Page 66 of Trick or Treat

Lindsey did as he asked and passed him a string of lights. It took another couple of hours to finish trimming the tree, hanging lights around her mantel and setting up decorations throughout the house. They’d just finished off sandwiches, chips and sodas and he was sitting on the couch, watching Lindsey bent over putting a DVD in the player.

“This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies. I started watching it with my mom when I was little and I kinda have to watch it every year now.” She started to plop down at the other end of the couch, but Trick wasn’t having it. He latched onto her hand and pulled her down next to him. He propped his feet, minus his boots, on the coffee table next to the sleigh carrying Santa Claus being pulled by his reindeer. He reached behind them and pulled the blanket off the back of the couch, covering Lindsey’s lap. Satisfied that she was as comfortable as he could make her, he told her to hit play.

“What’s the name of this movie?”

“The Bishop’s Wife. Cary Grant plays an angel sent to Earth to a bishop praying for help.” She snuggled deeper into his side, her gaze focused on the television. “I don’t want to tell you too much about it and spoil it for you.”

He looked down and saw that she was smiling like a kid in a candy store, damn near vibrating the couch with her excitement. He wasn’t sure if he was going to like the movie, especially when he saw that it was black and white, but if it made her that happy, he’d be fine sitting through it.

As the movie ended, she sat up, an expectant look on her face. Her smile was bright and her eyes were big. “What did you think?”

“I actually liked it. Carey Grant is a pretty classy angel.” The movie really wasn’t that bad. He liked that the bishop got his head out of his ass and realized what a true gift a good woman like his wife really was. He was sure the brothers would give him shit about watching what amounted to a chick flick Christmas movie, but he didn’t give a shit. He enjoyed the movie and enjoyed Lindsey plastered to his side all warm and soft even more.

She got up to take the movie out. She put it in the case and stuck it back on the shelf. When she turned around, she gasped in surprise. “It’s snowing!” She clapped her hands together and held them at her chest, bouncing on her toes. Damn, it was refreshing to see how the littlest things got her excited and made her happy.

He looked out the big picture window and saw that it was indeed snowing. Seeing it coming down as a backdrop to her Christmas tree and it’s twinkling white lights made it even better. “Huh. It sure is.”

“You want some hot chocolate?” She still stood with her hands clasped together, her smile huge.

“Can you put a shot of bourbon in it?” he asked as he got to his feet.

“Sure. I think I have some in the kitchen somewhere.”

He followed her to the kitchen, expecting her to microwave some Swiss Miss. He should have known better. She pulled a pan out of her cabinets, then the milk from the refrigerator and lastly, cocoa mix from an upper cabinet. His Lindsey liked her hot chocolate from scratch.

“I think there’s a bottle of bourbon in the cabinet above the refrigerator. Can you reach it?” She measured out the correct amount of milk, then scooped in the cocoa. She turned the heat on medium and continued to slowly stir while she waited for it to heat up.

Trick found the bottle and got it down. He poured a shot of it in one of the huge mugs she had ready by the stove and waited. He stood with his hip propped against the cabinet, his arms and ankles crossed. “Why does it not surprise me that you make your hot chocolate from scratch?”

She frowned as she turned the heat off. “Is that a bad thing?”

“No, babe. Not at all. Just amazed at how much you make your house a home. How you put such care into everything you do.” Fuck. He couldn’t believe he let her stay away so long. If he was completely honest with himself, he’d had it bad for her from the first night he’d met her at a club party. He just didn’t recognize the extent of his interest until he spent more time with her. Being apart only accentuated how much he missed having her in his life.

Damn, he was so happy she’d come to the clubhouse last night looking for him. Would he have eventually caved and sought her out sometime soon or would he have been a complete fool and stayed away because she asked him to? Thank God he didn’t have to find out.

“Will you get a broom from the garage and sweep the snow off the swing out front? It’s hanging on the wall just outside the door.” She must have read the question in his gaze and added, “I want to grab a blanket, go sit on the porch swing all snuggled up next to you and watch it snow.”

That sounded fucking amazing. “You got it.” He slipped his boots and coat on and took off to do as she’d instructed. He was finishing up by sweeping a path through the snow to the swing when Lindsey came out holding two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. She’d pulled on a navy blue puffy coat and slipped on a white knit hat and gloves. She had a quilt under one arm that he took from her and spread out on the swing. She handed him his mug and took a seat. Once he joined her, she wrapped her end of the quilt around them, Trick following suit and doing the same from his side.

It was colder than shit outside, but he didn’t mind considering he was snuggled up with Lindsey under a blanket, drinking hot chocolate and watching it snow. They still had about an hour of daylight left and he doubted they would make it that long. It didn’t matter. He took a swig of his hot chocolate with its shot of bourbon and all was right in his world. The only thing that could make it more perfect was if his kids could be here to share in it. They’d be out in the yard playing in the snow and having a blast. He couldn’t wait to get them Wednesday night.

“What are thinking about?” Lindsey gently nudged the swing into motion.

“I was just thinking how absolutely thrilled I am to be sitting here with you, snuggled under this quilt, drinking spiked cocoa and watching it snow. It’s fucking perfect. Thank you for sharing it with me.” He would have never thought to do something like this. Now that he’d done it, he wanted to have more opportunities to do it again.

“You’re welcome.” She took a drink and looked out over her yard.

Sitting there in silence, Trick could actually hear the sound of the snow landing all around them. It was beautiful. He never wanted this moment to end but knew soon enough the cold would invade their little bubble and they’d have to go inside.

“What are you doing Wednesday night?” He turned to look down at her.

“Um, I don’t think I have anything planned. Why?” She turned to look up at him.

“I’d like you to come to dinner with me and the kids. I’ll cook and then you can help us decorate our tree.” He worried that he’d said something wrong as she stopped pushing the swing. He had his arm draped around her shoulders under the quilt and felt her back stiffen immediately.

“You really want me to be there for that?”

“Yeah. I really want you to be there for that. Why? You don’t want to come decorate the tree with me and the kids?” Had he pushed too soon?

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