The Geek Who Saved Christmas

My neck heated from his praise, and I was glad for the distraction of the jam-packed parking lot. I forced a laugh. “Would I ruin it if I said I had a vested interest in certain parts of you not freezing?”

“You offering to warm me up after?” Sadness gone from his voice, he coupled his playful tone with dancing his fingers along my thigh.

“Absolutely.” I tried to remember where I’d put my spare blanket. I could make the bedroom a little warmer as well. “I can’t leave Jim, but I do have a hot shower I installed myself in the master.”

“Oh, baby, talk DIY to me.” He laughed as I circled the lot in a fruitless hunt for a space.

“If that does it for you, I did the tile in there too. Needed a whole new sub-floor. Weeks of work.”

“I’ll come to you after I finish my shift. We can move the old bed into the guest room in the morning.” Clearly pleased to have a schedule, Gideon pulled out his phone, adding notes. “After, I need to figure out what to get my secret Santa person for our annual work luncheon next week.”

“What do they like?” I asked as I finally spied an open space.

“Helene is a huge Eagles fan. The football team, not the band, alas. Her cube is a monument to bobblehead football figurines.”

I zipped into the parking spot before grinning at him. “Luckily, I’m a football guy.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“And one of my best landscaping clients works in PR for the team.” My shoulders lifted. I fucking loved being able to help Gideon. Furniture repair. Football advice. I wanted to do whatever it took to get more of his musical laughter. “Would a signed poster work? I got one of those for human Jim’s teen son. Or maybe some discount tickets?”

“Oh my God, you’re a lifesaver. Yes. A poster would be perfect.” Leaning over, he gave me a swift kiss. “Now, let’s find you a bed.”

“I like you happier.” I followed him out of the truck.

“I like me happier too.” His face was back to soft and sentimental, and when he grabbed my hand, I let him. We held hands on the trek to the mattress store, but he dropped mine in his excitement as we entered the store.

“Look! Big year-end clearance.” He pointed to a sign.

“Find me a bargain suitable for my ancient back,” I ordered as he launched himself onto the nearest bed, spreading out like a snow angel.

“Will do. And not this one. Too firm.”

“No such thing.” I offered him a hand up and settled in to enjoy watching Gideon have the thrill of the hunt.

Naturally, Gideon got the life story of the clerk who arrived to help us, passing out holiday dinner tips in between testing other mattresses and trying to wrangle deals. We made our way from the cheap box spring models to higher beds with fluffy tops and price tags discreetly hidden. Even I got into the spirit of trying, and lying next to Gideon on a plush mattress with the helpful salesperson hovering nearby was definitely one of the more surreal experiences of my life.

“Your sides each adjust individually. A ton of spouses love that feature.” The clerk showed off matching controllers. He was young and earnest, and like the rest of the world, entirely too eager to marry Gideon and me off.

“Ah…” Sitting up, I made a strangled sound. Spouses? We were barely…huh? I couldn’t finish that thought. We weren’t a couple, but this sure as hell felt like something other than hooking up.

“He’s not that picky,” Gideon covered smoothly for me before turning to me and lowering his voice. “Get what you want. This one is super comfortable, but that other one was the better deal.”

“Actually, I can get you twenty percent off this one,” the clerk offered as Gideon pet the quilted pillow top.

“Sold.”

Gideon flushed an adorable shade of pink. “You don’t need…”

“My back liked this one most,” I lied. Actually, I’d been fine with every bed we’d tried, but following Gideon’s lead to make snow angels while trying beds had been too fun to cut it off at the first mattress.

“Excellent.” Gideon rubbed his hands together. “Let me see if I can get you an even better deal like some free pillows.”

“Ask for two.” I laughed, not sure shopping had ever been this fun. “Do your thing.”

As he hustled over to the clerk, I was already counting down to when I’d get to warm him up later. I didn’t even mind the delay. Somehow, I knew this wouldn’t be the last time I waited up for Gideon. He deserved someone watching out for him, someone to leave a light on, and if he’d let it be me, well, I liked that. It also terrified me. But not enough to dampen how much I wanted to be someone for him.

Chapter Eighteen