“This is the second Christmas we’re spending together, and this year, now that we’re really together, it’s just really important to me. I guess the thought that you could have been selected for that mission when you raised your hand really bothered me.” Her heart thumped in her chest.
Burke reached his hand to her face and caressed her cheek. Then he slipped his fingers beneath her chin and raised it so he could look into her eyes. He leaned into her, his lips pressing to hers. His desire for her spiked as soon as he tasted her. After they played Santa, he’d make love to her again. He smiled at this thought. “You handled it pretty well. And I really liked that you just now asked if we could talk about it.” Though he had planned to broach the subject with her.
Her lips pulled into a grin. “Thank you. Talking with Rae yesterday really did help. This is going to be an adjustment, and just because I got upset doesn’t mean I can’t handle your job.”
He nodded. “I know. Wilson told me yesterday, while we were putting that dollhouse together, that you need time to get used to the job. I understand that it will be an adjustment for you.I promise we’ll talk about anything that comes up. I love you, Donna. I want this to work.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him. “I do, too. And it will because we do love each other, and you’re my best friend. Did you know that Rae and Jimmy started out just being friends too?”
“Yes. How much did she tell you about how they got together?”
“Not much, just that Lilly came to live with them as they got together. She told me Lilly’s mom is in prison for the rest of her life. That’s just heartbreaking. That poor little girl.”
Burke embraced her more tightly to himself. She had no idea how heartbreaking it could have been. Both Lilly and Rae had been kidnapped and held, and Rae was nearly killed. Rae didn’t tell Donna her story, and neither would Burke. It was Rae’s story to tell, not his. He still had not brought up the trackers. Lilly’s story was a good starting point to go from when bringing it up. Not tonight, though. And not on Christmas Day either.
“Did you really enjoy the party?” he asked.
“Yes. Everyone is so nice. I’m honestly still surprised that there were Christmas gifts for my kids, too. That was kind and so unexpected.”
“I’m not surprised. Angel and Diana would never allow them to see the other kids getting gifts and not have something for them too.”
“Will you find out what that mission was about tonight and if they make it back for Christmas?”
“Yes, Rogers was selected as one of the medics. He’s on Charlie Team with me. He’ll fill us in, I’m sure.”
“I hope whatever it is, they’re successful,” Donna said. “And I hope they make it home sometime tomorrow. You know, I was surprised that guy, Garcia, has a wife and a baby. I remember him from last year in Virginia. I was watching him tonight.”
Burke chuckled. “Garcia’s a good guy, smart and skilled at what he does. But he can be intense.”
“That’s an understatement. But I saw a different side of him tonight. The thing that really surprised me tonight when the eight people left for that mission was how affectionate they were with their partners. PDA certainly wasn’t an issue,” she chuckled.
“Well, if I’d been chosen for the mission, you can believe I would have kissed you right in front of everyone too,” Burke said with a laugh.
“I wouldn’t have minded.” She pressed her lips to his again, and they shared a lengthy kiss. It was several minutes later when they ended the kiss. “The kids should be asleep by now. What do you say we play Santa and then take this to bed?”
“That’s the best offer I’ve had all day,” Burke said playfully.
“I want to sleep with the door open and with us clothed though, so the kids know it’s okay to come into our room in the morning.”
“I’d say we’d better be clothed if the door’s open,” he joked.
“The boys come and crawl into bed with me all the time. I don’t want them to think things have to change because you’re with us.”
“No, I’m good with it, but I really do like being naked with you.”
She laughed, thrilled with this relationship after she’d wished for it for so long. “Let me go upstairs and be sure they’re asleep. Can you start bringing the Santa gifts in from the garage?”
Donna snuck into the bedroom to find all three children sleeping soundly. She returned to the living room where she and Rich set out the stockings stuffed full of candy and other small items. They put out the Santa gifts, adding them to the other gifts that they’d already put beneath the tree.
Donna stood back and admired the scene of the tree with the gifts as Rich drank half the glass of milk and ate one of the cookies the kids had left out for Santa. Her heart was full. Rich had already given her the best gift of all: a commitment and a promise that they’d become a family.
He turned and saw her watching him. “I think it looks great.” He motioned to all the gifts under the tree. “I can’t wait to see them tomorrow morning.”
Another wave of emotions hit her, and her eyes filled with tears again. “I am so thankful that you’re in our lives. Not many men would want a woman if it meant they had to take on three kids too, you know.”
He stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Those men are fools. I love spending time with those kids. I have from that first day we went to Miami last year when I was assigned to protect you.”
He kissed her again, kisses she eagerly returned. This time when he pulled away, it was to lead her up the stairs to the bedroom. Behind a locked bedroom door, he let his desire dictate his actions. He couldn’t remember why he had denied himself for so long.
