Page 53 of The Santa Rules
“She’s really funny, isn’t she?”
“Yup. And I like that she helps with the Christmas stuff.”
Shit, I didn’t realize she’d picked up on how much Bella was helping.
“With our school project?”
“Yeah, but the other stuff too. The tree, and the cookie houses, and wrapping gifts. And the ice-skating. That was my favorite.”
“I guess I needed help with some of that stuff, huh?”
She nods and then reaches up to hold my cheeks in her hands. “Can we make cookies?” Her excitement and the way her eyes light up are infectious, and I nod.
“I’ll ask Miss Carlisle when I see her today.”
“But it’s Saturday.”
“I’d let you come with us, but I need to go out and buy your Christmas gifts. But I promise to spend time with you today too.”
“Is Maggie coming over?”
“She is.”
“Can Giraffe make cookies with us too?”
“I’m sure Isaac can.”
“Can I get down now?” she asks, already wiggling out of my lap. And then she’s running up the stairs shouting about something she wants to show Maggie.
——————
When I pull into Bella’s driveway an hour later, I can’t get inside fast enough, and it has nothing to do with how cold it is outside. I knock on the door, and as soon as she opens it, she pulls me inside, closes the door, and pushes my back against it.
She grabs my cheeks and pulls my lips to hers. We’re stumbling back as I kick off my shoes, bumping into the closet door in the process.
“Isaac?” I ask between kisses.
She laughs against my lips. “Never thought you’d call me my son’s name when your tongue is in my mouth.”
“Jesus. I mean, is he here?” My hand glides up the front of her shirt, as I palm the cup of her bra.
“His dad’s,” she says, arching back, pushing her tit into my hand as I massage it through the fabric.
“How’d it go with Avery? Good, I take it?” she says as she peppers my neck with kisses.
“All good,” I say, pulling her back into me as I cup the back of her neck and lick along the seam of her lips until she opens for me. There’s a fervor in our movements that I’ve never experienced before, as though we can’t move fast enough, can’t kiss deep enough.
She jumps into my arms, and I spin her and push her up against the door right as a knock comes from the other side.
“Fuck,” I groan as I drop my head on her shoulder. This is the second time something has stopped us from taking things further, and I’m starting to think it is a sign.
“It’s not a sign,” she says, somehow mind-reading. She extracts herself from my arms, then peeks through the peephole. “It’s a delivery?”
“Is that a question?”
She opens the door to a man I don’t recognize. “Ned? What are you doing here?”
“Have a delivery for ya. Where do ya want it?”
