Page 14 of When You're Home for the Holidays
She reached down to stroke his hand, savoring the warmth and the comfort of their connection. “Promise me we’ll always be together at Christmastime,” she whispered in a rush.
Rhett’s response came out slower: Even and steady. “You belong to me, Victoria Thompson. And I belong to you. We’ll be together forever or for however long we get, and we’llalwaysbe together at Christmastime.”
She sank into the warmth of his promises, into the tenderness of his hand on her belly. She reveled in their soulful connection that had been forged across a broken fence all those years ago. She knew his words were more than just words: they were sincere hope and pure optimism manifested in the face of cancer and loss and addiction and grief. They were a reminder that all they had was this moment, this connection, this love.
“I love you. Now sleep,” he pleaded through an exaggerated yawn. “I can’t wait to wake up next to my wife on Christmas Eve.”
Chapter eight
Tori
“Istilldon’tunderstandwhy you like this stupid game,” Maddie huffed as she threw her cards on the coffee table. “It doesn’t make any sense! How am I supposed to know if I want to pick up a cat?”
“Kitty, Maddie girl. Those cards are called the kitty,” Rhett explained again with an abundance of patience. The guys had been trying to teach Maddie how to play euchre for almost an hour. But between stealing glances at her phone and shooting a few salacious smiles and inappropriate comments Fielding’s way, she hadn’t been paying enough attention to get the hang of it.
“Maybe it’s time we switch up the teams?” Jake suggested, shooting Tori a hopeful glance. “You want in, baby? Rhett and I will go easy on you.”
Tori side-eyed Jake. He was wearing the new Cal sweatshirt Maddie had brought him paired with a slightly darker pair of gray sweatpants than the ones he had on earlier. It was good to see him dressed down, having fun, relaxing. She just hoped he had packed more than sweatpants for his surprise on Christmas morning. “I know better than to play cards with you, Jake Whitely. There are only two possible outcomes: either you win, or you insist the actual winner cheated.”
“Sounds about right,” Fielding snickered as he pushed up from his seat and raised his hands over his head to stretch. “Good game,” he nodded first at Jake, then at Rhett. “You two probably would have beat me even if I had a partner who actually knew how to play.”
“Oh Fielding,” Maddie sing-songed. Tori smirked at her tone, knowing whatever she said next was bound to push Rhett’s buttons. “I may not be a worthy euchre partner, but I have plenty of other skills I could show you.”
An unmistakable awkwardness spiked in the room. Rhett was biting down hard on the inside of his cheek and glaring at his sister. Jake had his head on the table, buried in his arms, most likely trying to stifle a fit of laughter. And Fielding was running his hand through his hair over and over again, his teeth sunk into his lower lip. Tori knew that look: he was using every ounce of self-restraint to not take the bait.
Fielding was the first to finally speak. He faltered on his words, shaking his head to himself as he turned to leave the room. “I’m—a, I’m gonna go see if I can go help Judy.” He strode out of the living room toward the kitchen, with Maddie not-so-subtly tailing behind him.
“Maddie,” Rhett hissed in warning.
She glanced over her shoulder with a doe-eyed smile, going as far as to shrug innocently before skipping after her prey.
“I swear if Haas so much as looks at her for half a second too long…”
“He won’t,” Jake insisted, putting the playing cards back into their sleeve before pushing to his feet. “But I’ll go check on them, just in case.”
Tori was almost positive Maddie was just goading Rhett. She was even more sure that Fielding wouldn’t do anything to risk pissing off her husband. But Jake’s watchful eye was still appreciated.
To her relief, Rhett and Fielding had been civil, borderline friendly all day. She wasn’t sure if it was the holiday spirit or maybe a newfound camaraderie after working together on Jake’s gift, but she was glad her husband and one of her best friends were finally getting along.
The room fell quiet once it was just the two of them. As happy as she was to have everyone at the cabin for Christmas, she was just as grateful to get a few moments of privacy with her husband.
“Come here, you,” he requested, extending an arm out and inviting her to join him on the couch. When she went to sit beside him, he hooked his arm under her knees and pulled her onto his lap.
“Mhmm, I feel like this is the first time we’ve been alone all day.” He made quick work of bringing his lips to her ear. He gripped the back of her head possessively with his other hand, working his mouth and teeth down her neck and giving her a playful bite on the shoulder.
“I told you we should have had sex last night,” she retorted, wiggling her ass against his growing erection.
Rhett stilled at her teasing. “How are you feeling today?” he asked sincerely, pulling away slightly to look in her eyes.
“I’m good.” She shrugged and considered leaving it at that, but she knew he’d feel better if she offered more details and didn’t make him pry. “I woke up sore, but nothing actually hurts, and the soreness eased up throughout the day. Honestly I think all the bending and reaching to get the tree done helped loosen me up. I still might put in a request for just a nine- or ten-footer next year, though.”
Rhett grinned. “The tree looks amazing, V. Seriously. You did so good. Your mom would have loved it.”
She turned to admire her day’s work. The twelve-foot blue spruce was adorned in all white twinkle lights, tons of red garland, and a beautiful array of ornaments new and old. Seeing the five personalized bulbs displayed front and center made it even more special. He was right. Her mom would have loved it.
“I sent a picture to my dad. He couldn’t believe how massive it is.”
“Are you sad he’s not here with us?” Rhett asked, stroking his hand up and down her back as he continued to hold her in his lap. She let out an involuntary shiver inspired by his touch.
