“I was hoping…” I started. “I didn’t know if you’d be staying.”
“Flights are so expensive, and it’s not like I could leave for long. Molly and I have plans to open presents together on a video call, then watchHome Alone, our favorite Christmas movie.”
“You disappointed?”
She shook her head slightly. “Not entirely, as long as you stick around.”
I took her gloved hand in mine. “The only way I’m celebrating this holiday is with you, darlin’.”
God, I’d do anything to keep that beaming smile on her face.
“We have a lot of work to make this the best Christmas yet.”
I pulled Brenna to my side as we walked down the first aisle of trees. “What else do you have in mind?”
She rattled off some favorite traditions from when we were kids—singing Christmas music while decorating the house, baking cookies and drinking eggnog, eating puppy chow during a Christmas movie marathon, ice-skating and drinking hot chocolate in downtown Palmer City, making each other gifts, which she said now included the cats.
“Sorry, I’m getting carried away.” She stopped at the end of the first row of trees. “You already had a plan?”
My fingers danced across her bottom lip. “You and me, darlin’. That’s all I need.”
She shoved me. “Come on, Nathan. There’s got to besomethingyou want for our perfect holiday.”
I stared up and to the left in mock-thought. “Well, I wouldn’t mind seeing youdressup.”
She stopped walking, her reply breathless. “Yeah?”
I nodded, my hands finding her hips.
“What were you thinking?”
An image sprung into my mind. Thank fuck I had a jacket on to conceal the way those thoughts had blood surging to my groin. At a fucking Christmas tree farm.
This woman.Mywoman.
“Don’t tease,” I told her, trying to move us along.
Brenna resisted, rooted to the spot. “I want to be whatever you want, Nathan.”
“You’re already everything I want, Bren.”
She leaned in close, rising to her toes to whisper in my ear. “Tell. Me. What. You. Imagine. Me. Wearing, Nathan.”
The command in her voice…fuck.
“Knee-high socks.” My voice was guttural. “Short skirt. Lace bra. Christmas hat.”
“Interesting.” She kissed my cheek, then walked ahead of me. “Thank you.”
I blew out a breath, trying to cool myself down. “What about me? What should I wear?”
“Oh, I’m easy.” She spun back around, a teasing smile on her face. “Nothing.”
I laughed, rushing toward her as she zipped around the corner to another row of trees. Brenna stopped abruptly, and I bumped into her back. I steadied her by her shoulders before she could fall forward.
“This is the one.” She pointed to a tall tree, which I suspected would reach the ceiling of our house.
“Of course you want the biggest tree on the lot.”
