“No, it’s a gift for me,” James said. “You’re my gift. You’ll always be my gift. You have no idea what … you’ve just done for me.”
“I know you worry about me being there, James,” Mandy said. “I always knew it wouldn’t be forever. I realized you didn’t know that, though. You needed reassurance and … well … this is how I decided to give it to you.”
“You’re definitely getting your snowman now,” James growled, turning her so he could kiss her senseless.
After separating, Mandy rested her head against his shoulder and surveyed the room. “How about I make omelets and you clean up all the wrapping paper? Does that sound like a fair tradeoff?”
“You have one gift left, baby,” James whispered, kissing her cheek. “I have trouble believing you forgot I had a big gift for you, too.”
“I thought you were going to give me that in the hot tub,” Mandy teased.
James instinctively rubbed his hardening length against his wife’s rounded bottom, sucking her earlobe into his mouth. “I’m going to give you that gift so many times today you’re going to lose count. That’s not your big present, though.”
Mandy glanced around. “We’ve opened everything.”
James reached behind the cushion he was resting against and withdrew a white cylinder, handing it over to Mandy wordlessly.
Confused, Mandy opened the end of the cylinder and tipped out the sheets of paper inside. “I don’t understand,” she admitted. “These look like building plans.”
“They are building plans,” James said. He took the sheets of paper from her and shifted them to make sure she was looking at them properly. “In April, we will officially be starting on the expansion project I hinted around about months ago.”
“You never told me what that project is,” Mandy reminded him.
“You, my love, are getting your very own arboretum,” James said.
Mandy stiffened, her eyes widening as she turned to look at James. “No way.”
“Peter hooked me up with a guy,” James explained. “The windows in his arboretum are hard to find. That’s what took me so long. I was on a waiting list. Your arboretum is going to open at the back of the house and be set … kind of behind the garage. I can’t really show you until all the snow is gone.”
“Is this for real?”
“Of course it’s for real,” James said. “I … do you like it?”
“I can’t believe you did this for me,” Mandy said, her eyes filling with tears. “It’s way too expensive.”
“Something tells me you’re worth it.”
Mandy threw her arms around James’ neck, hugging him for all he was worth. “I should have gotten you those sex coupons.”
James hugged her back, chuckling as he pressed her as close as he could manage without fusing their bodies together. “We won’t need them, baby.”
“Holy crap!”
Mandy’s excitement was contagious. “I think we officially just had the best Christmas ever,” James said.
“And we haven’t even gotten into the hot tub yet,” Mandy said, jumping to her feet.
“Where are you going?”
“Screw breakfast,” Mandy answered, stripping out of her robe and revealing her nakedness to James. “The last one in the hot tub has to clean up the mess.” Mandy bolted toward the sliding glass doors.
“I love you, Mandy,” James called to her back, stripping his boxer shorts off as he moved to follow her.
“I love you, too. Now … come on! It’s snowing and I’m naked. Let’s make another Christmas fantasy come true.”
James didn’t have the heart to tell her that she’d already made every fantasy he’d ever had come true. In truth, they’d overdone it on Christmas. In reality, they had everything they’d ever need whenever they held each other.
“I’m coming, baby. Do you think I can lodge a verbal coupon request now? I have a really outstanding idea.”
Mandy didn’t answer. Instead James heard her splashing as she landed in the hot tub. He knew it didn’t matter how she answered. They had forever. Christmas was just a bonus.
Up Next
Winter in Michigan is the pits, and the Hardy family is ready for some sun and fun. In lieu of that, they’ll take anything that offers them a break from one of the coldest Michigan winters on record.
Jake Harrison finds he’s got a prime opportunity to get his ladylove, Ally Hardy, out of town. His uncle’s farm is under attack from an unseen force and Jake volunteers his help to find out who is threatening his family.
It’s too big of a job for Jake to tackle alone, so James Hardy is going with him – and he’s taking his wife along for the ride. Mandy and Ally are excited to have a real “western” experience, and James and Jake hope that means they’ll be too caught up with horses and farming equipment to get into trouble.
Things don’t go their way … again.
When danger threatens, James and Jake are going to have their hands full. They have to save Jake’s family and make sure Ally and Mandy don’t make an already difficult situation worse.
There’s fun to be had on the farm … as long as everyone survives to tell the tale.
Deadly Desperados is available here.
Author’s Note
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
If you’re interested in upcoming releases, follow me on Facebook and Twitter. I do not spam. I don’t believe it and, as a reader, I find it annoying. Only new release information and special sales promotions will be posted.
This book is available for lending. Please do so.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Books by Lily Harper Hart
Hardy Brothers Security
Deadly Intentions
Deadly Intuition
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Proposal
Deadly Prospects
Deadly Ever After
Deadly Honeymoon
Deadly Questions
Deadly Addition
Deadly Vacation
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Storm
Deadly Dealings
Deadly Christmas
Deadly Desperados
Deadly Arrival (February 2016)
Deadly Rivalry (April 2016)
Deadly Memories (Coming Soon)
Deadly Adventure (Coming Soon)
Deadly Reunion (Coming Soon)
Deadly Conflict (Coming Soon)
Deadly Payback (Coming Soon)
Deadly Waters (Coming Soon)
Deadly Forever (Coming Soon)
A Maddie Graves Mystery
Grave Homecoming
Grave Insight
Grave Delight
Grave Misgivings
Grave Concerns (December 2015)
Grave Discovery (February 2016)
Grave Decisions (Coming Soon)
Grave Seasons (Coming Soon)
Grave Holiday (Coming Soon)
An Ivy Morgan Mystery
Wicked Days
Wicked Dreams
Wicked Times (December 2015)
Wicked Places (March 2016)
Wicked Warning (Coming Soon)
Wicked Fo
g (Coming Soon)
Wicked Seasons (Coming Soon)
Wicked Winter (Coming Soon)
A Harper Harlow Mystery
Ghostly Interests
Ghostly Issues (January 2016)
Ghostly Deceits (Coming Soon)
Ghostly Worries (Coming Soon)
Ghostly Images (Coming Soon)
Ghostly Wrecks (Coming Soon)
Ghostly Asylum (Coming Soon)
Deadly Christmas Page 20
