped.” She blurted out inelegantly, sighed and averted her gaze. “I want all the things you said earlier and I want them with you. I’m still scared as hell, but I don’t think I’d be as happy with anyone else as I am with you.” A long, shaky breath escaped after she’d gotten it all out.
Only Archer was quiet. Suspiciously quiet.
Seconds turned into minutes and still he said nothing and she started to feel anxious. “Okay so, I’m going to head up to bed,” she said hesitantly. “I’ll see you…around.” She tried to squirm away when he stood quickly and pulled her up, lifted her over his shoulder and took the stairs two at a time. His legs moved in long, determined strides that didn’t let up until they were closed up in her bedroom.
“You’re going to see me a lot more than that, sweetheart.” He flipped her over his shoulder and onto the bed, smiling as she squealed each time she bounced on the plush duvet. “Merry Christmas,” he said against her lips as he settled his body right on top of hers.
“Um, merry Christmas?”
He laughed. “I am so in love with you, Ally. I’m going to make up for the years we spent apart. All three of us.” When his lips touched hers again, she felt those same old sparks that always flickered to life the moment their mouths fused together.
“Just be good in the here and now, Archer.” She wrapped her fingers around his thick dark hair and kissed him again, until she felt certain he knew just how much of her heart he still owned. “That’s all I need.”
“Always,” he said, the promise shining in his deep blue eyes. “Before we take this party any further, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything,” she said breathlessly, lips swollen from his sweet kisses. “Hey,” she pouted when he separated his warm, hard body from hers and rolled off the bed. “Where are you going?”
He disappeared into her closet and came out with yet another box. “This is the gift that matters most.” Wearing a heart-stopping grin, he set the big box on the edge of the bed, holding out a hand to steady her as she scrambled up to her knees.
“I told you I didn’t need another gift.” She wanted him to know he didn’t need to buy his way into her good graces. She’d forgiven him even though she hated the time they wasted, and she meant it.
“Open it,” he urged, placing her hands on the big silver and gold ribbon on top of the box.
Ally had a feeling this gift was more significant than the rest, though to her, the letters were the most precious gift she could have ever received. They’d run the course of her pregnancy and gave her insight into his thoughts and dreams while he trained and then went off to war. She carefully unraveled the ribbon and removed the box, under which were several thousand layers of tissue paper. “Seriously?”
“You gotta work for it,” he grinned and motioned for her to keep digging.
She did, pulling out red, green and white tissue paper by the handfuls and laughing when she came upon the red and white lingerie. Holding them up with delicate fingertips she laughed even harder. “You have a fetish for Mrs. Claus?”
“That’s half correct,” he told her with a mischievous grin. Her brows crinkled at his grin but he urged her to continue. “Unless of course, you’d like to stop for a lingerie break?”
“Maybe if I have the energy after all this gift unwrapping,” she joked. “Archer,” she gasped when she finally pulled up the last piece of tissue paper to find the bottom of the box covered in rose petals and pine needles, a small white box nestled in the center.
“Ally, babe. This has been the best month I’ve had since I walked away from you. Meeting Glory changed me in the best possible way. All this time I thought I was looking for something to replace the hole left in me when I did, but all I needed to do was come back home. To you. To Blissful.” He reached behind him and slapped a Santa hat on his head. “I want you to be my Mrs. Claus. My Mrs. Jones. Ultimately, I want you to be the one beside me, pushing and fighting and loving me while I do the same. I want you to be the mother of a few more babies and I want to help you grow your business until your dreams have all come true. What do you say, Ally. Will you be my Mrs. Black?”
She covered her mouth as two small tears fell from the corners of her eyes. “Oh, Archer. That was beautiful.”
“Answer me woman,” he grabbed her waist and fell on top of her. “Do you want to be my wife?”
She grinned, wrapping her legs around his waist. “Do you want me to answer now, or after I put on my engagement lingerie?”
“Now,” he growled, making her laugh.
“Yes, Archer. I will marry you. I can’t wait to marry you. It’s been too long.”
“What do you sa
y about a Christmas wedding?”
Ally looked at him, her heart and her eyes full of love and sighed. “I say that sounds wonderful. A full year to plan the perfect wedding.”
The End.
About the Author
N.D. Jackson is the author of sweet and sexy contemporary romances, with an emphasis on the quirky fun and idiosyncrasies of small town living. Her stories have been called fun, steamy, witty and hot. She loves to write about tough heroines who find love when they’re not looking for it and larger-than-life heroes who would never give up on the right girl. She lives in a flat in Germany with her husband who occasionally interrupts her in the writing cave to ask for her delicious vegan Pho or to sweep her off on a weekend adventure. The heroines in her books are a combination of her “GIRLS’ and people from her travels who’ve left lasting impressions.
Most importantly, she wants you to know the sassy older women in her books are thanks to the strongest women she knows, her grandmothers.
You can find N.D. on the interwebs at https://ndjacksonwritinstuff.com/, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ndjaxn_author and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MustangPrairieBooks, or you can join her reader’s group, The Cocktail Lounge at https://www.facebook.com/groups/261671587620194/
Get updates on new releases and sales by signing up for her newsletter.
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Other books by N.D. Jackson
Mustang Prairie
Conflict Of Interest (Shellie & Noel)
A Little Bit In Love (Alex & Baxter)
Feels Like Love (Sadie & Dylan)
It Must Be Love (Trixie & Jack)
Rebel Girlz
Second Chance eX-mas Page 10
