He and Jeff had hosted a dinner for the staff and given everyone a cash bonus. The evening had been light and festive, everyone relaxed and looking forward to a second day off tomorrow.
“Did you have a good time?” Kane asked me, wrapping his arm around my waist as we made our way to his car.
“The best. I’m so glad we’re waiting until the day after Christmas to go see my family.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. This is nice, celebrating at home with you.”
My parents were hosting a big get together for the whole family the day after Christmas. They’d been disappointed I wasn’t coming for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for the first time ever, but I wanted to be with Kane, and he wanted to drop by Cori’s and see Brooklyn and bring her a gift on Christmas morning. For the first time, he could give his daughter a present and watch her open it. That was where we needed to be tomorrow.
I also didn’t want to see Grayson just yet. He’d flown home to Indy yesterday and I didn’t think my parents would appreciate a brawl over my stolen watch and his drug addiction. They had no idea what was going on with my brother. Maybe his appearance would give him away.
“I might give your brother a black eye for Christmas,” Kane said, seeming to read my mind. “Just a heads up.”
I shook my head. “It’s going to be an awkward visit for sure. It’s past time my parents find out what’s going on with him.”
“Let’s not worry about it now. Are we staying at your place tonight?”
“If you want the cinnamon rolls and breakfast casserole in my fridge for tomorrow’s breakfast we are.”
“I do.”
We got to his car and he opened the door for me. I looked up at the sky and let a few fat, wet snowflakes melt on my cheeks.
“It’s after midnight,” Kane said softly. “You know what that means?”
“Hmm?”
“It’s Christmas. Merry Christmas, Viv.”
He pulled me close and I cupped his bearded, snowflake-covered cheeks. We kissed and kissed, not caring that we were standing in a cold, tightly-packed parking lot. When Kane was near, I was always warm.
When we got back to my apartment, I made hot chocolate and after just a few sips, drifted to sleep laying across Kane’s lap. I woke up in my bed much later, sunlight streaming in through the windows.
Kane was half-asleep next to me.
“Hey,” I said, sitting up. “How’d I get in bed?”
“I carried you in here last night.”
“You did? I don’t even remember.”
“You were asleep. Didn’t even wake up when I changed your clothes.”
He reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a small box wrapped in silver paper.
“Open it.”
“I thought we agreed the necklace was your Christmas gift to me.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t think so. Open it.”
“I have something for you, too. I’ll go get it.”
I was only wearing a t-shirt, and as soon as I left the warm bed I was freezing. I ran into my living room and pulled the box with his gift down from the shelf of my coat closet.
He was sitting up in bed waiting for me when I tossed his present on the bed, jumped back in and got under the covers. I huddled against him for warmth. He leaned down on an elbow and pushed the hair away from my face, looking at me.
“I love you, Viv.” He said it in the soft tone I’d never heard him use with anyone but me. My heart swelled as I held his gaze. His reverence for me was humbling.
“I love you, too. So much.”
He traced a fingertip over my jaw line and around to the back of my neck, cupping it in his huge palm. “Now open my present, woman.”
I grinned and sat up, keeping my legs under the covers as I picked up the silver-wrapped box again. He’d thought of me, and I loved whatever was inside this box because of it.
There was a small, unmarked white box inside. When I opened it and pulled aside some cotton padding, I gasped audibly and put my hand over my mouth.