Page 72 of Welcome Home for Christmas
Of him. He never wanted her to be scared of him or anything he’d do. He’d never hurt her, and if he did he’d be the first to take himself outside and kick his own ass.
Headlights poured around the corner, approaching from down the street. He hoped it was Allison. He’d spent his Christmas afternoon into the evening outside in the cold. He’d wait all night if he had to, though. Allison was worth waiting for. She was worth going the extra mile for. Worth sticking around because he’d never tire of her. She needed to know that.
The car slowed and pulled into the driveway in front of him. He waited for her to step out before he stood and drew her attention to his presence.
She got out, lips parted, eyes wide as she looked at the tree in front of her house.
“Hi.” He said after a long moment.
She startled and turned toward him. “You did this?” she asked. “Why?”
“You told me that you used to stare into the lights and disappear into someplace magical as a kid. You deserve magical, Allison. You deserve a hell of a lot more than fuzzy handcuffs.” He stepped toward her, slowly, gauging her reaction to him.
She straightened just slightly. He watched all her features tighten, pulling up her guard as he drew closer, afraid that he’d hurt her, but he never would. Not on his life.
“What I really want to give you for Christmas is something magical. Because that’s what you gave me this Christmas.”
She shook her head, glancing between him and the tree. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about how I feel about you. About how I’m falling in love with you, Allison Carmichael. And that’s pretty darn magical, if you ask me.”
Tears glimmered in her eyes, catching the reflection of the red and green, blue and purple lights. She trembled as he took a step closer, standing directly in front of her now. He braced his hands on her shoulders. “In case that wasn’t crystal clear, I’ll tell you again. I’m falling for you. Hard. Quick. And I don’t want to stop.”
She tipped her head back to look at him. A tear hung from her lower lashes, frozen in the December cold. “But it’s only been two weeks. How do you know it’s real or that it’ll last?”
Troy laughed quietly at her questions. “You gotta believe in something, right? I believe in us. I tried my best to skip Christmas, but you wouldn’t let me. And because of you I went home and made up with my brother. You make my world a better place. In two weeks, you’ve made me a better man.”
She shook her head, but he nodded back at her.
“I need you, Allison. And whether you’re admitting it or not, I think you need me, too.”
“I do?” she asked.
“Yeah. I make you smile. Laugh. With one touch, I turn you on.”
Her lips parted.
“I make you feel safe and happy, and I’ll do my best to never make you feel anything less, if you give me another shot.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the branch of mistletoe that he’d been carrying around.
Allison looked at it in his hand for a long moment. He wondered what was going through her head. Was she going to send him away? He hoped not. Ask him to stay? Finally, she met his eyes. “I thought I told you that you didn’t need that to kiss me anymore.”
Troy lowered his arms to wrap around her waist and tilted his head. “I don’t?”
“No.” The smallest of smiles lit her face, more vibrant and beautiful than any tree. “I’m falling for you, too. I tried not to, but—”
“But I’m irresistible, I know,” he teased, his face hovering barely an inch from hers.
She punched his chest softly and he tightened his hold on her, his expression growing more serious.
“Jokester,” she whispered.
“I’m not joking right now. I’ve never meant anything more in my life. I want to be with you. In bed, yes. With those god-awful handcuffs, hell yes.”
She laughed softly.
“But also at breakfast, lunch, dinner, family holidays. I want it all. Let’s make a go of this, Allison.”
She swallowed, then nodded ever so slightly. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone in my entire life. And for once, from now on, I’m going to trust how I feel. I’m in.”
“That’s my girl.” Troy grinned back at her. Then he lowered his head and kissed her lips, sweet at first, then hungrily. He’d never satisfy his hunger for this woman in his arms.
Pulling back, he stared deep into her eyes, unblinking until the shades of green blurred and swirled, and he disappeared into someplace magical—her.
“Merry Christmas,” she said, staring back at him.
“Merry Christmas,baby.”
