A Date with an Elf (The Dating 12)

“I love you, Bree.” For a moment, I freeze, wondering if I heard him right. Still connected, I sit up so I can see his face. He smiles and cups my cheeks. “Did you hear me?” he asks, his voice low and sexy.

A tear falls down my cheek, and I smile. “I love you too. These past couple of weeks have been the best moments of my life.”

He nods. “I know how you feel. I’m hoping to have many more with you, starting with Christmas. I want you to stay here tomorrow night and wake up with me Christmas morning. I can’t see it any other way.”

A smile lights up my face. “Neither do I. It’s a date.”10BreeCHRISTMAS DAY

“Daddy, Bree, wake up!”

I jerk awake at the sound of Alyssa’s excitement. When I look around, I’m on the couch, and so is Caleb. The last thing I remember is setting up Alyssa’s presents from Santa. Caleb rubs his eyes and glances around the room, clearly surprised to see we’re still on the couch.

Alyssa runs around the living room, clapping her hands and squealing with all the toys she got. Caleb leans in close. “Did we seriously fall asleep on the couch last night?”

I flourish a hand about the room. “We were busy. It wore us out.”

Caleb wanted to make sure Alyssa had an amazing Christmas, and he did so by getting her every popular toy on the market. It was a lot of work putting everything together and wrapping all her other gifts.

Alyssa rips into the wrapping paper and unwraps all of her gifts, leaving a mound of it on the floor. Seeing her excitement is all that matters. I remember what it was like to be her age and wake up Christmas morning to a room full of presents.

“Daddy, look!” Alyssa squeals as she holds up the complete Harry Potter movie collection.

“Can we watch some tonight? Bree loves Harry Potter.”

Caleb laughs. “Of course.”

Alyssa rushes over to show me the movies before diving back into her presents. Caleb slides over closer to me and puts an arm over my shoulders. “Thank you for helping me last night. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

I pat his leg. “You’re welcome. I’d do anything to see that little girl smile.”

He kisses my cheek. “And I love you for it.”

Once Alyssa finishes with her presents, there’s one she has yet to see. It’s a special gift, one I wanted her to open with her father. “I’ll be right back,” I say. Caleb’s brows furrow, but I smile and rush back to the bedroom. I kept the present in my overnight bag, hidden underneath my clothes. I carry it into the living room, and Alyssa’s eyes widen.

She bounces on her feet. “Another present for me?”

“It is,” I say, handing it to her. “Be careful with it. It’s special. Why don’t you take it over to your daddy, and you both can open it.”

She hurries over to Caleb and climbs up onto his lap. They unwrap it together, and Alyssa is the one who pulls out the crystal angel with a small bell attached to the halo. Engraved on the back of one of the angel’s wings is her mother’s name, Allison. Alyssa holds it up and smiles.

“It’s pretty. She looks just like mommy.”

I walk over to them and kneel so I’m face to face with her. “Exactly. You know, I have an ornament like this that was given to me in honor of my grandmother. When I decorate my tree and see the angel, it makes me feel like she’s close by, like she’s celebrating the holidays with me.”

Alyssa jumps off Caleb’s lap and goes straight to the tree. “We’ll hang it up right in front so everyone can see it.” My eyes burn as I watch her put it on the tree.

Caleb takes my hand and helps me back on the couch. “Thank you for that, Bree. It means a lot that you can embrace Alyssa’s mother and keep her memory alive.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s a part of Alyssa, and I know she’s a part of you and always will be.”

Caleb caresses my cheek. “I love you so much, Bree. I never thought I’d find happiness again.” He glances over at Alyssa, who is busy playing with her toys. “Alyssa loves you too. I can’t imagine a life without her or you in it.”

This makes me smile. “Guess that means you’re stuck with me then. I’ll stay as long as you want me.”

He leans in close and kisses me. “That’s going to be a very long time. I hope you’re ready for that.”

“I’m ready for anything.”THE END