“Merry Christmas, baby.” I cupped her face with both hands, my heart beating so fast it physically hurt. “Can we go for a walk?”
She scrunched her nose. “Right now?”
I nodded, unable to talk without giving away my nerves. I kissed her nose before pulling her coat off the hanger and helping her into it.
“We’ll only be outside ten minutes.”
“Hmm, this is weird, but you seem tense, so I’m game.”
“I’m not tense.”
“Only a tense person would say that,” she retorted.
I pinched her side, my worry lessening with her joke.
“You dork.”
“Maybe, but I’m your dork.”
She put a knit cap on and pulled gloves out of her pockets, slipping them on. “Where to, boss?”
It took me thirty seconds to put on my coat and gloves. Then we were out the door.
“We’re walking around the block. I need fresh air.”
“Okie dokie. The cool air feels good in my lungs. Less nauseous when I’m cold.”
My muscles clenched. “Stomach still upsetting you?”
“The medicine helped, yes, but the gross feeling is still there. Not as bad, but when the heat is up and there are people everywhere, I feel uncomfortably hot.”
“Let me know if you’re feeling that at all today, and we can sneak away.”
“Sure will.” She intertwined her arm with mine, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath.
I swear to God, a snowflake landed on her face. Then another one did.
“It’s snowing.”
“No way!” She screeched and stuck her tongue out. “This is perfect. White Christmases here are a dream. Oh, Connor, this is such a good sign.”
My throat tightened as we neared the house for sale. This was the first surprise for us.
She laughed as the snow picked up, and she grinned at me. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Because I’m obsessed with you.” I shrugged. The statement was true. “And, well, I have a surprise for you.”
“Ooh, is this a gift?” Her eyes sparked with hope.
“It’s a promise to you.” I jutted my chin toward the house behind her. She glanced at it, her brows furrowing.
“I spoke to a Realtor earlier this week and asked for a major favor. It’s Daniel, by the way. A former teacher of yours. He gave me this.”
She glanced at me again. “A key?”
“I refused to buy the house without you seeing it because I’m not making decisions without us both being all in. Even if it’s a surprise, we both will talk everything out, and it took every urge in me to not buy this.”
“Connor.” She sucked in a breath.
