Chapter 16
AADEN
“Can’t we stay a little bit longer?” Leah pouts.
She’s sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at her suitcase.
The week has flown by, and now, it’s time to return to reality.
It sucks; I’d rather stay here, keeping her wrapped in my arms in bed, not a care in the world, too.
Granted, we still have tomorrow before we have to return to work on Monday, But Leah needs to get back to her mother.
I lean over, grab her chin and give her my sexiest smile.
“If I didn’t have business meetings set up all week, I would totally keep you here longer.
” Before returning to my suitcase, I press my lips to hers in a quick kiss because anything more would be dangerous.
Even after the week we had, she still blushes when I talk dirty to her.
Every night—and sometimes in the morning—I ravished her.
We had sex more times this week than she’s had in her entire life, and yes, I’m strutting around like a peacock.
I grin at the memories as I zip up my suitcase.
Within a few short hours, we’re back in D.C.
I asked her to stay the night with me, but she insisted on going home, unpacking, and calling her mother.
Now, alone in my house, I can’t think of anything but her.
I already miss her like crazy. It doesn’t feel right not having her here.
She didn’t want to come home with me tonight, but I have to see her tomorrow.
I crave her. I pull my phone from my back pocket and dial her number.
“Miss me already?” her soft voice teases.
A huge smile spreads across my face. “Actually, I do.”
I can hear her take a deep breath. “Can’t get enough of me, can you?”
“Never,” my voice rumbles. I can picture her smiling over the phone, and it warms every inch of my body.
Shit, this woman is my kryptonite. I stuff my hand into my pocket as I lean against my kitchen counter.
“What are you doing tomorrow? I thought we could go pick up a Christmas tree for my place and maybe one for your mom’s too. ”
“That’s sweet. I’d love that.” Her voice drips with affection. It makes my heart flip. God, could I love her anymore? Revis barks, and I shove myself away from the counter and move to the door to let him out.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow at eleven. Love ya, babe.”
“Love you, too. Good night.”
I smile as I disconnect the call, but it quickly fades. As much as I want this to be an amazing first Christmas together, I know it’s going to be an emotional one as well. Because not only is it our first Christmas together, but it’s likely her mother’s last.
***
My hands are freezing as I walk through the tree lot, searching for a large fir tree for myself and a smaller one for Leah’s mother.
She already found a small five-foot Spruce for her little apartment, and the guys from the lot are already strapping it to the top of her car.
I wanted to argue that she didn’t need one for her place because she’ll be spending the holiday season with me, but I don’t want to come across as suffocating.
Every couple needs their own space, but damn, I don’t want to be more than a foot away from her at all times.
I try to focus on the reason we’re here, but it’s hard when all I want to do is watch her.
There have to be close to a hundred trees, all ranging in sizes and types.
A train garden is set up just outside the gate, and every child, big and small, are gathered around to watch it with smiles on their faces and that Christmas gleam in their eyes.
White lights are strung along the fence surrounding the trees, and ‘Walking in a Winter Wonderland’ is playing over a speaker hanging in the corner.
Nothing beats the holidays. A cold breeze hits me in the face, and my eyes sting from the frosty bite.
“I think the cold air from Tennessee followed us home,” Leah says, shivering as she tightens her scarf around her neck.
I smile as I take her hands into mine, but it fades quickly.
“Geez, they’re like ice,” I hiss as I rub them together.
“Come on.” I pull her toward the back of the lot, where there’s a booth with hot chocolate and cookies.
I order us both a large hot chocolate, and she wraps her hands around the steaming cup as she takes a sip.
“Mmmm, this is good,” she sighs.
I’m about to make an inappropriate comment when my eyes land on the perfect tree. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”
She opens her eyes and watches me as I walk right past her and stop in front of a row of massive Fraser Firs.
“Aaden, that’s like twenty-feet tall.”
I flash her a grin over my shoulder. “Go big or go home, right?”
“How are we supposed to get that home?”
I laugh as I walk over to a guy who works at the lot. Damn, she’s cute. She follows me as I inform the guy which tree I want and where it needs to be delivered. The guy hands me a form to fill out. “They’ll deliver it for a fee.” I wink at her.
“Oh,” she says as she takes another sip of her cocoa.
She turns away and starts walking down another row of trees.
A few moments later, she yells out to me.
“Hey, I think I found the perfect tree for mom.” She touches the branch of a little six-foot Blue Spruce, then leans in and takes a big sniff.
Just watching her enjoying something as simple as this gets me going.
She turns to me with a big grin. “It’s perfect. ”
I hand the form back over to the salesman, pointing to my tree. “I want that one, and—" I point to the tree Leah is standing next to. “That one the lady picked out.”
“No problem, Mr. Stone. I’ll go tag ‘em,” he says.
Leah joins us as the man puts the money in his apron and walks away. “Did you just pay for my tree?”
I tuck my wallet back into my pocket, my smile fading when I see the scowl on her face.
“Aaden, I don’t want you to pay for everything. That’s not why I’m with you.”
The excitement I felt just a moment ago fades. The look on her face makes my heart sink. “I know. I wanted to buy it for your mother. It’s my Christmas gift to her.”
Her body seems to sag in defeat, looking like she had been scolded. “Oh. Aaden, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful.”
I pull her into my arms, holding her against my chest. “It’s okay, baby.”
She sighs. “I just don’t want anyone to think I’m after you for your money.”
I flinch. Anger rolls in my gut at the thought of anyone thinking that about her. “I don’t think that. And I don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks.”
She buries her face into my leather coat. “I feel horrible. You were only trying to be nice.”
I tilt my head back to stare down at her.
“You never have to apologize to me.” I kiss the tip of her nose, and it feels like pressing my lips to an ice cube.
“Damn, you’re like a solid block of ice.
” She giggles as I rub my hands up and down her arms, trying to create enough friction to warm her.
“Come on, let’s get you warmed up.” I lead her to the parking lot and back to her car.
Within minutes, she’s warming her hands in front of the car’s heater as we drive back to her apartment.
“When are the trees being delivered?” she asks, looking over at me.
“Tomorrow.”
“But we’ll be at work tomorrow,” she says.
“My cleaning lady will be there to let them in, and I figured your mother’s nurse could do the same for her.”
Her face lights with amusement. “You have a cleaning lady?”
I give her a serious look. “Yes, I have a cleaning lady. She comes twice a week, thank you very much.”
She chuckles at my playfulness, and it warms my soul to see her happy.
“My mom and I always set aside one day to make Christmas cookies,” Leah tells me as she hangs a shiny gold angel ornament on her tree. We ordered pizza, then dove right into decorating her little spruce for the evening.
I perk up at the mention of cookies. “A whole day? That’s got to be a lot of cookies.”
She laughs at my enthusiasm. “It is, but we give most away as gifts.”
My smile fades. “Don’t give them away.” A huge grin replaces my frown. “Give them to me.”
She giggles as she hangs another ornament. “I take it you like cookies?”
“They’re my favorite food,” I sigh, rubbing my belly.
She shakes her head and turns back to the box, picking up an old ornament. She stares at it, getting lost in her thoughts. “I don’t think she’ll be up to making cookies this year.”
Shit, I knew this was going to happen. The reality of this being her mom’s last Christmas is starting to sink in. I slip my arm around her shoulders. “I’ll help you make cookies, and your mom can do as much as she can. I think it would hurt her feelings if you just decided not to do them at all.”
She rests her head against my chest, staring down at the ornament in her hand. “You’re right. Can we do it next Saturday?”
I lean back with a childish grin that I hope will lighten the mood. “I’ll buy the chocolate chips.”
***
Later that evening, we snuggle on the couch while we watch ‘Christmas Vacation’. “This is my favorite Christmas movie.” I laugh as Chevy Chase runs down the stairs with a squirrel on his back, his feet barely touching the stairs.
“Mine is ‘A Christmas Story’.”
We look at each other mischievously before both of us say, “You’ll shoot your eye out.
” She throws a piece of popcorn at me, and my eyes narrow at the challenge.
The child in me comes to the surface. Her eyes widen as I start to move closer.
A huge grin spreads across her face, and she jumps up and runs for the kitchen.
I bolt after her. She squeals when I grab her by the waist and start tickling her.
She drops to the floor laughing, squirming, trying to pull my hands off of her. I fucking love this.