23. Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Three
S he was drawn to him.
The breath caught in the back of her throat.
Belle didn’t want this moment to end. Parker’s fingertips traced over the back of her hand.
As he continued to stare deep into her eyes, his fingers trailed up her arm, leaving goosebumps over her skin.
His movement was slow and purposeful. Her heart felt as though it were going to pound out of her chest.
This was definitely the moment to tell him how she felt about him. But her mind and mouth were at a total disconnect. She helplessly continued to lose herself in his eyes, which were now the color of molten chocolate.
When his hand reached her shoulder, he kept going. His fingertips tickled the sensitive part of her neck, sending shivers throughout her body. And then his hand moved to the back of her neck. The next thing she knew, she was leaning toward him as he leaned toward her.
With her heart pounding wildly in her chest, he pressed his lips to hers. It didn’t seem to matter that she hadn’t been able to find any mistletoe. She reached out to him. Her hands pressed to his chest and then slid up to his shoulders. She leaned into him as her arms wrapped around his neck.
The kiss went on and on. She never wanted it to end. She didn’t want them to end. If she had any doubts before, she didn’t now.
“Arf! Arf!” Odie squeezed between them.
With the greatest of regrets, they parted. Parker was smiling while Belle frowned at Odie. “I’m sorry,” she said. “He must need to go out.”
Parker nodded in understanding. “I’ll take him out.”
She shook her head. “You don’t have to.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
She put on Odie’s little red snow boots, his red coat, and his red leash. Working in clothing, she made sure to keep him color coordinated. Then she leaned over and whispered in Odie’s ear. “Be good. Please.”
While Parker took Odie out, Belle turned on some Christmas music. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of the music earlier. She dimmed the lights and turned on the flameless candles on the fireplace mantel.
She glanced around. Was it too much? She didn’t have time to decide, because the front door opened. A rush of frigid air flooded the room. It felt like another storm was brewing.
She rushed over to take Odie from Parker. She divested Odie of his winter gear. When she put him down, he ran back to Parker’s side. It looked like her two favorite guys had bonded. She smiled. This Christmas just might end up being one of her favorites.
Belle clasped her hands together. “Which do you want: dessert or your present?”
Parker looked at her and arched a brow. “You mean I can’t have both?”
“Of course you can.” She felt flustered. “But which one do you want first?”
He pursed his lips as though he were struggling to make the decision. After a moment, he said, “I think we should open the gifts first. What do you think?”
She smiled. “It definitely sounds good to me.”
He took her hand in his and led her over to the couch. Once she was seated, he knelt down next to the Christmas tree. He picked up both gifts. He handed her the larger one.
Her palms grew damp. What if she hadn’t gotten him a big enough gift? Would he think she didn’t care enough about him? Because that was far from the truth.
Once he sat down, she said, “Open yours first.”
She lowered her gaze and bit her tongue to hold back apologies for it not being fancy enough. She should have kept looking for something bigger, fancier. When she lifted her gaze, he was already ripping off the paper, just like a kid. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
He lifted the lid on the box and moved aside the tissue paper. He stared at its contents for a moment. And then he dangled the ornament from his fingertip. “It’s Odie, right?”
He got it. Her nerves settled, and her smile broadened as she nodded her head. “It is. With you helping me—helping to get Odie home—I just thought we should commemorate this special Christmas.”
He lowered the ornament and looked at her. “I love it. And I will always remember this Christmas and the sweet puppy that brought us together.” His gaze moved to the package on her lap. “Go ahead. Open it.”
Odie jumped up beside her and attempted to bite the package.
Parker picked him up and put him in his lap.
While Parker pet Odie, she carefully slipped her finger beneath one of the folds and gently pulled.
She did it again until the flap of paper was loose.
And then she turned the package to repeat the process.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
She didn’t understand the question. She hesitated. “I’m opening the present.”
“By the time you get done, I’m going to be retired.”
She frowned at him. “The paper is so pretty. I don’t want to ruin it.”
“Would you give it a yank already? It’s wrapping paper. It’s meant to be ripped and crumpled up. It’s not like you’re going to save it.”
She stopped unwrapping it and arched a brow at him. “How do you know?”
“Know what?”
“That I’m not going to keep the wrapping paper.”
He paused and studied her. “I can’t tell if you’re serious or just giving me a hard time.”
“Maybe I like to save wrapping paper and reuse it.”
His brows rose. “I…uh, had no idea.”
It was her turn to smile. “I’m just giving you a hard time.”
He blew out a breath. “You had me for a minute.”
She didn’t say it, but she was going to keep just a small piece of the paper. She wanted to remember this Christmas. It was a very special one.
Her fingers moved faster, loosening the paper. And then she set aside the paper. The box was made of plain cardboard with no markings—nothing to tell her what might be inside.
The top had been sealed with packing tape. Using her fingernails, she worked loose the end of the tape. When she had enough loose, she grabbed it and yanked.
With the tape off, the flaps opened, and she peered inside at a bunch of… Wait. Was that a white towel?
She sent him a puzzled look. “You got me new towels?”
He let out a laugh. “No. There’s something in the towels.”
“Oh.” She gingerly lifted the towel.
Below it she found smaller towels wrapped around something. For him to go to all of the bother, they must be fragile. She moved with caution. She picked up the first item. She carefully unwrapped it. Inside she found a unique ornament.
A glass ball was covered in smooth bits of glass. They were in shades of pink, blue, green and white. She lifted her head and looked at him. “Are these pieces of sea glass?”
He shook his head. He hesitated. “You probably don’t recognize them, but these are some of the broken pieces of glass from your heirloom ornaments.”
She held the ornament up in front of her and looked at it. The ornament twisted back and forth, catching the light from the Christmas tree. “You made this?”
He shrugged. “Partly.”
Tears rushed to her eyes. She blinked repeatedly trying to stem them. “I can’t believe you did this.”
His handsome face creased with worry lines. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I… I was trying to find a way to hang onto those heirloom ornaments.”
She reached out to him. Her hand landed on his knee. She gave him a quick squeeze. “I love it. I can’t believe you went to so much trouble.”
“You do?” He blinked. “You really like it?”
She smiled and then nodded. “Looks like we were thinking along the same line when it came to presents.”
He smiled too. “I guess we were. You’ll find eleven more ornaments in the box.”
She gaped at him. “Wow. You were busy.”
“I just wanted to give you back a piece of your past.”
“And now my past is mingled with my future.” She pressed her lips firmly together. She hadn’t meant to vocalize her thoughts. But it was too late now. She might as well tell him the rest. She set the box aside and turned to look directly at him. Her heart was pounding. “I…”
“Wait.” He scooted closer to her. “I have something to say.”
“No. I have something to say.”
“I love you,” they said in unison.
“You do?” she asked.
“I do. And you…”
“Yes, I love you.” She smiled.
“This is the best Christmas of my life.” He leaned down and claimed her lips with his own.
Who needed mistletoe after all? Her heart felt as though it was going to beat out of her chest. He loves me. Her feet felt as though they’d left the ground. He loved her. As the snow continued to fall outside, inside it was just the two of them creating the most magical Christmas.