Chapter 39
LUKE
The flight back to New York was a lot less lonely than the flight I’d taken to Texas a few days prior. Clara chose the seat beside me and cuddled into me like an adorable little mouse. With my arm around her, I felt like the richest man in the world. I wanted to keep her there forever.
Before getting to the airfield where we took off, I had messaged the crew to have a chilled bottle of champagne waiting for us. Once we hit cruising altitude, I popped the cork and poured us both glasses.
I clinked my champagne flute against hers, overflowing with excitement that she was really here with me. “To new beginnings.”
Clara smiled at me like I was her prince, and it meant everything to me. I had stumbled a bit in our relationship by lying to her, but I promised myself I would be the man she thought I was. She deserved the best version of me.
“Cheers,” she said and sipped. “Oh, it’s good.”
“I’m glad you like it. I have a case of it waiting back at my apartment. I just ordered it special.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Are we having a party?”
“Yes, but there’s only two people on the guest list.” I grinned at her. “It will be a private celebration.”
“And what exactly will we be celebrating?” Clara took another dainty sip, followed by a bigger drink. It really was tasty stuff.
“Well, I suppose we have a few different things to toast to.” I held up a finger on my free hand. “One, I finally got my head out of my ass and properly apologized to the woman I love.”
Clara giggled and her cheeks reddened. “That’s a good reason to celebrate.”
I held up a second finger. “Two, the love of my life is joining me in the city where I live.”
“Yeah.” She nodded, her eyes taking on a faraway look. “That’s a pretty big one too.”
“Three?” I ticked off another finger and grinned at her wickedly. “I got laid last night.”
Clara slapped my shoulder playfully and laughed. The sound was sweet music and I wanted to hear it for the rest of my life.
The flight went like that for the next few hours, just joking around and laughing and snuggling like we couldn’t be apart for too long.
The crew kept to themselves unless I went and asked them for something.
Clara and I were in our own little bubble flying through the night sky, like Santa bringing one more gift to put under my tree.
I couldn’t stop thanking the stars that she had agreed to hear me out one more time. She had every right to not trust me. Lies, even ones by omission, were dealbreakers in a relationship. I would never do that to her again.
If anything, I was going to start oversharing with her.
It was late when we arrived in New York. The city was still lit up and alive. I was feeling the same way, now that I was back there with Clara. With her at my side, it really felt like we could have it all.
Lenny was there to pick us up right on the tarmac. He held a tray with two steaming cups on it. “I got you coffee.”
“You’re the best, Lenny,” I told him.
“That’s a great idea.” Clara yawned and shivered. “I wasn’t ready for this cold.”
“Hop in and I’ll have you two home in no time.” Lenny put our bags in the back of the SUV while I helped Clara get in.
She didn’t really need my help, but I just liked holding her hand. I climbed in beside her and she leaned in to me again. “It’s good to be back,” she said sleepily.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave her an affectionate squeeze. “It’s good to have you back.”
Lenny got driving, weaving through New York traffic like a pro. He turned on the radio and Christmas songs played softly in the car. Outside the windows, the festive lights and snowy sidewalks added to the holiday mood. Christmas Day had passed, but the spirit remained, strong as ever.
Clara sat up and pulled away a little. “I should probably figure out where I’m going to stay.”
I looked her dead in the eyes and shook my head. “Don’t do that. You’re staying with me and I don’t want to hear any arguments.”
She smiled at me. “So bossy all of a sudden.”
“After I fought so hard to get you back, you think I’m going to dump you off at a hotel or something?” I paused. “Unless that’s what you want?”
Clara shook her head slightly, still grinning. “I want to sleep wherever you’re sleeping.”
I slung my arm around her shoulders and hugged her back into my side. “Then we’re on the same page.”
Lenny dropped us off at my building and I gave him the rest of the week off, telling him I would see him after New Year’s.
Between that and the hefty Christmas bonus I’d given him, I felt like a pretty good boss.
He deserved it, of course, but it also felt nice to spread some of the joy I was feeling, now that things with Clara had gotten straightened out.
I felt like Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning, ready to run through the streets and tell everyone about the magic of the holidays. But since I didn’t want to spend the next few days getting evaluated by psychiatrists, I instead grabbed Clara’s bag and mine, then walked her inside the building.
“Welcome home,” I told her.
The elevator up took a long time, and I started getting nervous, not sure if she would like the surprise I had waiting for her. It was cheesy as hell, bordering on lame, but once I had the idea, I moved heaven and earth to make it happen before we got back.
The doors opened to my entryway and we walked in. Clara yawned again, blinking into the darkness.
“It’s been a long day,” she murmured. “I think that champagne is catching up to me. The bed is calling my name.”
Without a word, I flipped a switch and Christmas lights blinked to life, bathing us in their multi-colored glow.
Clara gasped, rounding on me. “You didn’t take them down when I left?”
I grinned at her. “I couldn’t do it. And once I found out you were coming back with me, I called in some people to add more.” I flipped a second switch, and the room went from bright to blinding.
“Luke!” She clapped her hands over her mouth, wide eyes no longer sleepy as she looked around at the elaborate designs the decorating crew had added to the walls.
They had programmed the lights somehow, making all kinds of Christmas shapes appear as if by magic.
Trees, gingerbread men, holly wreaths, and of course, candy canes.
“I wanted to prove to you I was sorry about before.” I smiled at the vibrant decorations. “I wanted you to come home to a nice surprise.”
Clara teared up. “I love it. This was a wonderful surprise. So thoughtful.”
We walked deeper into the penthouse.
“You got a tree, too?” she asked.
“I figured I owed you one. But that’s not the big surprise.” I took her hand and led her to the other side of the living room.
Clara looked at me, eyes confused. “There’s a bigger surprise than this? I know I joked about it but I hope you didn’t get me an actual reindeer.”
I laughed and shook my head. “I considered it, but can you imagine walking one of those things? Do they even make poop bags big enough to pick up their mess?”
She snorted and leaned into me. “Garbage bags maybe.”
I swept out my arm and gestured at the giant nutcrackers, which had an addition to their outfits. “Behold!”
“Luke, I’m going to die.”
I had gotten a couple of custom sweaters made for the wooden giants, featuring two elves riding unicorns, with Clara’s and my face superimposed on their heads. They were nutcracker-sized versions of the sweaters Clara had gotten personalized for us.
“How?” she asked through her happy tears.
“Well, it wasn’t easy, but I found someone who could do it and who was willing to do a rush job.” It had actually been insanely expensive, requiring a whole team of people, but she didn’t need to know that. Her smile was worth every penny. “It’s cheesy. I know.”
She shook her head and one of her tears slid down her cheek. “It’s so cheesy, but I love it. I love you.”
Clara kissed me and I pulled her into my arms to kiss her right back.
She dragged me to bed and we made love. It was tender and surprisingly emotional. I kept thinking how amazing it was to have her here again, after I had thought I’d lost her forever. Tonight felt like the first of many together in this bed, in this apartment, in this city.
After, neither one of us were in the mood to sleep. I ordered us takeout and got a fire roaring in the living room. Clara borrowed a fluffy robe and I lounged around in just pajama pants, plenty warm every time I looked at her, adorably bundled up and eating her pad thai.
Outside the windows, it was snowing and we watched the flurries blown this way and that by the winds of fate. Clara and I had been tossed around like that but not anymore. We were both exactly where we were supposed to be.
An idea kept bouncing around my skull but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. I just went for it, hoping I could figure it out on the fly like everything else with Clara. “So, listen.”
She glanced away from the window. “Yeah?”
I let out a long breath. “Okay, so I know we’ve done everything at warp speed and what I’m about to suggest might be crazy, but would you like to move in with me for real? Not just while you settle in and look for a place, but for good.”
Clara smiled but it quickly faded. “It’s a beautiful offer, but you don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I think I do,” I said, frowning. “Unless you’ve got some terrible secret I’m unaware of. You’re not an international jewel thief or something, right?”
“Not currently.” She shook her head with a grin.
“Well, hey, no pressure. The last thing I want to do is push you into something you’re not ready for.” I felt foolish for asking. I had just gotten her to talk to me again. Asking her to move in with me was too much. “I’m sorry. I made things weird.”
“No, Luke, relax,” she said, putting a gentle hand on my wrist. “I want to move in with you more than anything I’ve ever wanted in the world.
I just want to make sure you mean it and you’re not just caught up in the moment, which, to be fair, is amazing.
So good I can’t think of a single thing that would make it better. ”
I kissed her quickly, just a peck. “How about that?”
“Okay, that was pretty good,” she said. “How about this? I’ll stay here and I won’t look for a place. One month from today, you can ask me to move in with you again officially, okay? If you’re not tired of me by then.”
I grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “I will never get tired of you.” I pulled her in for a tight embrace. Unable to help myself, I added, “And if you end up being an annoying roommate, we’ll just get a bigger place.”
Clara made an offended sound that was cute as hell. She pushed back enough to look up at me, eyes sparkling with laughter. “I’m the one who’ll have to get used to living with you, Luke Whitaker. Leaving your clothes all over the place.”
She gestured at the pants and underwear we’d left in the hallway when she’d unwrapped me like a gift.
I chuckled and shook my head. “You left those there.”
She shrugged. “But they’re your clothes. I don’t see my underwear lying around.”
I cocked my head toward the Christmas tree. “Those are hanging off one of the middle branches.”
“Yeah, right.” She squinted over at the tree and her mouth fell open. “Luke, did you do that?”
“It was Santa. I had nothing to do with it.”
She shot me a playful look. “Santa’s going to end up on the naughty list, doing things like that.”
“Good. As long as your name is right next to mine.”