Page 119 of Perfectly Complicated
When my mouth reaches her collarbone where my jersey stretches across her shoulders, I pull back to take her in. “I love the way you look in my name.”
She reaches up to touch my face. “I never want to take your name off.”
“I hope you never will.” Taking her hand, I kiss the inside of her palm. “You’re sure about this? Even knowing Christmas isn’t my favorite holiday?”
“Wait…” She frowns slightly. “You’re admitting it’s not theworstholiday anymore?”
A laugh rumbles out of me. “Don’t push your luck, Bennett.”
Her grin widens. “Too late. Already did.”
I shake my head, trying not to smile. How does she make surrendering to her feel like winning? “Fine. I may seesomebenefits to Christmas.”
She tilts her head, eyes sparkling. “Oh really? Like what?”
“Being wrapped in lights for starters.”
She bursts out laughing. “Okay, but what else?”
“Kissing you under the mistletoe an obscene number of times.”
“An obscene number?” She raises an eyebrow. “How many are we talking?”
“I’m thinking we find out together.” I lower my mouth to her ear. “Starting tonight.”
Her mouth lifts. “Do any of these have to do with the actual holiday?”
“They all do. You’re a very convincing teacher, Ms. Bennett. I can’t wait for more of your holiday lesson plans.”
She rises on her toes, bringing her lips close to mine. “Just for the record, I think we both learned a lot this season.”
“What did you learn?”
“How to love a hockey player.” She pauses, her smile turning soft. “And how to let him love me back.”
“Best lesson plan ever,” I murmur against her lips.
THIRTY-FOUR
Rourke
I wake up to the sound of Aria babbling and the smell of something incredible baking in the tiny cabin kitchen. For a moment, I just let it wash over me—the familiar sounds of home and the complete absence of the usual dread that’s haunted me for twenty-eight years.
Until recently, I thought this kind of happiness was impossible for me. But now I realize:thisis what Christmas is supposed to feel like.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Janie says when I come out to the kitchenette. She’s still wearing my jersey, along with a smile that makes my heart skip a beat. “Someone’s been asking for you for the past twenty minutes.”
I scoop Aria up, then give her a kiss on her belly which makes her giggle like crazy. “Merry Christmas, baby girl.” Then I turn back to Janie, sweeping my mouth over hers. She tastes like coffee and vanilla and her usual holiday scent.
“And merry Christmas to you,” I murmur against her lips before noticing that something in the oven smells like cinnamon. “Wait. Are you making cinnamon rolls?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she says, looking pleased with herself as she hands me a cup of coffee.
“On top of all this stuff, you remembered half your pantry?”
“Actually, no,” she says, a sheepish grin curving her mouth as she pulls a tray of rolls from the oven. “The woman I interrupted last night from the next cabin over said they had extra, so she gave me some.”
“How did I get so lucky?” I wrap an arm around her waist and leave a kiss on the curve of her neck.
