“Thank you for this.” She spread out her arms towards the tree. “You make a great Santa.”
He shook his head. “Wrong guy.”
She arched a brow, not quite sure what he meant.
“I’m not going for Santa in your life.”
“What are you going for in my life?”
He grinned and slipped the other shoe onto her foot. “I’m your Prince Charming, of course. Your right Prince Charming.”
“My one and only Prince Charming,” she assured him, touching his arm.
“I like the sound of that.”
“But, Riley, I should tell you.”
“Yes?”
“You’re my Santa, too.”
“Oh?”
She nodded. “Every day I’m with you is like Christmas.”
“You’re the one who is a gift, princess. You’ve made my life better.”
“Hey, I have a gift for you, too,” she recalled, jumping up and rushing to the drawer where she’d stashed his gift.
Smiling, she handed him the bag.
He eyed it suspiciously. “You used a bag rather than wrapping paper?”
She grinned. “I bought this before my wrapping lesson.”
He pulled out the paper and lifted out a box about the size of his hand. What was inside made him burst out laughing.
And had his eyes shining brightly.
“It’s perfect.”
“I thought you’d think so, snowflake.”
Holding the ornament as if it was the most precious treasure, he smiled at her, love in his eyes. “I love you, Trinity.”
Her heart swelled with Christmas joy, with love. She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips. “I love you, too. Thank you for my best Christmas ever.”
He grinned. “Until next year’s.”
EPILOGUE
CHRISTMAS DAY A year later, Trinity wasn’t so sure Riley had topped the previous year’s Christmas. As a matter of fact, at the moment she wasn’t even sure she liked him. Or that she’d ever allow him to touch her again.
She moaned with pain.
There was just something about this day.
“Come on, sweetheart, you’re almost there.”