Chapter 16
Natalie
Jensen and I picked up Annabel from school, and she was oddly lacking in questions as to why our Airbnb guest was driving.
I waited outside his car so she’d see me, and when she climbed in the back seat and sat in the extra booster seat we’d picked up at home, she simply said hi and launched into a story about the puppy book her teacher had read.
He took us home, and although he planned to leave again—after all, he needed pajamas—he insisted on walking us in.
He closed the front door behind us as Annabel dumped her things in the entry and ran straight for the kitchen.
I didn’t have the energy to worry about her mess, so I stepped over her discarded backpack and shoes.
She’d already removed the day’s link in her Christmas chain, but she counted them again, finishing with a twirl.
“Getting closer,” I said.
“Can I have a snack?” she asked.
“Something you can get yourself, okay? Auntie Natalie is tired.”
She grabbed a string cheese out of the fridge and brought it over to Jensen. With a curious glance at me, he took it and opened it for her.
“Thank you,” she said, then marched into the living room.
“She’s awfully excited about that,” Jensen said, gesturing to Annabel’s Christmas countdown.
“Oh yeah. She can’t wait for Christmas.”
He brushed a lock of hair from my face. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Sore and tired, but yes.”
“You’re not going to develop a life-threatening complication and die if I leave you alone, are you?”
I laughed a little. “No. I can be left alone, and I’m pretty sure I won’t die.”
“All right.” He slipped his hands around my waist and gently drew me against him. “Does this hurt?”
The new level of contact left me slightly breathless, and I draped my arms over his shoulders. “No. Doesn’t hurt.”
“Good.” He leaned down and kissed me, then pulled away and licked his lips. “I rather enjoy doing that.”
“Does that surprise you?”
“Not in the least.” He kissed me again. “You taste delicious.”
“Shh,” I said, trying not to laugh, and lowered my voice to a whisper. “I don’t want Annabel to hear things like that.”
He put his mouth next to my ear, and his deep voice sent pleasant tingles down my spine. “I’ll be quiet. But you do taste good.” He kissed my neck and grazed my earlobe with his teeth.
Suppressing a giggle, I scrunched my shoulders. It sent a stab of pain across my back, and my body stiffened. “Ow.”
“Sorry.” He pulled away, and concern crossed his features. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, I just moved wrong.”
“I’ll be more careful.” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I should go. I have a date tonight.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
That made me smile. “Me too.”
“The rest of you better be in pajamas when I get back,” he said.
“Who’s wearing pajamas?” Annabel asked.
Startled by her voice, I stepped away from Jensen.
Without missing a beat, he turned around. “We are. For dinner. Your auntie Natalie invited me over for pizza in pajamas. Is that all right with you?”
Her eyes widened. “I get to come too?”
“Only if you’re dressed properly.”
“Can we wear Christmas pajamas?” she asked, the pitch of her voice rising with every word.
“Seems like the obvious choice,” he said.
Throwing her arms overhead, she jumped up and down. “Yay! Pizza and Christmas jammies!”
“I think you just made her week,” I said.
“I do love to make the women in my life happy.” He seemed to want to step in for a kiss, but Annabel was still dancing around the kitchen, so instead, he winked.
He crouched down, and Annabel stopped jumping.
“Miss Annabel, I have a very important job for you.”
She nodded, her expression turning serious.
“Your auntie hasn’t had the best day. Could you take good care of her for me while I’m gone?”
Her nodding turned vigorous. “Okay, Mr. Jensen. I’ll take care of her.”
“There’s a good girl.”
He stood, gave me another brain-melting smile, and left.
It took me a second to come out of my daze, but the pain from being banged around inside a moving car did it. I needed to sit down.
Fortunately, Annabel was used to entertaining herself. She grabbed a box of crayons and a coloring book and took them to the table. I carefully lowered myself onto the couch and did my best to get comfortable.
Nina got home soon after. The door opened, and she walked in already talking. “Is your phone off? I tried to call you to see if you wanted me to pick up dinner, but you didn’t answer. Hi, Annabel. How was your day?”
“Good,” Annabel answered without looking up from her coloring. “I got to ride in Mr. Jensen’s car, and we’re having pizza, and can I put my Christmas pajamas on now?”
Nina paused with her coat half off and her mouth open. “That was a lot in one sentence.”
I chimed in. “It’s a long story, but it starts with, ‘Don’t worry. As you can see, I’m okay.’”
“Obviously not a good story if it starts like that. What happened?”
“I got sideswiped, and they took me in. Minor injuries. I’m bruised and sore.
The car… I don’t even know yet. I lost my phone, too.
It’s probably in the car. And then…” I hesitated, not sure how to explain the next part.
“Jensen came to the hospital, and we picked up Annabel. I invited him over for pizza, and somehow, it became pizza in pajamas.”
Nina gaped at me, her coat still hanging from one arm. “I have so many questions.”
“I know.”
We both looked at Annabel, then back at each other.
“Hey, kiddo,” Nina said, “you can go put on your Christmas pajamas now. That’s a great idea.”
A crayon rolled onto the floor as she scrambled off the chair. A second later, she was thundering up the stairs.
Nina slid her arm from her coat and let it drop to the floor—like mother, like daughter—then rushed over to me. She sat on the floor next to the couch. “What is going on? Car accident? Jensen?”
“Yeah, it’s a lot. I was heading for the picket line this morning, and some dude couldn’t stop on the ice and slid into me. It sucked, but I’m okay. I was taken to emergency to get checked out, just as a precaution. And then, out of nowhere, Jensen showed up at the hospital.”
Her brow furrowed. “You’re going to need to explain that because I am obviously missing something.”
“You’re missing the part where I’ve secretly been hanging out with him.”
Eyes widening, she gasped. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was going to. I just hadn’t yet.”
“So the wickedly hot guy has a heart,” she said. “Who knew? But why are we having pizza?”
“I invited him over for dinner but said it would probably be pizza. Because, you know, car accident. And somehow, that turned into wearing pajamas. I don’t know. A lot happened and my head is kind of fuzzy.”
“Do you have a concussion?”
“No. But he kissed me, and it basically melted my brain.”
She squealed. “This is the best early Christmas ever.”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not like he’s going to stay.”
“I’m not even worried about that. You never do anything for yourself. Have some fun. Make out with the hot guy and let him kiss all your boo-boos.”
I pressed the heels of my hands over my eyes. “Stop. And what are we going to do about my car?”
“Nope. We’re not discussing that tonight. Your date is coming over, and we’re going to have a nice evening.”
“But—”
“It’s not like you have to drive to work. See? Bright side.”
I let out a long breath. “Okay, I’ll face reality tomorrow.”
“Good. Do you need help getting up? We need to get you ready for your date.”
“It’s barely a date. I invited him to have pizza with my sister and niece.”
“I know, and the fact that he accepted makes me like him.” She held out her hands. “And you can still look cute. Even in pajamas.”
She helped me to my feet, and we went upstairs to get ready.
The three of us had matching Christmas pajamas from the previous year, but when I dug them out of my dresser, the tags were still attached.
I held them up, feeling a sting of sadness.
Like usual, I’d worked Christmas Eve, well into Christmas morning.
When I’d come home, I must not have bothered with them.
The gray shirt had a festive Christmas tree on the front and red-and-black buffalo-plaid sleeves. The plaid pants were soft and matched the sleeves. I put them on, and for the first time that December, I felt a tiny spark of real holiday excitement.
My problems—and there were many—tried to crowd into my mind. The basement, the furnace, my job, my car. I didn’t know if we could afford to get a tree or what I was going to get Annabel for Christmas.
“It’s going to be okay,” I said quietly to myself. “We’ll figure out a way. We always do.”
It wasn’t in my nature to put my worries out of my mind—I wanted to jump into problem-solving mode—but Nina was right. A very hot man who was the world’s best kisser was coming over. I could put real life on hold for one night.
I contemplated dabbing on more makeup and doing something with my hair, but I didn’t have the energy.
Besides, Jensen had seen me in the hospital, and I certainly hadn’t been looking my best. Grateful the airbag hadn’t deployed, and my face wasn’t bruised, I brushed the tangles out of my hair and put on some lip gloss. It would have to do.
Downstairs, Nina and Annabel were moving the lights and totes filled with decorations so they weren’t in the middle of the room. Christmas music played in the background, and Nina had set out paper plates on the dining table.
“Sit down,” Nina said, pointing at the couch. “We’ve got this.”
“It looks great in here.” Trying not to wince, I sat and tucked my legs under me.
She paused, resting her hands on her hips, and looked around. “No one is going to accuse us of having a pristine house, but at least it no longer looks like a bomb went off.”
A knock on the door made all of us freeze. Annabel’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Don’t get up,” Nina said. “I’ll get it.”
Annabel scurried over while Nina answered the door.
“Welcome,” Nina said, stepping back.
“Hi, Mr. Jensen!” Annabel exclaimed.
He came inside, carrying two large Home Slice Pizza boxes with a grocery bag on top. His onesie pajamas were dark green with red-and-white candy canes. But he hadn’t stopped there. He topped it off with a Santa hat.
I was speechless.
“You look like Santa,” Annabel said.
“Do you like it?” He handed the pizzas to Nina and took something out of the bag. “I brought one for you.”
He helped her put a red-and-white Santa hat on her head. It was a little big, draping low on her forehead.
“Thank you.” She spun and rushed to the kitchen. “Mommy, look!”
Jensen grinned at me, and the hat didn’t make it any less sexy.
Shaking my head slightly, I laughed. “This is amazing.” I gestured up and down. “You definitely understood the assignment.”
“I don’t do things halfway.” He came over to the couch and sat beside me, then produced another Santa hat from his bag. “I brought them for all of us.”
Gently, he put the hat on my head and leaned in to brush my lips with a soft kiss.
“Gorgeous,” he said. “Very Christmas chic.”
Putting my hands beneath my chin, I pretended to pose. “Thank you.”
“Stay here. I’ll bring your dinner.” He pulled a bottle of red wine from the bag. “Would you like a glass?”
“I’d love one. Thanks.”
He took the wine into the kitchen, and a moment later, Nina—wearing a Santa hat—set up the pizzas on the dining table. She helped Annabel get a slice while Jensen brought me a plate and a glass of wine.
After dishing up, we all settled in to eat in the living room. Annabel and Nina sat on the floor, using the coffee table. Jensen sat next to me on the couch, and I shifted so he had room to get closer.
Right as we were about to start eating, “White Christmas” began in the background. Jensen glanced at me and winked.
“You seem to be lacking a tree.” He gestured at the boxes of lights and ornaments.
“We still need to get one,” I said.
“Can we go back to Christmas Village?” Annabel asked.
“Probably,” Nina said. “We definitely need a tree. Even just a small one.”
“Miss Annabel, how’s your pizza?” Jensen asked.
“Good,” she said around a mouthful.
“How’s yours?” I asked.
“Everything pizza ought to be,” he said.
“So Jensen,” Nina began, and I widened my eyes, imploring her not to ask too many questions and make things awkward. “Where do you live? In the UK?”
“Seattle, actually,” he said. “Most of the time. I do keep a flat in London, but I spend most of my time in the States.”
“That’s interesting.” She met my eyes. “Seattle isn’t very far.”
“Not at all. My sister lives in the area. And the weather reminds me of home.”
“And you are, in fact, single.”
“Quite.”
“Do any women think they’re dating you?”
“No.”
“Have you ever been married?”
“Nina,” I scolded.
Jensen didn’t seem bothered. “No, never married.”
“Why?”
“Nina,” I said, more forcefully.
“It’s a valid question,” she said.
“It’s all right.” He gave me a subtle smile, then turned back to my sister. “I suppose I’ve never seen myself as the settling-down type.”
“Hmm.” Nina narrowed her eyes a little. “How long are you going to be in town?”
“Will you be here for Christmas?” Annabel asked.
He opened his mouth but closed it again, his brow furrowing as if he needed to consider his answer.
“He has his own family, kiddo. He’ll probably be with them on Christmas.” I glanced at him. “Although if you’re still in town, you’re welcome to spend it with us.”
He met my eyes and gave me that look again—the one that almost seemed surprised. “I would love to.”
“You’ll come for Christmas?” Annabel asked.
“Yes, Miss Annabel. I’ll come for Christmas.”
“Do you promise?”
“I think that’s a promise I can keep.”
Her expression grew serious. She got up and came around the coffee table to stand in front of him, then thrust her hand toward him with her pinky finger sticking out.
“Do you pinky promise?”
Nina gasped, and I almost stopped him. Pinky promises were solemn in our family, and Annabel would take it as seriously as a blood oath—if she’d known what a blood oath was. Before I could get a word out, he wrapped his finger around hers.
“I pinky promise,” he said.
With fingers clasped, they shook on it.
She threw her hands in the air. “This is going to be the best Christmas ever!”
He went back to his pizza and gave me a subtle wink.
And maybe Annabel was right. Maybe it was going to be the best Christmas ever.