Epilogue Angel
A few days later, I danced around Harvey’s apartment in one of his T-shirts and flannel pants.
He cracked open the coffee creamer. “You’re going to trip.”
“I am not.” His oversized stuff was more fun to dance in than my pajamas.
The toaster oven pinged.
I sucked in an excited breath, then dashed for the kitchenette. My foot tangled in the floppy long pant leg, and I tripped towards the counter, flailing.
Harvey caught me before I crashed. “Take those off,” he said.
“But I want breakfast.” I pouted.
“Sugar…” That tone meant my ass would be his in five seconds, one way or another.
“Fine.” I pushed the waistband down and stepped out of his pants. I hung them over the back of the chair and got our breakfast ready wearing only his shirt and my lace-trimmed panties.
He smirked, then rolled his lip ring between his teeth. “You know that wasn’t what I meant.”
“I’m busy.” I pulled out the too-hot toast, dropped it on a plate, and sucked my burned fingers while I got the toppings ready.
“You’re busy, huh? Too busy to listen to me?” He crowded me against the counter and looped his fingers through the waist of my panties. “You think you know everything. Are you a big girl right now?”
My breath hitched, apple butter dripping down my frozen knife. Right now, with Harvey pressed against me, I was somewhere between a bratty girl and a sassy woman. “M-maybe.”
His lips brushed my ear, his breath hot and misty as he played with the edge of my panties. “Because if you were, I’d take these off right now and give you all the trouble you need.”
Did that mean spanking or sexy things? I swallowed around my swelling tongue and inched back against him, setting the knife down. “Harvey, I’m hungry.”
“Get it while it’s hot, then, baby.” He lovingly smacked my backside and strode off to finish making eggs and coffee.
Bereft of his warmth, I wobbled. Could I say I meant I was hungry for a good banging? My tummy rumbled. Maybe after breakfast.
Harvey winked at me over his mug.
Definitely, after.
I pressed the heart cookie cutter into our toast, my toes curling in my slipper socks at the smell of fresh bread and a happy little crunch.
Smiling, I set out our breakfast and piled the crusts on Harvey’s plate. “I wish I could start every day like this.”
“Toast and eggs?” He slid the scramble portion onto our respective plates.
“With you, silly.” I sat cross-legged on my chair and pulled him closer to me. “And not just because you feed me.”
“You can stay over, you know.” He rested his knee against mine. “Even if I’m working.”
Well, I wasn’t working. Yet. Although I had only made my first Sugarplum party post last night. I padded back to where my phone was charging by the bed, then opened my emails at the table where I could nervous-nibble on my toast.
I recognized the first name as the lady from the mall who suggested I start this whole thing. She wrote, “I’m so happy to see you’ve decided to host parties! Our family will be here through New Year’s. Do you have a few hours to spare for our kids? I’d love to talk about activities and price packaging.”
Another parent had messaged me about January.
“Two hits.” I beamed at Harvey. “People want to hire me.”
“That’s amazing, Shelby.” He kissed my cheek. “You work hard, you deserve it. How do you want to celebrate?”
“Sledding,” I said. It was the first thing that popped into my head.
He hesitated and looked around his kitchen, pressing the heart-shaped cutout to his lips. “Does your family have sleds?”
“Let me check.” I texted Zack: “Hey, do we have sleds? Also, I’m officially hired."
He texted back quickly. “Yes, they’re at April’s. And congrats. If you think you can save enough with expenses, there’s an apartment in Long Grove with a month-to-month lease. No pressure. We might not even get it. But we could make an appointment to look, if you’re interested.”
Was Zack seriously considering moving out with me? “Send me the link,” I texted back. I chewed my lip and showed Harvey the listing Zack sent. “What do you think?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Only you can tell if you’re ready for that step. All I know is, in the next year or so, it’d be good for you to live on your own. Before, you know.” He cleared his throat. “I reassess my own living situation.”
Within the next year, we could be living together. I grinned. “Okay, I’ll make an appointment. As for sledding, do you want to go before or after your manager training?”
“Why wait? Let’s go tonight," he said.
My heart leapt like we'd already shot off a hill, and I threw my arms around him. “This is going to be the best year ever.”
After breakfast and a thorough sexy time, we showered, then practiced drawing together while watching TV. He worked in his sketchbook and I drew on his arm based on face paint designs I found online.
“Do you think the Snow Queen snowflakes should be bigger on the forehead or the side of the face?” I asked.
He gestured to his brow. “It should kinda boomerang around the eyes. Also, you should practice fireworks for the New Year’s Eve party.”
“Good idea.” My sparkler streaks looked more like drooping flower petals. I dipped my brush in the water cup on his nightstand, catching a fat droplet from it in my palm.
Harvey raised a brow. “Don’t spill anything.”
“I won’t. These are all easy-wash paints.” I’d hate to have to buy him a new comforter or stain anything. Still, I moved Doggie back far enough he wouldn’t accidentally get anything on him, then patted his head. "Good boy."
Harvey chuckled. His pulse thumped steady under my thumb as I drew a snowflake on his arm.
“You have to flick your brush at the tip, like this.” He dipped the brush in the paint. His confident, steady stroke made my chest thrum with admiration.
“You’re so good at this. Are you sure you don’t want to be my co-host or assistant?” I wagged my eyebrows.” I can pay in kisses. Or percentages. You’re the best manager in the world, so I think you can do it.”
“You can’t afford me.” He smirked and held my wrist steady as he worked on the details. “But I will take some kisses for these tutoring sessions.”
“Fair enough.” I gave him the first of many payments, including interest. “What are you working on?”
He swallowed and covered the page with his cloudy forearm. “Oh, nothing.”
“You don’t want me to see?” I sat back and played with the brush. “That’s fine, I know drawing can be a personal thing.” I had a whole back seat dedicated to secret things that made me happy. It was nice to finally be able to share them with somebody, but I understood if he wasn't ready for his own thing.
His cheeks flushed and he plucked his eyebrow ring. “I’ll show you, eventually.”
“Really? What’s the subject?” I leaned forward, placing my hands on my knees.
His gaze darted around the room. “It’s kind of a business logo.”
That was odd. “Which business? The Bern?”
“No. It’d be yours, actually.” He laid the book open wider so I could see. There were ink drawings of me, all amidst a party theme: balloons, heart confetti, cake. I even had a magic wand and tiara in one.
My fingers shook over the page, not wanting to disturb the beauty. Was this how he saw me? Brilliant, powerful, and cheery?
“You don’t have to use them,” he said, easing the book away.
I gripped his hand and met his stormy gaze. “They’re beautiful, Harvey. And so are you.”
His lip twitched up. “Not as beautiful as you. I figured if I have to pass that bulletin board at work every day, I might as well make sure there's something I want to see on it.”
“Me?”
“You.” He smirked. “Although there is a concert that could be interesting. I’m making you go with me.”
I laughed and kissed his cheek. “Will you dance with me?”
“It’s not that kind of concert, Shelby.”
“Will there be head-banging?”
“Maybe.”
“I better start practicing.” I rocked my head, but Harvey reached across me.
“Not by the paint."
I grinned and righted myself. “Okay, Daddy.”
Cheeks flushed, he bit his lip ring.
“What?” I giggled. Did the term of endearment still make his heart flutter?
He glanced at the door. “I got something for you, but I’m not sure if I should wait to give it to you. The season is over–”
“You got me a present? I wanna see it." I bounced in place and gripped his sleeve. Was it candy? Literal present boxes I could use for my party service?
“Okay, put on your coat. I’ll need help to carry it in," he said.
“It’s outside?” I laughed, cleaning up the paints.
“It’ll be worth it, Sugar. I promise.” He extended his hand, the tattoo ink and paint showcasing passion and celebrations.
I grinned and took his hand. Of course I trusted him, even if it meant I had to dress like a real person for a few minutes.
My boots jingled with each step down the stairs. Outside, our breath came out in pretty little puffs. Harvey opened the back of his car, the perfect place for secrets and large objects.
“I got the down-low on the decorations coming down at the mall. Apparently, they donate and sell some of these rather than pay for storage.” He pulled an upside-down garbage bag off a four-foot tall tree.
“A Christmas tree?” I beamed, clasping my hands and bouncing on my toes. “Is it for your place or mine?”
“Wherever you want," he said.
Last month, if I brought something like this home, Mom would’ve thrown it away. Maybe now that we had some boundaries, she’d let me have my peace. On the other hand, I liked the idea of decorating it with Harvey and letting him bask in the happy memory until the day we could put one up in our place.
“I figured you’d also need some decorations.” Harvey pulled an old shopping bag closer, the contents rattling and tinkling to tempt me. It was a veritable treasure trove of ornaments.
“Oh my gosh, we had these.” I ran my fingers across the glossy, glittery surfaces. There was even a garland in there I remembered dangling in the cove. My breath hitched as my heart swelled. I leaned into my boyfriend and sniffled. “Harvey…”
He rubbed my back. “Fancee’s wasn’t going to resell all these open ornaments or save them until next year.”
“I can’t believe Officer Holland didn’t make you procure a receipt.”
Harvey chuckled and jerked his chin at the haul. “Too bad I couldn’t find a topper.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and beamed at him. “What do you mean? I’ve got an angel standing right next to me.”
He laughed and lifted me for a kiss, my feet popping up to the joyful noise of ringing.