Upon a Midnight Clear (Legend, Colorado 2)

He lay down on the soft white rug and pulled her on top of him. "I've already done the most difficult part."

"Oh?" she said curiously.

"I gave you my heart," he explained softly as he took her index finger and traced it around the right side of his chest. "But now, I have a very special recovery in mind for you."

"And what might that be?" Kim teased softly, enjoying the effect she was having on him.

Still holding on to her index finger, he brought it to his lips and kissed it gently. "It's very important that you close your eyes, relax… and let me love you," he said, his voice growing heavy with desire.

He gently pulled her down in front of him, so that her back was facing the fire. Shifting his weight so that he could lean on one arm, he stared intently into her eyes. He lifted her chin with his finger so that she was looking at him, and then he used that same finger to draw an imaginary tine down her body, starting with her shoulder and ending with her little toe. "You are perfect," he said, as his finger drifted back up her body, lightly brushing the tip of her nipple.

Kim smiled. "That's three," she said out loud. First the coat, then the flowers, and finally the sweet comment about her body.

"What?"

Kim leaned over and slid her hands around the inside of

his jeans. "I think I'm ready for my treatment"

He grinned as he pulled her beside him. It was an offer he had no intention of refusing.

"I've decided to stay through the holidays," Kim announced.

Her father smiled. "But," he said, becoming concerned, "what about your show?"

"I called the gallery owner this morning. I explained what was going on, and he said he didn't think it was necessary for me to be there. He said it might even add to my allure if I wasn't there—make me seem more mysterious."

"Mysterious?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I wasn't quite sure what he meant either. But I didn't want to push it. I was just happy I didn't have to go back."

He nodded, his face solemn.

Kim said, "I thought you'd be happy."

He took her hand. "I am. I just don't want you to harm your career because of your concern over me. I'll be just fine."

She glanced away. "Don't you want me to stay?"

"Of course," he said quietly, giving her a weak smile. "It'll be the first Christmas I've celebrated in quite a while."

Kim had often wondered what her father had done on the holidays. She just assumed he had spent them with friends. Or a new family. But from the lack of visitors in his hospital room, she was beginning to realize that had not been the case. "What do you usually do?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Work."

"Well, this year will be different. I'm going to get a tree later on today. This Christmas you're going to have atraditional Christmas dinner."

He nodded as a wave of sadness crossed his face.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I just… I've missed so much. I… I just… well, I'm glad that you're here," he said, repeating her something he had told her many times already. "I've always tried to keep tabs on you, even when we weren't speaking. Many times I picked up the phone… but I just couldn't bring myself to dial the number." He shook his head. "I've been a lousy father. Stubborn pride."

Kim shrugged. "Fortunately for both of us, we still have the future to look forward to."

"Yes," he agreed. "And Christmas."

"How about this one?"