He snorted and shook his head.
“I’d be open to it,” he answered, making me wonder if he’d ever let someone do that to him before. The idea that I could be his first lit me up with a thrill that screamed possession. I didn’t even bother shoving it away. “Only with you.”
I melted. Yeah, I was going to find a way to keep him. Or have him keep me.
“Should we make breakfast first?” he asked as he stood, leaving the fire as it started to flicker to life.
“What?!” I gaped at him. “Are you insane?! Presents! Now!”
“Alright. Alright,” he said, moving to the tree. I sat up and peeked over the back of the couch, watching as he knelt down at the base.
The presents had doubled since the one I’d set down last night. He was a sneaky one.
“Uh, I got this for you. Ain’t much, but…”
I smiled as I reached out and grabbed the hastily wrapped cylinder from his hand. It was heavy, and I had a pretty good idea what it was.
“Grab the other one, will you?” I asked him, pointing to the other sadly wrapped gift. He lifted it, and the thing instantly sagged in his hands, the paper crinkled and tore a little at the seam. “That’s for you.”
He stared at me, a million questions in his eyes.
“You didn’t have to,” he said, scooting around and taking a seat on the couch beside me.
“I could say the same.” I held up the gift in my hands.
“You go first,” he said, then cleared his throat.
I tore into that paper like there was no tomorrow. Even though I knew what it smelled like, I pulled the top off the candle and took a deep inhale.
“You were paying attention to me?” I asked, eyeing him. I was searching for something, but I wasn’t sure what.
“I just saw that you wanted it too, and I got it for you. I knew you were a little tight on money. Figured it might make your day.”
“It has. Thank you.” I leaned over and placed a quick kiss on his lips. I leaned back, my hand waving at the gift in his hand. “Open. Open!”
He let out a breathy laugh as he slipped a finger under the tape at the seam in the back. He was more cautious with the paper than I had been, taking it off as if he were trying to unwrap it rather than get to whatever was inside as fast as he could.
I huffed and rolled my eyes. He smiled at me. The kind of smile that said he knew what he was doing.
“Just hurry up already!”
He stopped and cut his eyes at me.
“If you want, I can play the guessing game before I finish opening it.” I glared at him for his stupid suggestion. He only chuckled at me and got back to opening the presenthisway. He finally pulled out the deep blue and gray scarf. “This is soft.”
I could see the questions in his eyes. I knew I’d have to answer them.
“My grandpa loved to knit,” I started, blinking back the tears that were already threatening to spill. “He made that elf hat for me. He was always making silly things. But he also would make blankets for the newborn babies at the hospital.”
His hand covered mine, and I lifted my gaze to send him a watery smile.
“After he died, I had to go over to his apartment and clean it out. I found this sitting folded on the table, like it was all done and ready for someone. But I didn’t know who that someone was. So… I’ve been carrying it around since then, trying to findwhere it belonged.” I swallowed thickly. “I think it was meant for you.”
“Wow,” he said softly, looking at the knitted scarf in his lap with a new appreciation. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, yeah,” I assured him with a nod. “It’s for you.”
“I don’t know what to say.” He cleared his throat. “This is the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever gotten me.”
