Page 24 of It's Your Love: Rebel & Holly

“At this rate, I’m going to need to go up a pant size,” I state, smirking.

“I’ll love you even if you do,” she promises. “Flaws and all, Rebel, remember?”

I nod then lean down to kiss her. “Go wrap, Holly.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” she says while saluting me.

“Smartass!”

“Mama! Mr. Rebel!Santacame!” Mina exclaims running into Holly’s bedroom. Thank fuck she had warned me they’d be up early so I could slip into some lounge pants and a t-shirt after we made love.

Both girls jump onto the bed where Holly proceeds to tickle and kiss them while telling them Merry Christmas. Neither one of them bat an eye at the fact I’m in bed with their mother; maybe it’s because it’s not the first time I’ve slept over, but I think it has more to do with the fact it’s Christmas.

“I guess we better get up and get the coffee on for Pappy and Grammy,” she says, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

Remembering how her legs were wrapped around me has me getting hard, so I start mentally dismantling my service revolver in my head, which does the trick. When I’m confident I won’t be showing two impressionable little girls anything they don’t need to see at their ages, I get out of bed and head into the bathroom to take a piss and brush my teeth, since Holly’s already been in there and is now on her way toward the kitchen.

“Mama, she went back to the North Pole,” Ruby says, sounding dejected as she holds up a piece of paper from Tiny Sparkles.

“Do you want me to read it?” I ask since Holly’s busy pulling down coffee cups.

“Can you, please?” Ruby questions, handing me the note.

Dear Mina and Ruby,

It’s that time of year again when I have to go home to the North Pole. You were both such good girls and I hope you love your surprise! You have to wait until Grammy and Pappy arrive before you can see it. See you next Thanksgiving!

Love,

Tiny Sparkles

“Can we open our stockings while we wait, Mama?” Mina asks.

“Yes, let me go get them and turn on the tree, okay?” Holly replies. “Coffee’s ready, Rebel, if you want to make yourself a cup.”

I smirk, because we both miscalculated how early the girls would be up and we’re both a bit bleary-eyed this morning. Of course, I wouldn’t change a thing, because the cute Mrs. Santa teddy she wore to bed was worth losing a few hours of sleep, that’s for damn sure!

She returns to the kitchen with the girls’ stockings, and they set about opening them amid giggles and shrieks of joy. Sometimes I worry about my hearing, then realize that at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter as long as they’re happy.

A knock at the door has Holly turning only to smile when she hears Paul say, “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas! I heard there are two little girls living here who’ve been good this year.”

“We have, Pappy,” Mina replies, running over to give them both a hug. “Grammy, do you have your cinnamon rolls?”

“Of course, Mina, I always make them on Christmas Day,” Esther says, setting the huge pan in the middle of the table. “Now, I understand that Santa’s been here. What should we do first?”

“Presents!” Ruby yells, causing all of us to burst into laughter.

“Presents it is,” Holly decrees. “Unless you want to see the surprise Tiny Sparkles left?”

The girls’ eyes widen then they both nod. “Can we, Mama?” Mina asks.

“Absolutely. The other presents will wait a few minutes, I’m sure,” Holly says, sipping on her coffee. “We’re in no hurry today, remember?”

We all follow the girls to the door that’s been closed since Thanksgiving. “Mama? She put our names on the door!” Mina states.

“I wonder what’s inside?” Grammy muses, her eyes twinkling.

“Open the door, Mina,” Holly instructs.

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