32. Jace
Jace
The breeze winding through the rows of evergreens has just enough bite to it to have me pull my coat a bit tighter, looking up to the sky.
Snow is still unlikely, but the cold snap hitting the area feels like mother earth is preparing for the shift from fall to winter already.
I actually love winter. Sitting around the fireplace, a warm drink in hand, surrounded by the people that mean the most to you, and this year, that will be truer than ever before.
Harper and Lizzie’s cheeks and noses are pink from the cold, but it doesn’t faze them.
Lizzie is scampering about, checking out every tree, running her hands through the boughs, sniffing them, and even hugging a few.
Tink is on her heels, ever the protector of her girl.
Last month, we went for a walk at the park.
Lizzie made for the pond, and Harper rushed to intervene, but Tink was faster and herded Lizzie back to the path, away from danger.
I smile, watching Lizzie prance about, and my lips tug up remembering the way Harper had her bundled up when I swung by to get them earlier.
“Hi, girls,” I call out the window of my truck as I pull into the drive with a wide ass grin on my face.
We’re going tree shopping today, and apparently, they are ready to get to it, both already waiting on the front steps.
The only thing I can see on Lizzie is her face, reminding me of the kid on A Christmas Story. Randy, that’s his name, I think.
“Harper, can she even walk in all that?” I laugh, hopping out, leaving my truck running so it stays warm.
“The temperature dropped last night, and I don’t want her to get cold. I also don’t want to be rushed finding the perfect tree, so…” her words trail off like her explanation is complete.
Lizzie chooses that moment to try and run for Tink, toppling over and getting stuck on her back. Harper laughs so hard, tears run down her face, then acquiesces that maybe she had gone a little overboard.
We pile into my truck, and I surprise Harper with having the same car seat she has in her car waiting in the back seat.
Honestly, it was long overdue for me to have one, and luckily, she takes it as the kind gesture I meant it to be, and not me being presumptuous.
The hour drive to the tree farm is filled with laughter and Christmas music.
I knew Harper loved Christmas, but I sorely underestimated her level of love for it.
She sang along to every song, talking nonstop about all the must have qualities for a tree.
I soaked it all in, again thankful for bench seats so she could be right beside me, and I could have my hand on her thigh the whole drive.
The way I crave contact with her borders on obsession, but I can’t stop it, nor do I want to.
It doesn’t help that Harper decided to wear the wrap around sweater she wore on our first date.
Not only is it insanely soft, just asking to be touched, but I also know a gentle tug at the ribbon will expose her to me.
My cock stirs just thinking about it. I adjust it and pull my coat down, concealing the tent that has been created.
Lizzie is a blur as she runs past. Hat crooked and scarf trailing behind her about to fall off as her laughter rings out.
Harper, who had wandered off to check on a tree she spotted, is nowhere in sight, so I follow behind Lizzie with my hands tucked into my pockets.
A minute later, Harper appears, and I wrap an arm around her shoulders as she curls into me.
“Mmmm, you’re so warm.” Her voice is light and happy.
“How was the tree?” I ask, rolling my lips over my teeth to hide my smile when she sighs dramatically.
“Nearly perfect, except for an ugly bare spot on one side.”
“Can’t you turn it so that spot is in the back?” Her steps falter, her eyes aiming incredulously at me. I try but can’t stop the laughter this time. She takes tree hunting so seriously, and it’s fucking adorable.
“That is sacrilege, Jace. The perfect tree is here; we just have to hunt for it.” The conviction in her voice has me tugging her in for a quick kiss. We walk slowly, her tucked under my arm, Lizzie and Tink just ahead.
“Too thin, too short, weird top,” she murmurs, her head on a swivel, checking each tree we pass.
Lizzie is stopped before a large tree, at least nine feet tall.
Her mittened hands caress the lower boughs.
Harper breaks away from me, circling the tree, running a critical eye over every inch of it, disappearing from sight.
Lizzie trots over, lifting her arms to me.
Swinging her onto my hip, I wait for the verdict.
Harper reappears, cheeks rosy, eyes lit up. “This is the one!” she declares and jogs over to us, wrapping me and Lizzie in a big hug. Smiling down at her, my throat gets tight. This…this is the good stuff that people write songs about. We stand together, soaking up the joy of finding “the one.”
“I’ll flag one of the workers down. Then do you trust them to take it back while we look for my tree?” I ask, and Harper’s smile falters.
“Oh, um. Yeah. We can do that.” Lizzie settles her head on my shoulder, so I reach my other hand to grab Harper’s chin, gently raising it so she has to look at me.
“What did I say?” My eyes search hers, dipping to her mouth as she licks her lips, then chews on the bottom one.
“What if you didn’t get a tree?” My heart rate picks up. Is she asking what I think she is? God, I fucking hope so. She’s silent, staring at the tree, and my impatience is driving me mad.
“My cabin will seriously lack holiday spirit without one.” Again, I watch the way her thoughts flit through her eyes.
Silently willing her to ask me before I do.
Moving in together is a huge step, especially with Lizzie.
I may stay over a lot lately, but I still leave before breakfast most days, so I don’t want to pressure her.
“What if you didn’t live in your cabin?” Her voice is soft as her eyes find mine. I can’t contain my smile.
“Then where would I live?” Finally seeing the answer on my face, she smiles.
“What if we lived together? What if I asked you to move in with us, and never have to say goodbye at the end of the night again?”
“Nothing would make me happier, baby.” I pull her in close, Lizzie now nearly asleep on my shoulder. Holding them both, my new family, my whole world, my everything.
“Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring tingle tingling, too. Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you…” Christmas music blasts through the speakers as we pull into The Toasted Bean parking lot. Lizzie’s little legs bounce along with the song in perfect rhythm.
This little girl never ceases to amaze me.
Seriously, the way she can match a beat at her age is so impressive.
Unable to resist, I join in singing with Harper.
We are wearing matching reindeer antlers, which is pretty dorky, but I low-key love the way it screams she’s with me, so I’m going with it and likely any other crazy couple thing Harper comes up with.
Pulling in, I spot Blake’s red Tacoma in the lot and make a mental note to see if Gary has sent him any last-minute updates for the grand opening ceremony in a couple weeks. Much like starting the project, Gary is full of grand new ideas, and in general, being a real pain in the ass.
“Well, aren’t you two cute?” Bree calls from the door that she holds open for us to walk in. “Is this what we have to look forward to now? Next week, will you show up in matching track suits or something?”
“If they’re Christmas themed, then it’s a real possibility.
” Harper spins toward me, grinning like a fiend.
Like she’s mentally picturing me in some holiday get up.
I slowly start backing up, heading for the door.
“Where you running off, Jace?” Her voice is full of laughter.
The sight of her lit up with so much joy threatens to bring me to my knees.
I love her like this, but the smile drops from her face suddenly, eyes glued over my shoulder.
My heart thunders against my ribcage as her face goes ghostly pale.
“Bree, watch Lizzie,” she says, voice shaking, without turning around. Then she’s stumbling out of the door. With a quick glance to make sure Bree has Lizzie, I rush after Harper.
“Tink, stay, watch Lizzie,” I call over my shoulder, knowing she won’t move from her side. Adrenaline is coursing through me, not sure what is happening, but ready to take it head on. No way in hell is she facing whatever it is alone.
“Harper.” I catch up in a few steps, but she doesn’t look at me or show any signs of hearing me speak.
“Haper?” I try again as we round the corner.
Her steps quicken, eyes searching. “Stop.” Grabbing her arm and forcing her to stop, I search her face.
I need to know what’s happening, what we’re heading into.
Her eyes are haunted, but at least she’s finally looking at me. “You are not alone.”
“I think…oh, God, I think I saw…” She doesn’t get to finish her sentence. She’s rendered speechless by a cold voice coming from behind us.
“Ah, there she is. I knew you would find me. Nice antlers, Harper.” The man before me runs his eyes up and down her, cunning and calculated, and with something else that has me seeing red, lust.