I lean in and kiss her jawline. “A few more hours are like icing on the cake.”
She shoves me away. “Get to work, then.”
CHAPTER 13
Silver Bells drifts through the great room as Liberty marches toward the tree.
“All right,” she announces. “Lights first.”
“Roger that.” I catch up to her, crossing my arms. “But there’s a method?—”
She snorts. “You put them on. It’s not tactical, Spence. It’s Christmas. Even families and kids do this.”
I look at her like she’s suggested we dismantle a bomb using chopsticks.
“No,” I correct, picking up the first string. You don’tjust put them on. Lights are the foundation of the entire operation.”
“Operation?” she repeats slowly. “It’s a tree, Spence. Not a hostage situation.”
“Still,” I mutter, “mess up the lights and everything else is compromised.”
It’s true, but really I couldn’t care less how the lights go on. I just like watching her get riled up.
She rolls her eyes, grabs the other end of the string, and stalks toward the back of the tree. “Fine. Commander Christmas. Show me the tactical plan.”
I circle to meet her on the opposite side. “We start at the bottom. Work our way up in even rows. No gaps, plugs in the back.”
She closes her eyes dramatically and huffs. “Fine. We’ll doyourway. But I get to climb the ladder.”
“No,” I say instantly. “Absolutely?—”
She’s already dragging the ladder over the tree’s base.
“Liberty,” I warn. “I do the ladder.”
She hops onto the first rung.
“No. You’re in socks. That ladder’s old.”
Second rung.
“Down.”
Third rung.
“I’ve got outstanding balance!” she insists, holding her arms out to demonstrate, and my head almost explodes.
This woman is going to make me lose my mind.
“Look, I’m good!”
I move before she can get any higher, stepping behind her and wrapping my hands firmly around her waist. “Sweetheart, don’t make me?—”
She wiggles one hip defiantly. “Or what? You gonna ban me from tree decorating? This is a group activity, and since it’s you and me, that means both of us.”
My eye twitches. “Don’t test me.”
She reaches up to hook the lights over a high branch, and her sweater lifts just enough to expose a soft strip of skin.
