A Date with an Elf

by Dover, L. P.

  “How do you deal with that?” I ask.

  “You grin, thank them, and as soon as they walk away, you turn around and greet the next person. It’s their opinion and theirs alone. There isn’t anything you can say to change their mind, so don’t even try.”

  “Got it.”

  My parents come up to us, and I introduce them, along with Alyssa, to Ross. He and my father start talking sports almost instantly, and I take this as my cue to wander like Bree said I should. I’m the first to admit, I know nothing about art, but some of these paintings are beautiful. That is until I look at the price tag and gasp. I could never afford to put one above my mantle.

  “I did the same thing when I saw the price, but I have the perfect place for a piece like this.” The woman says nothing else as she raises her hand and hollers out for Bree. I watch their interaction. Bree is soft with her, places her hand on her arm, and laughs at whatever the woman says. Within a minute, they’re walking toward the back, giving off the sense that Bree just sold this twelve-thousand-dollar piece of art.

  As the night goes on, I spend time with buyers, answering their questions, and allowing them to get to know me. They ask for my website to buy more work, and I tell them I’m exclusive to Bree’s gallery and suggest they visit her website. I never thought about selling my work until Bree suggested it, and I can’t imagine offering it anywhere but here.

  My parents approach, with a sleeping Alyssa in my dad’s arms. My mom kisses me on the cheek and tells me how proud she and my father are of me. “Thank you.”

  “We’re going to take Alyssa home with us,” she tells me. “You still have a couple of hours here, and she’s exhausted.”

  “Yes, it’s hard being the belle of the ball.” I rub my hand down Alyssa’s back. Every time we crossed paths, she was on her best behavior and accepting compliments from anyone who told her how beautiful her dress was.

  “I’ll come to get her in the morning,” I tell my folks. After we say our goodbyes, I scan the room for Bree. Most of the people have come and gone, but a few remain. She mentioned those are the serious buyers, the ones who negotiate on multiple pieces. We lock eyes, and I head toward her. “Do you have plans when this is all over?” I whisper into her ear.

  “A long, hot bath is the only thing on my agenda.”

  “How would you like to take that bath at my place? I have bubbles and an empty house.”

  Bree laughs, and then her eyes go wide as she nods. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the very successful evening my gallery had.”

  “I can,” I say as I wink. I leave her there, with every speculation running through her mind.

  9

  Bree

  The showcase was a success! We tripled the attendance from last year and sold out of everything. As I look around the gallery, I can’t believe how empty it is. Nothing but blank spaces on the walls and in the corners where several of the art sculptures stood.

  “I just wanted to say congratulations,” Lindy says, hugging me tightly. “You were so busy earlier. I had to wait until everyone left to talk to you.”

  My cheeks are sore from talking and smiling so much. “I know, right. I’m exhausted and happy at the same time.”

  She lets me go and stands back. Her eyes shift to Caleb, who I know is standing behind me. There’s a twinkle in her eyes, and I know she’s holding back the inappropriate comment I know that’s waiting to slip out. “Try not to be too tired tonight. You have a lot of celebrating to do.” She winks quickly and smiles at Caleb. “Your photos are amazing, Caleb.”

  I glance at him over my shoulder, and he smiles at me before focusing on her. “Thanks, Lindy. It was a great night.”

  “All right, well, I’m going to let you two get out of here. I know it’s late.” She grins at me and winks again before turning on her heel and heading out the door. All I’ve been able to think about for the past thirty minutes is being alone with Caleb. Tonight is the night; I know it. I’m nervous, but also completely ready. It feels like it’s been an eternity since I’ve been fully intimate with someone.

  Caleb comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, his lips gently touching the side of my neck. Every time he touches me, it sends trembles throughout my body. “Are you ready to go?”

  Smiling, I place my hands over his. “I am.” I turn around in his arms and look up at him. “I’m going to close up the gallery and take the rest of December off. We need a vacation after tonight.”

  He chuckles. “That’s for damn sure. Plus, you also don’t have anything to sell.”

  I look around at the empty gallery. “Yeah, you kind of have a point. It’ll be good to regroup and think up new things to paint.”

  “And for me to snap new photos,” he adds.

  This makes me happy. “You’re taking your cut of the money, Caleb. I made a killing off of you tonight.”

  He shrugs. “Perfect. I’m happy to help.”

  One way or another, I’m going to give him his money. “Come on, let’s go before I can’t walk anymore. My whole body aches right now.”

  His eyes twinkle. “Guess that means you’re ready for that long, hot bath.”

  “You have no idea.” And a lot more than that.

  Caleb walks into the back room and brings out my purse, which I’m grateful for. My feet are killing me from walking around all night in high heels. However, nothing is going to stop me from enjoying the night.

  Caleb and I walk outside, and I lock up the gallery door. “Do you want to just ride with me instead of taking two cars?”

  “Sounds good to me.” I slip the keys into my purse, and he takes my hand as we walk to his car. I’m on air tonight, and I can feel the excitement swirling around inside me. I don’t know if I could be any happier. We get in Caleb’s car and head on our way to his house. “I think I’m going to come up with some new things to paint. I’m hoping to get some inspiration after the holidays. Right now, my brain is fried.”

  Caleb looks over at me. “It’ll come to you. You could always be like Bob Ross and put some happy little trees in your paintings.”

  I smack his arm. “Hey, I loved Bob Ross and all his trees. I watched his show every Saturday morning. He made it look so easy.”

  He chuckles. “That he did.”

  We pull up to his house, and I tremble with anticipation. It feels like I’m about to make love for the first time. In a way, I am. Caleb doesn’t know this, but I do love him. I want to tell him so, but I want to make sure he’s ready to hear it. I’d give anything to hear him say he loves me too. What makes the situation even more unique is that I absolutely adore his daughter. I care for Alyssa as if she was my own.

  Caleb shuts off his car, and he kisses my hand. “When we get inside, I want you to stay in the living room for a minute.”

  I stare at him, wondering what he’s got up his sleeve. “Okay. What will you be doing?”

  He winks. “You’ll see. Just promise me you’ll stay in the living room.”

  “I promise,” I reply, laughing. We get out of the car and hurry up the front porch steps to the door. It’s so cold that my jacket doesn’t even help.

  Once the door is open, I rush inside, and Caleb locks it behind us. He helps me take my jacket off and hangs it on the coat rack by the door. “I’ll be right back. Go sit down and relax.”

  He watches me sit on the couch before disappearing down the hallway. I take off my high heels and walk over to the Christmas tree to plug in the lights. There’s nothing more beautiful than being in a dark room with only the Christmas tree lit up. I could sit for hours just staring at the lights and the glittery ornaments.

  Caleb’s footsteps can be heard down the hallway, and as they sound closer, I suck in a breath. When he strolls around the corner, my mouth gapes. He’s bare-chested and dressed in only a pair of jeans that ride low on his hips.

  “Are you ready?” he asks, a devilish smile taking over his face.

  It takes me a few seconds
to catch my breath. “Ready for what?”

  He stalks over to me and takes my hands, pulling me up into his arms. Bending his head down, he whispers in my ear. “There’s a nice, hot bubble bath waiting for you in the back. I want you loosened up before I make love to you tonight.”

  The breath hitches in my lungs, and I bite my lip. “What are we waiting for then?”

  In his master bathroom, there’s a large tub that could easily fit four average-sized adults in it. It’s much larger than the normal ones I’ve seen. I can only hope that’s where we’re going. Still holding my hand, Caleb pulls me down the hall toward his bedroom. I can smell the scents of rose and lavender coming from the bathroom.

  “It smells amazing,” I murmur.

  We stop outside the bathroom door. “Something told me you’d need to wind down after tonight, so I had the whole bath idea ready to go. It made it even better when you said it’s what you wanted.”

  I wrap my arms around his neck. “It worked out perfectly then.” His eyes avert to my lips as he slowly unties the silver bow on my dress. There’s a reason why I chose an outfit he could unwrap.

  “Yes, it did.” Once my dress is fully opened, he slides it off until it falls to the floor, leaving me in just my strapless bra and underwear. He sinks slowly to his knees, smirking at me while he gently tugs on my underwear. “Can I help you take them off?”

  Reaching behind my back, I unhook my bra and toss it to the floor. “Does that answer your question?”

  Caleb chuckles, but then his eyes darken when I spread my legs a little to help him out. He slides my underwear down, and I step out of them. “I think it’s going to be hard to control myself around you tonight.”

  “I know the feeling.”

  He slides his hands up my legs and cups my ass, holding me against his arousal. “Ready?”

  “Oh, yes,” I breathe. When he opens the door, I take in a deep breath and sigh. The lights are off, but there are candles all around the tub, giving the room a sensual, romantic glow. “This is amazing, Caleb. It’s beautiful.”

  Picking me up, he holds me tight in his arms and sets me into the bubbly, hot water. I close my eyes and moan as the heat seeps into my body, relaxing my muscles. A few minutes pass, and I wait on him to get in, but he doesn’t. Opening my eyes, I find him smiling at me.

  “Are you not going to get in?”

  He moves behind me and tilts my chin up, so I have to look at him. “Soon. Right now, I want you to enjoy the bath.” His warm hands close over my shoulders, and he works his fingers into my skin, massaging the knots that had built up over the past few days. The tub jets roar to life, and it feels amazing.

  Moaning, I let my head fall back against the tub, and my body feels like liquid under Caleb’s tough. Slowly his hands leave my shoulders and move down to my breasts, cupping them gently. He tugs on my nipples and rolls them around with his fingers, making me arch into his touch for more.

  “Do you like that?” he whispers gruffly in my ear, trailing his tongue along my neck.

  “You have no idea. Don’t stop.” With one hand massaging my breast, he slides the other down my stomach and into the water. I gasp when he thrusts a finger inside me, teasing me. “Please get in here with me. I need you.”

  He chuckles by my ear and slowly pulls his finger out so he can stand. I watch him drop his jeans to the floor, exposing his bare flesh. My clit tightens at the sight of his arousal. I’m ready to feel him inside of me. Caleb climbs into the hot water and pulls me onto his lap, sliding his hardness against me. Wrapping his arms around my back, he brings me closer and closes his lips over one of my nipples, flicking it with his tongue. I move my hips along his cock, loving the groan that rumbles in his chest. Delving my hand into the water, I take him firmly in my grasp, gliding up and down his length as he sucks harder on my breasts.

  When I pick up my pace, Caleb groans and reaches into the water to stop me. “I want to be inside of you when I come. Not to mention, I plan on giving you several orgasms tonight.”

  “Several?”

  Smirking, he lifts his head from my breasts and licks my lips before sliding his tongue inside. “You heard right.”

  Lifting my hips with his strong hands, he glides me gently over his straining arousal. Inch by glorious inch, I slowly slide down him, my body clenching as I take him fully inside me. Caleb moans as I slowly rock my hips along his length. Water sloshes along the sides of the tub and out onto the floor, but he doesn’t care. All that matters is us being with each other … making love.

  “I’m so close, Caleb,” I murmur, picking up my pace.

  Crushing me to him, his grip on my hips tighten as he thrusts as hard as he can. He growls low and kisses me, his teeth biting into my lip. My orgasm comes quick, and I can feel his cock hardening and pulsating inside me, letting me know he’s close.

  Caleb digs his fingers into my skin as he comes inside of me, grunting with the last few thrusts. Breathing hard, I sag in his arms and hold him tight as a wave of tears burn my eyes. Everything feels so right in his arms. Caleb rubs his fingers soothingly up and down my back.

  “I love you, Bree.” For a moment, I freeze, wondering if I heard him right. Still connected, I sit up so I can see his face. He smiles and cups my cheeks. “Did you hear me?” he asks, his voice low and sexy.

  A tear falls down my cheek, and I smile. “I love you too. These past couple of weeks have been the best moments of my life.”

  He nods. “I know how you feel. I’m hoping to have many more with you, starting with Christmas. I want you to stay here tomorrow night and wake up with me Christmas morning. I can’t see it any other way.”

  A smile lights up my face. “Neither do I. It’s a date.”

  10

  Bree

  CHRISTMAS DAY

  “Daddy, Bree, wake up!”

  I jerk awake at the sound of Alyssa’s excitement. When I look around, I’m on the couch, and so is Caleb. The last thing I remember is setting up Alyssa’s presents from Santa. Caleb rubs his eyes and glances around the room, clearly surprised to see we’re still on the couch.

  Alyssa runs around the living room, clapping her hands and squealing with all the toys she got. Caleb leans in close. “Did we seriously fall asleep on the couch last night?”

  I flourish a hand about the room. “We were busy. It wore us out.”

  Caleb wanted to make sure Alyssa had an amazing Christmas, and he did so by getting her every popular toy on the market. It was a lot of work putting everything together and wrapping all her other gifts.

  Alyssa rips into the wrapping paper and unwraps all of her gifts, leaving a mound of it on the floor. Seeing her excitement is all that matters. I remember what it was like to be her age and wake up Christmas morning to a room full of presents.

  “Daddy, look!” Alyssa squeals as she holds up the complete Harry Potter movie collection. “Can we watch some tonight? Bree loves Harry Potter.”

  Caleb laughs. “Of course.”

  Alyssa rushes over to show me the movies before diving back into her presents. Caleb slides over closer to me and puts an arm over my shoulders. “Thank you for helping me last night. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  I pat his leg. “You’re welcome. I’d do anything to see that little girl smile.”

  He kisses my cheek. “And I love you for it.”

  Once Alyssa finishes with her presents, there’s one she has yet to see. It’s a special gift, one I wanted her to open with her father. “I’ll be right back,” I say. Caleb’s brows furrow, but I smile and rush back to the bedroom. I kept the present in my overnight bag, hidden underneath my clothes. I carry it into the living room, and Alyssa’s eyes widen.

  She bounces on her feet. “Another present for me?”

  “It is,” I say, handing it to her. “Be careful with it. It’s special. Why don’t you take it over to your daddy, and you both can open it.”

  She hurries over to Caleb and climbs up onto his lap
. They unwrap it together, and Alyssa is the one who pulls out the crystal angel with a small bell attached to the halo. Engraved on the back of one of the angel’s wings is her mother’s name, Allison. Alyssa holds it up and smiles. “It’s pretty. She looks just like mommy.”

  I walk over to them and kneel so I’m face to face with her. “Exactly. You know, I have an ornament like this that was given to me in honor of my grandmother. When I decorate my tree and see the angel, it makes me feel like she’s close by, like she’s celebrating the holidays with me.”

  Alyssa jumps off Caleb’s lap and goes straight to the tree. “We’ll hang it up right in front so everyone can see it.” My eyes burn as I watch her put it on the tree.

  Caleb takes my hand and helps me back on the couch. “Thank you for that, Bree. It means a lot that you can embrace Alyssa’s mother and keep her memory alive.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s a part of Alyssa, and I know she’s a part of you and always will be.”

  Caleb caresses my cheek. “I love you so much, Bree. I never thought I’d find happiness again.” He glances over at Alyssa, who is busy playing with her toys. “Alyssa loves you too. I can’t imagine a life without her or you in it.”

  This makes me smile. “Guess that means you’re stuck with me then. I’ll stay as long as you want me.”

  He leans in close and kisses me. “That’s going to be a very long time. I hope you’re ready for that.”

  “I’m ready for anything.”

  THE END

  More Books from Heidi & L.P.

  SOCIETY X

  Dark Room

  Viewing Room

  Play Room

  Also by Heidi McLaughlin

  THE BEAUMONT SERIES

  Forever My Girl – Beaumont Series #1