Chapter 35
"Don’t be a party pooper, Scrooge. It’s Christmas time." ~ Parker
Parker
“Wake up! Wake up!” I bounce on the bed to wake Jeremy.
He groans. “What time is it?”
“It’s Christmas time!”
He shakes his head. “It’s Christmas Eve. Not Christmas yet.”
“Don’t be mean, mister or I’ll sic Viking on you.”
Viking chirps in agreement from where he’s nestled on a pillow in front of the heater with the lights from the Christmas tree illuminating him. I smile at him. I couldn’t be happier to have him with me. He’s not going anywhere since I no longer have to worry about paying my parents back.
After the stunt they played in my bakery, I’m done. Until they apologize, they are not part of my life.
I’ve already given my notice at my apartment. Jeremy couldn’t be happier. Naturally. He got what he wanted. Which was what I wanted as well but still. He doesn’t need to gloat.
Jeremy sighs before sitting up in bed and propping the pillows up behind him. “Why are you up this early? The bakery is closed today and tomorrow.”
Since Jeremy finished his app two days ago, he was able to help me in the bakery. Together, we managed to finish all the Christmas orders and get them delivered yesterday. And now we have two glorious days off together to enjoy the holiday.
I hand him a cup of cocoa. “It’s time to open presents.”
I came home yesterday to discover a mountain of presents under my little Christmas tree. It’s a good thing I’m not a cat or I would have expired from curiosity. My first Christmas presents from Jeremy.
“Christmas presents shouldn’t be opened until Christmas Day.”
“Don’t be a party pooper, Scrooge. Let’s start a new tradition. We each open one present on Christmas Eve morning.”
His eyes widen when he notices the two presents I already chose are waiting on the corner of the bed.
He sips from his cocoa while he stares at me over the rim of the mug. I bat my eyelashes in a silent plea. Finally, he sets the cocoa down on the nightstand. “Okay.”
I squeal and dive for the presents.
“But I get to pick the present you open.”
I frown.
“I pick the present or you wait to open all your presents until tomorrow.”
“Fine.”
He chuckles at my pout before crawling out of bed. He chooses the largest box under the tree and hands it to me.
I bounce on the bed. “Oh. I wonder what it is.” I shake the box. I can feel rattling inside. “It’s light. But the box is big.”
He settles behind me and wraps his arms around me. “Open it and find out.”
I tear into the wrapping paper and he chuckles. “You don’t save the paper?”
“Shush you.” I open the box only to discover there’s another box inside. “How many boxes are there? Am I unwrapping a present or a Russian doll family Christmas?”
He rests his chin on my shoulder. “You’ll see.”
I remove the box. It’s also covered in wrapping paper. I quickly get rid of it before opening it to discover another box. I growl. “How many boxes are there?”
“I figured I’d need several or you’d manage to unwrap it and discover what’s inside before Christmas.”
I gasp. “Are you saying I snoop?”
“I’m saying I caught you unwrapping one of the presents under the tree.”
I sniff and stick my nose in the air. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, you don’t.” He points to the box. “You gonna open it?”
“If there isn’t a present at the end of this torture, I’m not going to let you open your presents until Valentine’s Day.”
“Don’t care. I have everything I want in my arms now.”
I melt into him. “You say the nicest things.”
He kisses my neck. “Open the present.”
There are two more empty boxes before I reach an envelope. “If this is a check or money, you are seriously going to experience the Christmas ghosts and they are going to terrify you.”
“It’s not money or a check.”
I narrow my eyes at him. He doesn’t scratch his neck. Huh. He appears to be truthful. I guess we’ll see. I open the envelope and read the card. My jaw drops open.
“Are you serious?” He nods. “We’re going to Paris?”
“I want to show you all the wonderful patisseries and the Eiffel Tower. We’ll dine outside in Montmartre. We’ll visit the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa. And—”
“We’re going to Paris!” I scream.
I tackle him and rain kisses over his face. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. When do we go? I need to figure out the bakery. Is my passport still valid?”
I try to jump from the bed to go check but he snatches my wrist to stop me. “We can go whenever you want. Whenever it fits your schedule the best.”
I grin. “You are so getting lucky later.”
“Why can’t I get lucky now?”
“Because you have to open your present.”
His gaze rakes over my body. “I’m staring at the present I want to open.”
I shiver. “Hold that thought.” I crawl over him to nab the present I picked out for him.
“What is it?”
“You have to open it to find out.”
He slowly and ever so meticulously removes the wrapping paper without tearing it.
“What are you doing? We’re not re-using the wrapping paper.”
“Nope but watching you try to be patient is fun.”
I growl at him. “You’re mean.”
“We’re in the bed. I’m allowed to tease you in the bed.”
Stupid sirens. He’s right. We made the agreement after I nearly cracked my head open on the kitchen counter when I had enough of his teasing. No more teasing me anywhere I might get injured or end up kicking Jeremy in the balls.
He opens the box and frowns. “What is this?” He removes the old-fashioned nightcap and nightshirt. “You got me Scrooge pajamas?”
“You missed one thing.”
He digs out the t-shirt and reads the front. “What part of bah-humbug don’t you understand?”
I clap. “Isn’t it perfect?”
He smiles as he places the item back in the box. “Thank you for the gift.”
I burst into laughter. “It’s a gag gift.” I reach under the bed and bring out another package. “Here’s a real gift, ya big whiner.”
“I wasn’t whining.”
“No, but you were terrified I was going to make you wear the pajamas.”
“More worried you had a fetish about old men.”
I shiver. “Nope. The only fetish I have is for a billionaire with dirty blond hair and light brown eyes.”
His eyes warm. “Good, since I have a fetish for a baker with bright blue eyes and a perky nose.”
I tap his gift. “Open it.”
This time, he doesn’t torture me and tears into the package. This is the way Christmas presents should be opened. With abandon and glee.
“What?” His brow wrinkles as he stares at the plaque. It says Jeremy’s place.
I remove the plaque from the tissue paper. “It’ll be affixed to your table in the bakery so everyone knows it’s your place.”
“Princess,” he mutters.
“What?” I bite my lip. “You don’t like it?” I blow out a breath. “It was a silly idea.”
I start to stand but he tackles me. “It’s not a stupid idea. It’s perfect. You’re perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re serious? You like it?”
“I don’t like it.” My stomach falls. “I fucking love it. I love you.”
I smile up at him. “And I love you. Happy first Christmas together.”
“I can’t wait to spend every Christmas with you.”
“In your Scrooge pajamas.”
“I don’t give a fuck. I’d wear a tutu and reindeer antlers if it makes you smile. As long as I’m with you, I’m in.”
I wrap my arms around him. “Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?”
“I love Christmas but my Christmases haven’t been very happy since I returned to Smuggler’s Hideaway after culinary school. I was lonely, and my parents were dismissive of me.”
And now here I am laying in bed with the man who loves me who I love. I’ve come a long way.
He places a finger over my lips. “Nope. We’re not discussing unhappy thoughts while we’re in this bed together.”
I don’t fight him. He’s right. We should have a space where my parents can’t invade. And the bed is as good a space as any.
I bat my eyelashes at him. “Whatever will we do instead?”
He nips my bottom lip. “I vote for unwrapping my favorite present.”
“Another present? Someone’s greedy.”
“When it comes to you, I’m always greedy. I can’t get enough of you.”
“Good. Since I will never get enough of you.”
He melds his lips to mine and I sigh. His taste of chocolate, espresso and sin hits me and I moan. I love how he tastes. It reminds me of baking, which is my favorite thing in the world. This man was made for me.
“I love you,” he murmurs.
I used to think I had to earn love. Prove I was worthy of it with perfect grades, perfect cookies, perfect smiles. But Jeremy loves me messy and loud and ambitious. He’s the first person who’s ever made me feel I was enough.
“I’m thankful you couldn’t work in the sauna at Eli’s house. Maybe I should send him a gift basket as a thank you.”
He grunts. “Gift baskets later. Remove clothes now.”
“Bossy. Bossy.”
“And you love it.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
He smiles, brushing my hair off my face like it’s the most precious thing in the world. Like I’m the most precious thing in the world. “Then I’m the luckiest man alive.”
I melt into him. The tree lights cast soft shadows across the room. Our first Christmas together. The first of forever.
Thanks for reading!