Happily This Christmas--A Novel

by Susan Mallery

  With every flick, every stroke, her muscles tensed. He moved a little faster, carrying her along with him. She couldn’t quite seem to catch her breath.

  “Just like that,” she whispered, remembering he wanted instructions. “It’s perfect.”

  Or so she’d thought because even as she spoke, he slipped two fingers inside her, filling her. She gasped at the sensation of him moving in and out of her. All the while he stroked her with his tongue.

  The delicious friction stole her ability to think or do anything but feel what was happening to her body. She was getting closer and closer, her orgasm as inevitable as the earth’s rotation.

  “Oh, Garrick,” she breathed, pulsing her hips in time with what he was doing. She was close, so close. Almost there...

  He opened his mouth around her clit and sucked the swollen knot of nerves. It was just enough to send her over the edge. She cried out as she fell into the pleasure that rippled through her. Her release went on and on, easing slowly until the last whisper of it faded and she could only lie there like the puddle she was.

  “How did you do that?” she asked, barely able to open her eyes.

  “I’ve been thinking about it,” he said. “Planning my attack.”

  “You give a great attack.”

  He grinned, then stood and quickly pulled off the rest of his clothes.

  The sight of him naked—and very aroused—was enough to pique her interest. She slid onto the mattress while he opened a condom and put it on, then settled between her thighs.

  “I want this,” he said, staring into her eyes.

  She shuddered in anticipation. “Me, too.”

  She reached between them and guided him in. He moved slowly, filling her until her nerve endings all cooed in delight. When he was all the way in, he groaned.

  “Better than I imagined,” he told her, his eyes dilating.

  She smiled. “I agree, but it seems to me you’re an orgasm behind. Let’s catch you up.”

  “Let’s.”

  He withdrew only to push in again. She wrapped her legs around his hips, tilting her pelvis so he could go in deeper. They both gasped.

  They moved together in the age-old dance of lovemaking. With every stroke, she was more and more aroused, her body aching for another release.

  “You’re close,” he said, his gaze locking with hers. “I can feel it.”

  “I am. You feel good.”

  “Touch yourself.”

  The request was thrilling. Still staring into his eyes, she moved her hand between their bodies and pressed her fingers to her swollen center. Garrick eased back, more on his haunches as he thrust inside her. They both looked at where her fingers circled and his penis moved in and out.

  The visual was the most erotic thing she’d seen, and she felt herself getting closer and closer to another release.

  “I’m going to come,” she gasped.

  “Good. Tell me when.”

  She moved hard and faster, his thrusts matching her movements. Her body tensed as she got closer and closer.

  “Now!”

  She felt her muscles tighten around him as she lost herself in the glorious waves of pleasure. Seconds later, Garrick called out her name as he pushed in deeply, then stilled. She consciously clamped around him, wanting to make it as good as possible. Their eyes opened and they stared at each other, body to body, soul to soul.

  * * *

  GARRICK FOUND HIMSELF whistling on his short drive home from work. He’d spent the day in a better than usual mood. He’d smiled so much, a couple of the officers had asked him what was going on. Nothing like a great night with an amazing woman to change a man’s outlook on life, he thought as he parked in the driveway.

  His time with Wynn had been even better than he’d imagined. She was sexy and responsive and just plain fun. They’d made love twice before he’d had to head back to his place. He wanted to be with her again and again. Once had definitely not been enough.

  But between her kid and his, life was a little complicated, so intimacy would have to wait. On the bright side, he had a date with her to look forward to.

  He walked into the house and called out a greeting. Joylyn waddled out of her bedroom, smiling when she saw him.

  “Hi, Dad. How was your day?”

  “Pretty good. You look more rested. Did you get some sleep?”

  She nodded. “I’ve been lying down every couple of hours. Even if I only sleep for a little bit, eventually it adds up, right?”

  She pointed toward his office. “A package came for you. I put it on your desk.”

  He smiled. “Good. I’ve been waiting for that. Give me a second to change my clothes, then we’ll open it together.”

  “Now I’m intrigued,” she said with a laugh.

  “Good.”

  He went into the master and put on jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. After carrying the box to the kitchen table, he cut the tape before stepping back and motioning for her to do the honors.

  She gave him a quizzical look as she opened the flaps and pulled out a smaller box. She opened that, then stared at the contents.

  “Oh, Dad.”

  Her voice was thick with emotion, but the happy kind. She removed a small round handprint ornament she’d made when she was five or six.

  “I don’t understand,” she whispered, touching the smooth clay.

  “I called your mom and asked if she could send along your old Christmas decorations. She was going to give them to you when the baby was born, so she had them packed up. I thought you might like to have them on the tree here—you know, to make you feel it was more like Christmas. When you go back to Phoenix, I’ll get them together so you can take them with you.”

  She put down the ornament and rushed into his arms.

  “Thank you so much. I love them and yes, I want them on the tree.”

  “Good.”

  She looked at him, her mouth curved up in a smile. “That was very thoughtful of you.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “You’re my best girl, no matter how old you are.”

  He carried the box into the living room and set it on the coffee table. Joylyn sat on the sofa and directed him as he hung all the ornaments. And while he liked that he was making her happy, he wasn’t thrilled to know she would be leaving him before Christmas. If he had his way, he would like her to stick around through New Year’s.

  But he knew that wasn’t practical. Once Chandler was home, she would want to get back to Phoenix and have her baby there.

  When he’d finished, she took several pictures of the tree. “I’m going to text them to Chandler,” she said. “He’ll be so excited. I can’t believe we’re just under two weeks away from him coming back.”

  “I know you’re excited. You’ll want him close for sure.” He cleared his throat. “If you, ah, want, you two could spend a couple of nights here before heading back to Phoenix. I’d enjoy hanging out with the two of you.”

  She looked up from her phone. For a second her expression was unreadable and he thought maybe he’d stepped in it, but then she smiled.

  “I’d like that, Dad. Let me make sure that’s all right with Chandler. I’m sure he’ll be happy to stay. With me so pregnant, we can’t go see his family this year, so splitting my time between you and Mom makes sense.”

  “I’d like that,” he said, careful to keep his tone happy but not too happy. He didn’t want to pressure her.

  He held up the empty box. “I’ll store this in my office until you’re ready to leave. Are you ready for dinner?”

  “I am. I already made potato salad to go with the pork chops you’re barbecuing.”

  “Nice. After dinner, I’m going to work in the garage for a little bit.” He was nearly done with the bassinet.

  She rolled her eyes. “Men and their garages.
If we ever have one, I hope Chandler doesn’t spend as much time in his as you do.”

  “It’s a guy thing, sweetie. You’re going to have to get used to it.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  WYNN WASN’T ONE to make a public statement, but living in a small town meant it was inevitable. Showing up to The Boardroom with Garrick would definitely get the word out—not that she minded. She liked Garrick and was happy to be seen with him. It was more just knowing that everyone would be looking at them and speculating.

  She was not a “center of attention” kind of person. When she’d been dating Jasper, she’d asked that they keep things quiet the first year they were together. But once they’d shown up at The Boardroom together, everyone had known.

  Given the fact that the regular Monday night tournaments would be suspended through the first of the year, The Boardroom was offering game night every night this week.

  “Nervous?” Garrick asked as he pulled into the parking lot.

  “Braced.”

  He turned off the engine and smiled at her. “If it helps, you look beautiful and every guy in there is going to be jealous as hell.”

  She laughed. “Most of the guys in there are happily married, so probably not, but you’re sweet to say that.”

  “Just being honest.”

  He got out of his SUV and came around to her side, then opened the door. When she was standing, he lightly kissed her, then took her hand.

  “Best first date ever,” he told her.

  “We still have hours to go. What if I turn out to be a dud?”

  “Not possible.”

  He was good, she thought, slipping her hand into his. Kind, funny, sexy, great in a bed and thoughtful. Oh, and really good-looking. There was no bad with Garrick—a thought that should have scared her and yet didn’t.

  They walked inside and were greeted by people they knew. As they chatted, she looked around and spotted Bethany and Cade at a table. Bethany saw her and waved her over.

  “We have an invitation,” Wynn told Garrick.

  “And a serious chance of winning tonight’s game,” he said with a grin. “They won’t last the first round.”

  “I assume you’re talking about them wanting to get home to their daughter and not their lack of skills at—” She glanced at the board games stacked on the bar. “Trivial Pursuit.”

  “I was. Something tells me Bethany will be great at Trivial Pursuit. I’m guessing her knowledge of world history and geography is better than mine.”

  “Not good with the rivers?” she asked, her voice teasing.

  “The rivers get me every time.”

  They joined their friends. Bethany shot Wynn a “we’ll talk about this later” look before waving over the server in the area.

  “We’ve already ordered.” Bethany grinned. “One of the thrills of wrapping up my breastfeeding is I get to have alcohol again. Yay me, especially with them serving all those delicious holiday drinks.”

  Cade shook his head. “Honey, you don’t even finish a glass of wine.”

  “I know, but I could if I wanted.”

  Wynn and Garrick placed their drink orders.

  “Should we take bets on how long you’ll last?” Garrick asked with a grin.

  “We’re staying for the whole first round,” Cade announced firmly. “Maybe.”

  “Who’s home with Addison?” Wynn asked.

  “My mother,” Cade said.

  Wynn tried not to wince. Libby Saunders was a stern woman who frightened most people in town, but she loved her son and adored her granddaughter.

  “I think she’s trying to get in as much time as she can now,” he added. “In case Bethany’s folks decide to fly in for the holidays.”

  “They’re not going to just show up,” Bethany said.

  “You sure about that?”

  Bethany hesitated. “Not really.”

  Wynn laughed. “The king and queen do like to make an entrance.”

  “My dad likes to make an entrance,” Bethany corrected. “My mom just wants to see me and Addison.” She glanced at Cade. “And you, of course.”

  “Of course,” he echoed. “I’m the favorite son-in-law. And the only son-in-law.”

  Bethany laughed. “They love you.”

  “Your dad told me he’d cut off my head if I ever disappointed you. Not that he would do it himself. I’m sure there’s a royal head-cutter-offer somewhere in the palace.”

  The server appeared with their drinks. Garrick passed them out to the table.

  “A royal father-in-law would be tough,” he said. “It adds a whole extra layer of pressure.”

  Cade nodded. “Plus they go crazy with the presents. She’s still a baby. She doesn’t need a pony.”

  “They’re not giving her a pony,” Bethany told him. “They’ll wait until she’s six.”

  Wynn smiled at Garrick. “Did you get Joylyn a pony this year?”

  “She and Chandler are still in the Marines. They don’t have anywhere to put it.” He picked up his beer. “He’ll have some leave when he gets home. I got them a week at a cabin in Lake Tahoe. They can take the baby and get away for a few days to be a family together.”

  “That’s a great gift,” she said. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”

  “I hope so.” He glanced at her. “How hard is it to throw a baby shower?”

  “You’re thinking for Joylyn?”

  “Uh-huh. The baby’s due on the twenty-fifth. Between her friend’s wedding, Chandler coming home and the holidays, I don’t think she’s going to have one. Doesn’t she need a baby shower?”

  “It’s a tradition for sure,” Bethany said. “I wonder why her friends haven’t pulled one together.”

  Wynn thought about the young women who had shown up over Thanksgiving weekend. “Most of her friends are still in college. I doubt it occurred to them. Her other group of friends are Marine wives. While they might want to put one on, she’s here and they’re in San Diego.”

  Joylyn might have shown up in Happily Inc crabby and sad, but she’d changed in the short period of time she’d been here. She and Garrick had reconnected, and she was great with Hunter. The young mother-to-be deserved a baby shower.

  “The only dates that make sense are this weekend,” she said. “I’m not sure we can pull it off so quickly, but if you want to try, I’ll help.”

  “Let me text Alisha and see what she thinks. She’s the mom, after all.”

  He excused himself and went outside. The second he was gone, Bethany leaned close to Wynn.

  “You were holding hands! I saw! Tell me everything.”

  “Not everything,” Cade added quickly, his expression pained. “Garrick and I are friends. There are things I don’t want to know.”

  Wynn grinned at him. “I’ll only share the G-rated version.”

  Bethany clapped her hands. “There’s another version? So you’re dating. When did this happen? You guys look great together, by the way. So tell me, tell me!”

  “I’ve noticed him for a while,” Wynn admitted. “I guess he’d noticed me, as well. Things started happening when he found out his daughter was coming to stay and he asked for my help to get the house ready. Since then we’ve been hanging out a lot and getting to know each other.”

  “And the sex part?”

  “No,” Cade said. “Just no. Please?”

  “But she has to tell me now. Joylyn is coming to lunch tomorrow, and I can’t ask in front of his daughter.”

  “Text her later. Just don’t talk about it now. Please?”

  Garrick returned to the table.

  “And?” Wynn asked.

  “The shower is on, but Alisha started crying when she realized she’d totally forgotten to give her only daughter a baby shower.”

  Wynn squeezed his hand. “Th
at’s not your fault.”

  “I still feel guilty. I don’t like making women cry.”

  “But if you can bring a guy to tears?” Cade asked.

  Garrick grinned. “That’s different. It shouldn’t be but it is. Anyway, I’m going to talk to Joylyn when I get home and ask her if she wants the shower. If she does, Alisha will contact her friends and get it all going.”

  He looked at Wynn. “It’s going to be at my house, and I’ll need help pulling it all together.”

  “I’d love to help.” She smiled at Bethany. “With all my friends popping out babies, I’m something of an expert.”

  “You’ll need a theme,” Bethany told him. “Once you have that, it helps with all the other decisions.”

  “Do you know how she wants to decorate the baby’s room?” Wynn asked him.

  “Light blue and yellow with a lot of Winnie the Pooh.”

  “There you go,” she said. “We have a theme. We’ll go online and get some ideas. We can pull it together.”

  His gaze locked with hers. She felt the connection flow between them and immediately wished they were alone. But they weren’t, and this was their first date and she should enjoy it instead of thinking about how much she wanted to make love with him.

  The servers walked around, handing out Trivial Pursuit games to every table. As they set up the board, Wynn felt Garrick’s leg press against hers. She looked at him and he smiled. She smiled back, ignoring the not-very-subtle aching in her heart.

  He got to her in ways she hadn’t expected, and she liked how they were together. She had a feeling that while they’d been busy living their lives, she’d been slowly, quietly, falling in love with him. Which meant there was no escaping her feelings. She could only ride them out and hope that he was falling for her, as well.

  * * *

  WYNN LEFT WORK at eleven thirty. She needed to swing by her place and pick up the Christmas cookies she’d made for the girlfriend lunch. She was also going to get Joylyn, who would be joining her.

  She pulled into the driveway and stopped the car. Before she’d even climbed out, Joylyn was locking the front door to Garrick’s house and heading her way.