Page 15 of Christmas Replay
Ten
Cliff
We were cuddled on the couch, in front of the fireplace and the tree again, the lights low while we kissed, touched and overall, just enjoyed the intimacy between us. Alissa curled in my lap, her head on my shoulder. Her fingers laced with mine and rested over my heart.
I kissed her temple. “I love you.”
She turned her head and brushed her lips over mine before she grinned. “I love you back.”
After our life-changing “nap,” we’d taken a walk over the property. My parents had purchased a large parcel in the eighties, and Alissa and I were now blessed with plenty of space in here. I already wondered what it would be like raising our kids here—well, here and in the city.
“When do you have to go back to New York City?” she asked, laying her head on my shoulder again. She seemed relaxed, and her question was nonchalant, but I knew the topic bothered her, especially since the last time we’d parted, we’d been separated for a year.
“January third. Late. I’ll only be gone a week at most while the last of my things are packed for moving to my new office. All myhousehold goods were boxed before I left and will ship the day I head back here.”
She nodded and stared at our linked hands, watching while her thumb glided up and down my finger.
“And I was thinking…” I continued. “What if we head back a little early? Like Friday or Saturday?”
Her head shot up before I could finish. “Why?”
“I thought maybe you’d like to see my house. Even…start plans to move in.”
“You want me to move in?” Her whispered words were heavy with disbelief.
“I want so much more than that,” I confessed. “But that would be a start.”
“What else do you want?”
“Love. Marriage. Kids someday. A dog—maybe sooner rather than later.” I squeezed the hand I held then lifted it so I could press a kiss to the back.
“I never thought I’d marry a lawyer…”
“Once upon a time, you promised not to hold that against me.”
She giggled. “Of course, I don’t. I just never thought… For that matter, I really never saw family as a future for me. I think I was afraid to dream it, you know? Because I want it more than you can imagine.” Growing serious, she pulled back so she could look fully at me. “You’re sure. You’re a lawyer, and I’m a girl from a coffee shop who smells like coffee more often than not.”
“First of all, you’re a business owner, but even if you weren’t, I wouldn’t care. I loveyou. All of you. The coffee making, your intoxicating scent, your free spirit and willingness to be adventurous, your black belt in smartassery. Second, I’m a lawyer with very few clients at the moment. Thankfully, this place is paid off, but I might be moonlighting at Home Depot to make my payments on our house and my office space.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I know where you can get some free coffee to sustain you. But I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
I tipped my head back and forth once. “Thankfully, I have some crossover clients who are just as happy for me to represent them here as there. Word of mouth has already gotten me some new prospects on the books for January.”
“See.” She raised an eyebrow, as if she were convincing me. “You must be very good. Juries are probably taken in by your all-American, hometown charm.”
I chuckled. “The only one I want to take in is you.”
“I’m sold.”
“So about you moving in…?”
“We still have a week. I’ll let you present your case.”
I smirked as she threw out all the law banter she knew. Shifting I turned us, so she was beneath me on the couch, her thighs around my waist. I rocked my hips forward to rub against her and mimic what we’d be doing over and over this week…and tonight. I wanted nothing more than to be buried in her again,soon.
“Very good start at convincing,” she moaned, arching. I cupped her breast, finding her nipple through her bra and flicking my thumb over it. Alissa shivered. She whimpered before her teeth sank into her lip.
“Move in with me so we can do this morning and night—noon on the weekends.”
