Epilogue
Nestled on his couch across from the fireplace, I sit relaxed, cross legged, and propped on a pillow in Kourt’s bathrobe.
I’d think I’d be used to being naked in his living room per his rule, yet my skin tingles underneath the fabric just knowing he’s nearby.
The smell of him on his robe encompasses me.
My nose crinkles, and I try to hide my rising smile as I keep my eyes focused on the business plan in front of me.
This is the first moment we’ve got to come up for air from all the Blitzen Christmas festivities, celebrating with Great Aunt Josie, and a shell-shocked Helen and Archer.
After fulfilling his promise to me of the infamous bacon and eggs breakfast we had yet to have until this morning, I sit across from Kourt, prepping my proposal for Archer.
The email suggesting I’ll happily return to the Harmon account, only on my terms… remotely, and hired freelance for my special skills and contributions that will be sourced outside of Sloan and Swartz’ jurisdiction, as I no longer work under them, went out to the firm earlier.
They may say no to my terms, but I’m okay with that outcome.
I’ve already garnered several of my own accounts to pitch Archer from Kentucky Bourbon Fruit Cake, Grinder’s Switch Coffee, and Bob and Georgia don’t know it yet, but a Blitzen-themed Old Fashioned Hardware Store toy line is about to be pitched to dawn its own spot in department stores every Christmas.
That should bring some residual income their way if we can brand them and I can initiate specific toy makers to sell under our umbrella.
For a big enough retail spot in high traffic stores, it’s a no brainer.
I draw an arrow to a pitch graph listing the potential brands for the toy line then smile again at the thought of a little piece of our Blitzen Christmas on display across a few surrounding states.
My eyes trail up the tall specimen seated across from me. Kourt’s sitting naked in a chair in front of the fire marking up his basketball game schedule for the new year. My teeth chew the inside of my cheek as I notice how handsome he looks in reading glasses.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen him so still, focused and studious. A foreign rhythm highjacks my pulse and something deep inside me feels more invested and more at home than I have ever felt before. This moment, this morning, is ours, with many more like it to come.
The fire crackles in the silence behind him, and Kourt’s eyes rise from his coaching schedule to meet mine.
“What?” He smiles dubiously.
It’s contagious and my cheeks nearly meet my ears before I hide my face with my knees.
“It’s a yes, isn’t it? That’s what.” Kourt rises and crosses over to me.
Good God, he’s as hard as rock already. I love how attracted he is to me.
How erect he gets just watching me smile or listening to me speak.
He sinks to his knees in front of me and pulls my legs away from my face.
His fingers trace lightly down the inner flesh of my leg from my knee to my thigh and back up again.
The robe parts down the middle, as he focuses his hazel greens on my eyes.
They speak of a thousand obscenities, pure love, and curiosity at the same time.
“I got you didn’t I?” His voice is smooth and certain.
“Um-hmm.” I nod with a sly confirming smile I make no attempt to hide.
“Don’t think I won’t make you say it, and loud and clear. But first we have to get dressed.”
“And break your rule? So soon?”
“Um-hmm.” He slowly puts my robe back together neatly.
“I know there’s a lot of things that could feel rushed about this, but I want to make sure the things that matter, don’t.
I looked up your mom’s holiday book club cruise from where she left out, and discovered they were returning today.
They actually docked yesterday and stayed at a hotel for a book-signing and then all planned to fly back home from there. ”
I shake my head at Kourt in disbelief.
“So, I was able to get in touch with your mother at the hotel yesterday, and she agreed to let me fly her to Blitzen instead. I figured you two missed Christmas together… maybe the three of us could ring in the new year. At least, I would like that very much. I’d be honored to meet and get to spend some time with her.
I thought maybe you’d want to show her what you did here in Blitzen.
Get a little Christmas with her in before all the decorations come down.
It’s still Christmas in Blitzen until the first week of January. That’s what your brochure says.”
“Kourt.” My eyes sting with tears as I try to find the words to thank him… to let him know I can’t even fathom how thoughtful this is. How he remembered me telling him about her.
“I hope it’s okay I reached out—”
I peel my robe apart and it falls from my shoulders as I rise to my knees on the couch, pulling Kourt to me. My mouth covers his and my tongue is not gentle as it demands his lips open to me. Inching to lay back, I drag him down on top of me.
“You’re going to make me look bad if we’re late picking her up,” he mumbles as he fights to free his mouth from mine. He’s making attempts to resist, but he’s perfectly lined up to my entrance, his swollen cock nudging to be inside me.
“Baggage claim,” I whisper in his ear. “She’ll have a lot of luggage.”
“So, what do you think?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think, Erika… only how you feel.” My mom looks me over and her eyes dance back at me. She hasn’t stopped looking at me like this since Kourt dropped us at Josie’s for some girl time. “That said—when’s the wedding?” she asks without further hesitation.
“Mom?”
“You’re absolutely glowing, Erika. At no point in Chicago or on a visit home from the city have I ever seen you lit up from head to toe like this.”
“I haven’t officially said yes yet.”
I try to play coy before I clasp her hand and mask a squeal. “One year from today.”
Excitement flashes in her eyes. “Christmas time seems quite appropriate for you two. That gives you a year to work out any kinks. And, by the way, I fell in love with him, too. From his first phone call tracking me down. He told me all about what my daughter’s been up to in Blitzen.”
She bounces a ponytail’s worth of hair behind my shoulders and smooths it out as she looks me over again. “I can’t say I’m surprised… just so proud and happy for you. Lucky. I feel lucky and grateful that you found such love. So glad you both recognized it.”
“I couldn’t have run from it if I tried.”
“I’m more pleased than you know to be invited to share New Year’s with you two.”
That makes me smile, remembering how Kourt and I met. My life has been a whirlwind from the moment our eyes connected, and somehow, my mother just gets it.
Aunt Josie clears her throat.
“You too, Josie. I’m excited to spend time with you also,” my mother placates.
Patting the sofa, Josie rolls her eyes. “Enough sentiment, you two ducks come talk with me. We have things to iron out.” She lasers her focus on me. “Who’s your Maid of Honor? Helen?”
I have to laugh. “No. Archer, of course.”
Mom curves a brow, exchanging glances with Aunt Josie.
I give them a chin tilt. “He’s my Man of Honor. Just as Helen is Kourt’s Best Woman.”
Josie sets her teacup on the table. Mom cooly slides a coaster underneath it.
“Speaking of ironing things out… those two? Have they come clean yet?”
I know exactly what she means, I just don’t know what about. They spent Christmas Day as if we were all oblivious to their secret glances.
“What’s this about Arch?” Mom leans closer, holding her teacup to the center for Aunt Josie to refresh her cup. The teapot is closest to Aunt Josie, after all.
In true Josephine fashion she misses the appropriate cue and plops two sugar cubes in mom’s cup, knowing my mother has never taken sugar in her tea her entire life. I rush to answer, before Aunt Josie gets bored and stirs it for her with her stiletto acrylic pointer finger.
“I haven’t pried it out of Archer yet, and Kourt says Helen’s mum. But we agree—something is up between them. They’ve met before.”
Josie lets out a shrill, vocal sigh the length of her leather-coated ballerina neck. “They’ve more than ‘met’ before, darling.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Trust your Aunt Josie. You wait and see. There’s more to that story.”