Afterward, they all made their way to the living room. Nikki was ridiculously content, and it helped to alleviate some of the tension between her and Damen.
There was such a distinct and dynamic push and pull between the two of them, she felt it to the depths of her soul.
When he glanced her way, her heart fluttered.
When she thought of leaving him in the morning, her heart sank.
But it was an inevitability…so.
While she enjoyed a coffee with tequila and a cinnamon sugar stick, Mads made a big production out of the tree lighting and ceremoniously plugged the primary strand into the outlet, effectively illuminating the whole damn room.
It was spectacular.
Whereas the “showoff” tree in the foyer was all golden and glitzy, the family one was vibrantly colorful and laden with all manner of ornaments—and Nikki had no doubt each and every one of them came with its own story and sentimental memory.
It was the very reason she’d selected a gorgeous, traditionally styled ornament at a shop in “Little Tijuana” as a gift for Damen’s mother.
She opened it as her one present for Christmas Eve, thanked Nikki with a warm smile and hung it on the tree.
Mads retrieved a small box from her stocking that she’d apparently scouted out earlier. Holding up the gift, she said to Nikki, “I know this one is from you.”
“I hope you have fun with it,” Nikki told her.
She tore at the paper, since it wasn’t of the coveted unicorn variety and then eyed the nondescript, glossy pink box.
“What is it?” Mads asked.
“Open it and find out.”
Mads did just that, folding back the flap and extracting a hard-plastic device.
“It’s a…stamper?” Mads ventured.
With a smile, Nikki crooked her finger and said, “Bring it here.”
Mads joined her on one of the sofas in front of the fireplace.
“Close your eyes,” Nikki instructed. Then she took the stamper and very carefully, very delicately placed it over one of Mads’ brows. Then the other.
“Okay,” she told Damen’s niece. “Now, go take a peek in the reflection of the windowpane.”
Mads skipped over to the tall glass, gazed at herself, then squealed in sheer delight. As excited as she’d been when she’d opened the package containing her pancake mold this morning.
“Oh, my gosh!” She whirled around to display her rainbow-colored eyebrows. “Look at this!”
Mrs. Castillo gaped.
Damen chuckled.
And Mads said, “This is the absolute coolest!”
“Comes off with soap and water and it’s hypoallergenic,” Nikki added, responsibly.
Damen told his niece, “Bear in mind, this i
s only for fun. Your school’s headmaster will never permit those eyebrows in a classroom, Mads.”
“I know, I know, but… After class!”