Chapter 4
Sebastian
“Dad, can you sit over here by Aspen? I don’t like this angle for watching the movie. I can’t see it very well.”
Cocking my head, I open my mouth to ask her what the hell she’s playing at…but then I see the flush on Aspen’s smooth cheeks again and my whole body goes up in flames.
I want to sit next to her. I want to feel her pressed up against my side. I want to carry her away and make love to her like I’ve been dreaming about since I first met her.
But Charlie’s here and her sharp little eyes are locked on me even as she giggles.
I know for a fact that my daughter thinks I need a wife. We just had that conversation the other day so I am damn suspicious of all her help.
But Aspen doesn’t seem suspicious of her at all and that might work in my favor. I’m getting desperate enough that I’m willing to take any help I can get.
Including my pint-size matchmaker.
I stalk over by Aspen and sit on the couch, smirking slightly when she immediately rolls towards me.
“Whoa!” Aspen shrieks, pinwheeling her arms wildly.
I reach out and tug her into me and she gives a short, harsh breath.
“Oof!”
“You alright there, Aspen?” Her soft peppermint sugar scent surrounds me and it’s like every Christmas wish I’ve ever had. Her soft curves press into me and my dick just about turns to steel, pressing into the zipper on my jeans.
Clenching my teeth, I fight to keep from leaning over and throwing her over my shoulder.
Instead, I stand up and head over to the huge Christmas tree, turning off the lights and turning it on. Then I grab the remote and get the movie queued up. Sitting down, I start it and lean back, carefully moving as close to Aspen as possible without letting her know what I’m doing.
The multi-colored lights from the tree dance on her upturned face as she stares at the gorgeous blue spruce. “Your tree is so pretty.”
“I bet yours is gorgeous too,” I whisper softly as the opening credits with the cartoon Santa come in and Charlie starts dancing across the room singing the song.
Her head dips down and she twists her fingers in the lap of her emerald green sweater. The color brings out flashes of green in her pretty eyes.
“I didn’t get one this year. I’ve been too busy.”
My heart stutters in my chest. Her face is so sad that I’m afraid I know exactly what happened and I want to hurt somebody.
The somebody that I have a feeling hurt her. Her mother.
“Where’s your mom at?” I ask, not exactly as subtle as I want to be, my voice hoarse with anger.
She shrugs her slender shoulders. “She’s on a cruise. I can’t expect her to put off her plans just because of me.”
I have a feeling that she’s heard that sentence a helluva lot.
Selfish people always know just how to get their own way by making other people feel guilty about asking anything of them.
I learned that lesson the hard way with my ex-wife.
“I don’t think that that’s true at all, Aspen. I think if she was a good person she’d want to spend the holidays with her daughter.”
She shrugs and picks at her soft sweater again. She’s so shy and sweet.
Too sweet for an old man like me. She’s at least ten years younger than me. A lifetime for some things but I’m not letting it dissuade me.
I’ve made my decision. I’m working my ass off this Christmas to get what I want.
My little Christmas angel unwrapped and under me.
“Hey,” I reach out and tap her fingers lightly. Her breath draws in sharply again, her fingers trembling. “I think you deserve a special Christmas. And I’m gonna make sure that you get it.”
Her eyes peek out from underneath her long, dark lashes and her pink lips open on a gasp.
I close my eyes to keep from leaning over to take her lips, claim them.
When I open them, her clear, dark gaze is on me, her dark brows furrowed.
My fingers reach out to brush along the delicate arch of her brow. That soft gasp of sound again, breathless and shocked.
“I promise you, Aspen. I’ve got you.”
Her chocolate eyes close and she shivers and then I reach over and tuck her into my side.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper softly, triumphant as she leans into me, innocent and sweet, trusting.
I thought I was in love with my ex-wife but it’s nothing compared to what I feel for this one small woman.
Nothing like I’ve ever felt before.
She rests her head on my shoulder and sighs and I fight not to pull her hard, up on my lap.
Charlie grunts as she sits down, peeking at me and grinning,
Shaking my head, I put a finger up to my lips.
Aspen is so relaxed right now that I have a feeling she’s close to sleep.
And if I can get her to stay the night somehow…as in she falls asleep on me, then I’m gonna do everything I can to foster that.
I want her where I can keep an eye on her. Where I know that she’s safe and happy.
The way she should be.
I watch her as her breathing slows and the bright lights of the tree dance on her clear, fair skin.
There’s only one word to describe her like this. To describe her at all.
Mine.