Page 17 of Wrapped Up in Holly

Once I had it all planned in my head, it took almost no effort. When I asked Mom and Dad about taking the girls for Christmas Eve Eve night, they agreed immediately and even volunteered to pick the girls up from the bus stop. I made sure to get home early, ordered dinner, and even lit a few candles around the house before turning theChristmas lights up so the whole house was in a sort of blue, green, and red haze.

I heard the garage door open and close, the light steps of Holly’s feet, and then finally she was here. I was waiting for her at the back door.

She stopped short. “What-what are you doing?”

“I’m sorry,” I said, earning an annoyed puff of air.

“You’ve apologized already.”

“I did, but I know that’s not enough.” I slipped her purse off her shoulder and took the car keys from her hand, dropping them in her bag then placed it on the hook. “I don’t know how or when we started losing sight of each other, and I’m sorry for that.” I removed her coat, all the while her brow furrowed, and hung it up in the closet. “I’ve become complacent, I know. I’ve loved you since I was twelve, and maybe that’s part of the problem. Not that I’ve loved you that long, but that being with you is so…” With us still standing in the hall, I stepped into her space, forcing her back against the wall. “You’re a reflex. Being with you is like walking. I don’t think about it; I just do it. You’re a part of me.”

There was barely any room between us, so when she sucked in a big inhale, her breasts rubbed against my chest.

“You’re so much a part of me that I lost sight of you. I forgot to tell you how much I love you.” I wrapped my hands around her shoulders, my fingers digging into her thick sweater. “I adore you, every part of you.”

“Ev—”

I cut her off with a stiff shake of my head. “That’s what I want to do tonight. I want to adore you.”

She opened her mouth again to speak, but I pressed my finger against her lips. “The girls are with Mom and Dad. I ordered dinner that will be delivered later, but since we have a few hours to kill until then, I want you to do something for me.”

She raised her brow, probably not wanting to do me any favors after the last few months we’d had, but I didn’t respond. Only took her hand to walk her through the kitchen. I snagged her glass of wine and my beer then stepped into the living room, where I had the fireplace on and some music playing quietly.

She dropped her focus to the big gift bag on the sofa. “What’s that?”

I merely tipped my chin in silent direction for her to open it.

She hesitatingly sank onto the couch, placing the bag on the floor in front of her. I sat next to her, setting her glass of wine on the low coffee table, then leaned back against the cushions, sipping my lager as she dug through the white tissue paper.

“What… Evan…?” She held the lacy thing between her fingers, her dark eyes narrowed on me. “You got me a bra?”

“I got you a lot more than that.”

She blew out a soft breath between her lips, and I helped myself to another gulp of my drink. I knew it would take some convincing.

I tugged my cell phone from my pocket, explaining, “I want you to model for me. Everything that’s in that bag.”

“What? I’m not going to?—”

“Yeah, you are.” I tipped my head to the side at whatever snarky reply she had on the tip of her tongue. “You’re going to slip your pretty little ass into every bit of slinky lingerie that I bought you, and you’re going to strut across the floor for me so I can take some pictures.”

Her jaw flapped up and down.

“You think I don’t want you anymore?” I shook my head. “I’ve never stopped wanting you.”

“But—”

“I don’t care about your cellulite or your belly or your saggy boobs or anything else you complain about.” I stuck my handinto the bag and pulled out the first thing my fingers found. “Now put this on and go stand over there. The light is perfect.”

That earned a snort of amusement. “What do you know about lighting?”

“That the candlelight makes your eyes sparkle. Go on.” I nudged her. “Put on a fashion show for me.”

She riffled through the bag again, placing all the bras and underwear on her lap. “I can’t believe you bought all this. When am I even going to wear this?”

“Right now.”

She rolled her eyes. “I mean after. This must have cost a small fortune.”

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