“What if you stayed a little longer?” I asked, but it was really meant to be a strong suggestion.
“A little longer?” He sent me a small smile. “Yeah, that sounds nice. How long?”
“Like, how about through New Year’s Day. That was what you planned on anyway, right?”
“New Year’s, yeah. That could work.”
I mentally blew out a long, relieved breath. That had actually been a lot easier than I’d expected, though nothing had really been figured out other than I’d have him a little longer.
I really needed to get a grip and just be honest with him.
“I want you to stay,” I told him.
His eyes lit up, those hazel orbs practically sparkling with gold.
“I want to stay, too,” he admitted.
Damn. That hadn’t been too hard.
I realized nothing had truly been worked out, but he knew I wanted him here, and I knew he wanted to be here. I woulda said that was enough for now.
If he stuck around as long as he wanted to be here, then… well, maybe I could figure a way to make it so healwayswanted to be here.
He snuggled back into my side.
“How about we watch a movie?” he suggested. “You pick.”
“I got the perfect one in mind. A Christmas movie that will make us both happy.”
A grin overtook my face as I thought of the perfect thing. Hell, I wouldn’t even mind if he tried to tear it apart and talk over it. I knew this one by heart, and there was not a single fuckin’ thing he could say to ruin it.
I found what I was looking for and started it up.
He turned his head until he was looking at me.
“This is not a Christmas movie,” he said, and I gasped playfully. The move must have taken him by surprise, because he blinked at me like an owl for a long moment.
“It certainly is,” I argued playfully, but even so, I meant it. “It takes place on Christmas Eve. And it has Christmas music in it. You don’t get more Chri—”
His hand covered my mouth, making the rest of what I was tryin’ to say come out muffled.
“You know what? I’ll accept it. We can makeDie Hardour Christmas movie,” he said, releasing my mouth and settling back down.
I liked the way he said that. Like the “our” part a whole lot. By the blush in his cheeks and the way he was softly smiling, I think he liked it the same way I did.
I leaned down and kissed the top of his head, taking a long moment to bury my nose in his hair and breathe in his addictive scent.
Then I held him throughourmovie.
I kissed him when it was over.
I ended the day by taking him to bed.
And I slept like a baby with him wrapped in my arms, my dreams peaceful, knowing I’d be starting the next day with him.
Epilogue
Danny
