How the Hitman Stole Christmas

I really am so happy for her. I may not have known Nora before this week, but I liked her right away, and the few stories Jasper has shared with me about her made me feel like I knew her all the more.

Nora stands, telling us she needs to go and start bringing gifts in. Before she goes, she slides a sly smile my way. “Maybe next year it’ll be you.”

I smile back, trying to ignore how beat red my face must be. “Oh, I don’t know about that,” I say lightly, dismissively, trying not to let it get awkward.

Obviously, Nora thinks we’re already an established couple, and she doesn’t know anything about what Jasper does for work. I can see why she’d say it.

Of course she hopes her brother will find the same happiness she has. Of course she hopes we’ll follow in her footsteps, and one Christmas in the not-too-distant future, our babies will play together with all the new toys they open on Christmas morning.

It doesn’t sound so terrible to me either, and I don’t share her excuse. I should know better.

I try not to let it linger in my mind as we tote out all the presents we wrapped today and pile them around the Christmas tree.

I try not to let it linger in my heart as I climb naked into bed with Jasper and let him build on my impossible fantasies.

I try not to set myself up for inevitable heartache… but I am not successful.

As Jasper curls his strong arms around me and holds me close, as we drift off to sleep with a flurry of snowflakes coming down outside…

It feels like everything I’ve ever dreamed of.Christmas morning arrives, and on this particular day, we don’t get to linger in bed, snuggling and making love until our hearts are content.

Amira runs through the halls shouting for everyone to wake up as soon as her eyes open. Apparently, Nora told her she couldn’t open her gifts until everyone was awake, and Amira is a problem-solver.

The sun is barely up. I am definitely not ready to get out of bed, but I’m not about to stand in the way of Amira opening her gifts. Jasper grumbles and tries to go back to sleep, but I roll over and pepper his face with kisses until I know he’s awake.

“The little person in the other room is very excited to open presents,” I tell him.

“The big person in this one is very excited to keep sleeping.”

I smile and kiss him again, then I reach behind him and smack his ass. “Get up, you sexy beast. It’s Christmas morning.”

I roll out of bed quickly so he can’t retaliate, but I should have known better. He’s out of bed in a flash, coming up behind me and grabbing me. His strong arms lock around my waist and he pulls me snugly against his body, tilting his head forward and burying his face in my neck. My whole body warms as he murmurs, “If you insist.”

It’s so cold outside, it feels chilly in the house even with the heat cranked up, so I am very happy when the first present I open—from Audra—is a Sherpa blanket. I open it right up and spread it out over me and Jasper to keep us warm.

There’s plenty of seating, but Jasper and I are on the floor with Amira. He’s more comfortable with a little space, and the couch is way too crowded.

I love sitting snuggled up between his legs like this, so I have no complaints.

I unwrap all the gifts with my name on them, then Uncle Arlo hands me a package with Jasper’s name on it.

“Here you go, Autumn. I didn’t know Jasper was bringing a girl, so you can have one of his.”

I laugh, stealing a devious look back at Jasper to gloat about getting one of his gifts. He merely rolls his eyes and rips into the package.

We both got books. Jasper got a copy of Robinson Crusoe, I got a biography about Benjamin Franklin.

Amira is a blast to watch as she opens her gifts. She’s still at that age where she gets excited about everything, so every package is opened with equal enthusiasm, whether it’s a pair of slippers, or the top toy on her Christmas list.

When all the gifts have been opened and we’re lost in a sea of crumpled gift wrap, I settle back against Jasper and just soak it all up. Tarek and Nora start cleaning up some of the paper, so Amira brings her new baby doll over for Uncle Jasper to open.

It means I have to move to the side, but sitting there watching him with Amira does things to me. Stupid things. Jasper is good with kids, and even though they only met this weekend, Amira is already so comfortable with him. Once her doll is open, she sits down in his lap—completely stealing my spot—and starts explaining to him in broken sentences about how the doll is hungry and showing him how to feed it. Jasper listens dutifully, then to make mischief, he tries to steal a bite of the baby doll’s food for himself. Amira laughs, her big eyes glinting with delight, and tells him he’s not allowed to have that food, it’s just for baby.