“You’renot going to wrap all these gifts,” she said with disbelief.
“I am.” He released her and shifted the train set on the paper. He lifted the roll to better estimate how much was needed then picked up the scissors and slid them in a smooth hiss, cutting a precise line.
“Do you like it?”
“I don’t mind it.” He knew what he was doing, too. He was economical and very tidy, keeping everything square, folding edges for clean lines, tucking and taping with smooth expertise. “The first component I manufactured was a type of gaming goggles. My initial order was two thousand. I sold out in three days, partly because I promised to gift wrap them. Do you know how many employees I had at the time?”
She shook her head, bemused.
“One. Me.”
“Really?” A smile tugged at her lips, picturing him both proud and overwhelmed by his own success.
“I had to become very good, very fast.” He pulled a stretch of ribbon from the roll and wrapped it in jaunty angles around the corners of the gift. He tied it off and, with a quick zip-zip of thescissor blades, bounced a few curlicues into the tails. He topped it with a bow and offered it to her. “Santa’s helper unlocked.”
It was beautiful.
And it was such a kind gesture, she thought she might cry.
Chapter Eleven
Joaquin hadn’t doneanything so menial in years, but it was worth it for the bright smile it put on Siobhan’s face. It felt good to do something concrete for her, especially when she kept yawning so hard.
“Go to bed,” he urged. “I’ll join you when I’m done.”
“I love how you assume you’re invited to sleep with me.”
“If you want to go back to my place, I have a guest room,” he said mildly.
“Tsk.” She stood in the opening to her bedroom, a truculent look on her face. She had changed into yoga pants and a tunic and adjusted her glasses before catching another yawn in her cupped hand.
“I would offer to tuck you in, but you’re too tired for sex. Go to sleep. We can argue as much as you want tomorrow. Promise.”
“Generous of you,” she muttered, but a few minutes later she closed the bedroom doors and the lights went out.
Two hours later, he stripped to his briefs and carefully settled beside her. Her bed was only a queen so he was close enough to feel her body heat.
“Joaquin?” she murmured sleepily as she rolled toward him.
“Are you expecting someone else?”
She gave a muted hum of amusement. “Thank you for doing the wrapping. I really appreciate it.” Her warm, silky hand found his upper arm, waking the animal in him.
“De nada.”He rolled to face her, tucking his arm under his pillow while catching her hand and bringing it to his lips. “Are you awake or going back to sleep?”
“I—” She drew her hand out of his. “I’m afraid to move in with you,” she admitted in a whisper.
His heart swerved. “Why?”
“Because then we’ll do that. And I might fall in love with you. I don’t want you to propose one day because I make you feel like you have to and you only do it because we’re comfortable.”
Ouch. He fell onto his back again.
“I’m sorry. That came out harsher than I meant it to.”
“It’s fine.” Fair. “Go to sleep.”
“You’re angry.”
