Page 17 of Christmas Replay
“Smartass.”
“You like my ass.”
“Iloveyour ass. But, I was thinking…my parents are going to be here next month—”
She pulled gently on the hair in the center of my chest. “Really? We’re naked and you’re talking about Mom and Dad?”
I loved that my parents wanted her to call them that and she’d agreed, crying about it later because she’d been so touched to have my family claim her as theirs.
“Let’s get married while they’re here.”
She froze and stared up at me.
“We can plan a big party with our friends, but we can just head over to city hall with the parents—”
“Yes!” she exclaimed and jumped into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist. My cock flexed against her center, taking the cue, but I held back.
“Yes,” I echoed. “I love you, Alissa.”
“I love you.” She pulled my mouth down to hers, and I pressed her to the wall, making her mine once again. For now and for always.
Epilogue Two
Alissa
Ten Years Later
“Are you open?” he asked as he walked in the front door alone.
“Only for just a few more minutes,” I admitted, smiling at the handsome young man heading toward the counter. “What can I get you?”
“A hot chocolate and a cookie,” he insisted, grinning back.
“Well, you’re in luck.” I snagged the last snowman cookie I’d saved especially for him and slid it onto a plate, handing it over to him. “Why don’t you go have a seat, and I’ll bring your cocoa right over.”
“Thanks, Mom!” Joey said happily, taking his cookie to the table by the fireplace.
“Where’s your dad?” I asked, my brow furrowing as I looked at the door. I’d expected Cliff to be right behind our son.
“He’s on the phone.” Joey rolled his eyes. “Impotent client.”
“Important,” I corrected him, biting back a giggle.
“You don’t know,” he mumbled.
I barked out the laugh I’d been trying to conceal and shook my head at our seven-year-old son. He was way too smart for all of our goods. His vocabulary had always been off the charts, probably because his father never shut Joey out of the room during conversations about his day. Granted, Cliff never shared violent or confidential details with either of us, but we did talk in generalities and Joey had picked up some pretty big language skills along the way. Seven years living with one of the most successful lawyers in the state would do that for a kid.
“Hey!” Cliff said as he walked into the shop, smiling at me as I carried over a coffee for him and our son’s cocoa. “You ready to hit the road?”
“Almost,” I agreed. “I just need to clean up a few things and lock it down for the break.”
It was Christmas Eve, and we were heading up the mountain for a much needed two-week vacation. It seemed like we were all busier and busier every year, and I was exhausted. Though, being pregnant again wasn’t helping.
“Are you okay?” Cliff asked, concern in his tone.
I turned back and smiled at him, nodding. He didn’t know about the baby yet. I planned to tell him and Joey both on Christmas morning. But hiding my exhaustion and continuing to work ten-hour days was definitely taking its toll.
My little shop had exploded with business a few years ago, and we were actually thinking of expanding and opening a second location on the other side of town. The local paper had run a story about a holiday drink I’d invented, and people were traveling for miles to get themselves a taste of Christmas in acup. It had done wonders for our sales, but we were about at our breaking point for capacity.
