Nellie chuckled. “I do say that, don’t I?”
“Yes, ma’am, you do,” Ladd replied as he made his way over to his mother and kissed her on the cheek.
She glanced around the room and put her hands on her hips. “Well, since it’s still snowing and this mess is all cleaned up, how about you both help in the kitchen? We have a lot of baking to do for our Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day breakfast.”
Ladd motioned with his hand. “Lead the way, Mom.”
The morning of Christmas Eve, I woke up to find it snowing again. It was a light snow that dusted the fields in a beautiful, untouched blanket of pure white. It almost seemed to sparkle as the early morning rays danced across the surface.
A knock on my bedroom door caused me to jump. “Um, come on in,” I cried out.
The door opened slowly to reveal Ladd standing there. He looked so handsome. Dressed in jeans and a light blue sweater, he could have just walked off a photoshoot.
“Good morning,” he said softly, making his way into the room. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did,” I said, meeting him halfway and hugging him before we kissed quickly on the lips. “You?”
“I sleep like a baby when I’m home. I think it’s my bed, to be honest with you. It is so much more comfortable than the one back at the rental house.”
“Or,” I said over my shoulder, as I made my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth. “It’s because you’re home. A familiar place that makes you feel safe.”
He was silent for a few moments before he said, “Nah, it’smy bed.”
I laughed. By the time I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and put my hair up, Ladd was fast asleep onmybed.
“So it for sure isn’t the bed,” I whispered as I grabbed some clothes and headed back into the bathroom to change. I had picked out a pair of jeans and a cute Christmas sweater I’d bought on sale after Christmas last year. It had a moose on it with Christmas lights wrapped around its antlers. I slipped into my favorite pair of brown ankle boots and put a bit of mascara on before checking to see if Ladd was still asleep. When I peeked and saw him waking up, I leaned against the doorjamb.
He yawned and met my gaze. “I fell asleep.”
“You did. I think we can safely say it has nothing to do with your bed here.”
He chuckled and stood. Giving me a once-over, he reached for my hand and drew me to him. His hands cupped my face, and he gave me a proper kiss.
“Good morning, Viv.”
“Good morning, Ladd.”
“You look nice, by the way.”
I giggled. “I’m wearing jeans and a moose sweater.”
“And you look adorable. I’m one lucky son-of-a-bitch. Thank you for loving me.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and lifted onto my toes, brushing my lips against his. He growled and drew me closer, deepening the kiss.
“Oh, come on,” Mike griped. Ladd and I both turned to see him standing in the hallway. “I don’t want to see this first thing in the morning! I just threw up a little in my mouth.”
I blushed and took a few steps back as Ladd tossed his head back and laughed.
“Someday, Mikey, you’re going to fall in love.”
He screwed up his face. “You won’t catch me making out in Mom and Dad’s house, though.”
Taking my hand in his, Ladd guided us toward the door, stopping to raise a brow at his brother. “Care to place a bet?”
Mike rolled his eyes and headed down the hall. “Next time, shut the damn door.”
“Language, Michael!” Ladd yelled back, still laughing.
