Page 148 of All I Want for Christmas

‘Good.’ His grip tightened. ‘Because...because I love you, Darcy.’

‘I love you back,’ she whispered, feeling her body thrill as he bent down and kissed her.

Her lips were salty with tears, his cheeks cold. Luna was barking excitedly as she ran around them in circles. Darcy felt the dog’s wet paws paddling on her thighs until eventually they were forced to pull apart and give her some attention. Max scooped her up, bringing the dog’s warm body between them. ‘You just can’t bear to be left out, can you?’ he asked the animal, kissing its head affectionately.

Luna nuzzled their necks, her cold, wet nose tickling them both and making them laugh.

Darcy looked back at him, an idea beginning to form in her mind. ‘...Oh God,’ he groaned as he immediately caught her drift.

‘Well, she loves you too,’ she smiled, ruffling Luna’s silky head. ‘And you do need a bit of chaos in your life.’

He arched an eyebrow. ‘I thought that was you.’

She shrugged happily, her hand stroking his cheek. ‘I wasn’t so confident of my mission up here that I dared to get you a gift. She could always be our Christmas present to one another.’

‘But I don’t do Christmas.’

‘Liar. You’ve got a tree...’ she murmured, tracing his mouth with a finger. ‘And I’ve got stockings...’

His eyes glittered at the intimation, his gaze falling to her lips. ‘Well, when you put it like that,’ he grinned, squeezing her tightly, ‘...Happy Christmas.’

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