Trouble did seem to follow me.
I sighed, sitting on a thick rug by the tree. My shoulder ached but didn’t require a sling, so I kept careful not to bump it.
Aiden didn’t have any other living room furniture yet, so there wasn’t another place to sit. I didn’t mind. The tree was lovely, even if a little damaged. Kind of like all of us, really.
He finished in the kitchen and brought out two steaming mugs of Tom and Jerry’s, and I hoped he’d spiked mine big time. “Merry Christmas, Angel,” he said, looking even tougher than usual with the bandage and bruises on his face. Even in his dark sweats and T-shirt, he seemed something more.
“Merry Christmas.” I accepted the mug and took a deep drink, wondering about the present I had next to me. I’d just put it in a gift bag, and maybe I should’ve bought him a shirt instead. Or given him one of the many presents I’d purchased and then decided to give to somebody else. “Thank you for letting me stay and for housing my furniture for now. Well, the stuff that survived the fire, anyway.” I should probably start looking for an apartment but would miss my view of the lake.
I could always visit Aiden and see his. He’d bought the sprawling cabin to fix up, and maybe I could help a little bit.
He sat on the rug next to me. “How much time do we have?”
I jolted and then realized he meant for the day. “We don’t have to be at my parent’s house until three.” Then I patted his thigh. “You did a great job at the Albertini Christmas party and the O’Shea dinner last night for Christmas Eve. We just have dinner with my folks and sisters tonight, although it seems the whole family shows up again around dessert time.” It was only fair to warn him.
“I’ve had fun,” he said, sipping his drink. “It was cool to see Sean’s reaction to the gift from Clark, and it was nice of him to call. What did Clark get you, anyway?”
“A stun gun,” I said, grinning. “It’s in my desk drawer at work.”
Aiden smiled. “Smart guy.” He drank more of the sweet concoction. “It was kind of you to invite Thelma and Georgiana to the dinners, although I’m not sure they weren’t kidding about including your Nonna Albertini in their new detective agency.”
Amusement tinged with fear bubbled through me, but my chuckle pulled the stitches in my side. “Let’s worry about that another day.”
“Fair enough,” he agreed.
“Florence called earlier, and she and Bernie are getting remarried,” I murmured. “She’s still mad at Hoyt for not letting her go to the funeral, although I’m not sure she would’ve gone, so I don’t know what she’ll do with all that money.”
Aiden shrugged. “I’m sure she’ll find something good to do with it.”
I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. “So. I guess, hmm.” I handed him the bag. “Merry Christmas.”
His smile was sweet. One I’d rarely seen on him. He set his mug aside and took the bag, opening it and drawing out the jewelry box. His eyebrows rose. “Interesting.”
“I wasn’t sure what to get you, and this just felt right,” I said in a rush.
He drew out the box and then opened it to look. Realization dawned across his chiseled face as he pulled out the necklace. “Is this…”
“Yeah.” I looked at the perfectly smooth river rock. “The day you saved me, I was skipping rocks with Lacey. That one was shaped just right, so I’d put it in my pocket to save for the championship toss. It was there when I was kidnapped, and it was there when I was safely home.”
He looked at me, his eyes an unfathomable blue. “Aingeal.”
I swallowed. “I’ve kept it all these years for good luck. For a reminder that everyone has a hero, and you’re mine.” Duke had done a great job cutting a hole in the top of the dark green rock, and I’d chosen a strong black cord as the chain. “You can wear it during your undercover ops for good luck and to think of me. Maybe it’ll keep you safe, too.” My chest hurt it was so full.
He slid the necklace over his head, and the rock settled right over his heart. He planted a hand above it. “It’s perfect. Thank you.” His voice deepened, and that Irish brogue emerged full force.
Relief buzzed through me. He liked it. Good.
The sweet smile stayed on his angled face. “I have two presents for you.”
Joy filtered through me. I freaking loved presents.
He reached under the tree and drew out one box, handing it over. “Here’s the first.”
I ripped the green wrapping paper off and opened a box to see a key. An old, weathered, scratched key. “This is, um, pretty?”
He laughed. “It’s a key to this place—for now. I’m going to install a top of the line security system next week. I thought you might want to live here. I mean, with me.”
My jaw almost dropped open, but I held my composure. Mostly. “You want to live together?”
