Instinctively, he grabbed one of her hands and clung tightly. She had to understand. He needed her to love him as much as he loved her.
"You took my breath away, Lynn. You had me speechless from the onset. That's never happened to me before. I didn't want to order a damn thing. I just wanted you to sit down and talk with me. I didn't connect the present until I saw the ribbon in your hair and the note you left on the check. I knew then the gift had to come from you."
"Why didn't you give it to me then? Why…." She glanced away, but thankfully didn't physically pull away. Although, she had yet to grip his hand back. Things were still not looking bright and merry.
"Lynn, don't hold back. Please. Say anything." Like, I forgive you. I love you. Only in his dreams, apparently.
"Why play games with me?"
He squeezed her hand, then lightly pressed a tender kiss to it. "I have never played games with you."
She sucked in a breath as tears glistened in the corner of her eyes. "But you wanted to know what kind of gift to donate to the church. Why ask me something like that?"
"I panicked. I thought about telling you I had your gift and giving it back, but I didn't think you'd like that. You're a proud woman. You work so hard to provide for Laura. You work too damn much if you ask me. And no matter how much you work, you're still low on cash. Yet, you donated."
He lifted the gift as his smile grew. "Remember what you said to me when I asked what you donated?"
She shook her head. "Not really."
He caressed the top of her hand with his thumb. A slight tremble erupted from her. A sign of hope. At least, that's how his aching heart interpreted it.
"Give something that shows the Christmas spirit, that can last a lifetime if properly cared for, and can keep you warm at night." He laughed lightly. "You were describing a pair of socks, quite beautifully."
He kissed the top of her hand. She made no move to pull away. His hope continued to rise, especially when the tiny tremors still escaped when he touched her in any little way.
"Please don't be mad. I've been so afraid that I'd lose you over it. I don't care how this gift landed on my porch, but it's the best damn gift I've ever received. It brought me to you. You gave me exactly what I wanted."
He inhaled a sharp breath. "You give me the Christmas spirit, which makes me want to give you the best Christmas experience back. If you let me, I will love you for a lifetime. Forever. And care for you until the day I die. I will always keep you warm at night. Having you in my arms feels perfect and right. That's my last gift to you. Exactly what you said I should find to give. And I found it. Right in front of me. I love you, Lynn. I love your beautiful daughter."
A tear slid down her cheek.
"Don’t cry. Do anything but that." He set the gift on her lap and wiped the tear away. "Open it."
Her bottom lip trembled as she eyed the gift. "It's your gift. I don't want it back. You were right. I would've been offended."
He cupped her face, rubbing a tender thumb across her cheek as he wiped another tear away. "It's our gift now. I added something."
He dropped his hands to his lap and waited for her to open the gift. She hadn't said anything about his declaration of love. That didn't mean she didn't love him. But it had been like a punch to the gut. He couldn't lose her now. Not when he knew what love truly felt like.
***
Lynn wiped another tear away. Crying wouldn't solve this, or mend the wounds. His soft touch had done a better job of that. Perhaps they were more like tears of joy. Her emotions were so entwined with confusion—and guilt. He poured his heart out. Every time she chanced a glance at him, she couldn't help but cry. His love flowed out in waves. She should tell him what was in her heart.
She picked up the gift and carefully untied the bow, then started to rip the wrapping paper open with the same careful precision she always did when opening a gift. Laura would most likely chastise her for going so slow. Rushing seemed impossible. The fear tingled in her fingertips. What could he have possibly added to the gift?
Temptation almost overwhelmed her to fold the wrapping paper, but set it aside instead. Delaying the inevitable wouldn't make it go away. She needed to find out what he added. Then she needed to confess everything.
Her lips curled softly as she pulled off the lid to see the socks lying on top. Her cheeks flamed with heat. She should've thought of a better gift than this. What had he really thought when he first opened it? Perhaps how pathetic of a gift it was.
She risked a furtive glance at him. The love still sparkled brightly, along with a small amount of worry.
She pulled the socks out, crinkling her eyebrows at the red and white hat that lay underneath. She lifted the hat, immediately slapping a hand to her mouth. A giggle escaped.
Pink fluffy handcuffs.
"I thought it all would look lovely on you," Elliot whispered.
Her eyes darted to his concerned, handsome face. His hand slid off his leg to the bed. Yet, he didn't touch her.
"Pink does look nice on me," she said with a small chuckle. "I don't really have anything that matches the socks or the hat."
He leaned toward her ear, his warm breath tickling her senses. "I don't want you wearing anything but the socks and hat. That's the point." He kissed her neck before going back to his original position.
Red-hot shivers rushed down her spine as his love sparked within her. "We'll have to return the handcuffs."
He reached for the cuffs and twirled them. "You wanted these. I've been imagining quite a few things to do with them."
"I already bought a pair for us."
His eyes flashed brightly with desire. "A woman after my own heart. Is that what's hidden in your closet?"
Guilt swooped back in. She averted her eyes as she clutched the hat and socks.
"You have my heart, Lynn. Why do I get the feeling I don't have yours?"
"Do you want to know how got the money to pay you for my car?"
His warm hand slid down her arm and grabbed her hand. "It doesn't matter. Hell, I think I'd look the other way if you did rob a bank."
Her head whipped toward him as a laugh escaped. "You don't mean that."
"Don't I?" His eyes shimmered with so much love, sprinkled with a bit of laughter.
"I loved Trent. He was my everything. I felt so lost when he died." Geez, why did she blurt it out like that? Although, her heart felt ten times lighter already.
The amusement in his eyes died, as did the love, replaced with a terrifying panic. "So, you can't possibly love me like you did with him?" He reached for the box. "Maybe you should give that back."
She dropped the socks and hat and swiped the box before he could grab it. Her hand tightened on his, gripping so hard she saw his confusion. "I sold the engagement ring he gave me."
"You're killing me here."
"I decided it was time to make some space in my closet…or more like, in my heart. You mean everything to me, Elliot. I let him go to let you in. I just didn't know how to tell you that."
He cocked his lip in his usual charming smile, the light filling back up in his eyes. "There's one more thing left in the box."
"Do you understand now?"
He squeezed her hand back. "You didn't completely let his love go, but you made more room for me. I understand that. I really think you should finish opening your gift."
"Right. The twenty dollar bill."
"No. I spent the twenty." He twirled the handcuffs as he grinned at her. "I have a few more things tucked away in my closet. Just like you do at your house."
She lightly laughed. Maybe she hadn't donated such a pathetic gift, at least, not when Elliot was the recipient.
Fate.
She didn't know what possessed her in the first place to toss the socks in the box.
Her heart felt free and light as she pulled out the tissue paper lining the bottom of the box. Elliot had it right. She didn't stop loving Trent. She just moved him to the side to let Elliot's lov
e in. It all felt completely right.
But what did he want her to see? There was nothing else inside the box. She started to put the tissue paper back inside when something small fell to her lap. Her jaw dropped.
Her fingers shook with awe as she picked up the diamond ring.
Elliot dropped to the floor, bending on one knee. He grabbed her hand that held the diamond ring. "I love you, Lynn. I would never ask you to forget about him or throw his love away. Now I know why you were so worried these last few days. From here on out, no more secrets from either of us. I didn't mean to keep it a secret for so long. I wanted everything to be perfect. Give me one more gift. The gift of your heart, like I've given mine. Marry me?"
No hesitation whatsoever. She immediately launched herself into his arms. He inhaled sharply. "Oh, I forgot, Elliot. I'm sorry about your shoulder."
He held her tightly when she tried to leave his arms. "You didn’t answer me. Will you marry me?"
She buried her head into his neck as she whispered, "I love you, Elliot. I can't imagine being anywhere else but in your arms. Yes, I'll marry you."
His hot breath touched her very soul. "I love you so damn much."
She lifted her head, clutched his face, and kissed him senseless. Her legs wrapped around his waist, seeking his heat as she tangled her tongue with his. The love swirled between them. Devouring him sounded like a very good idea. He seemed to agree as the kiss became stronger, his hands combing through her hair and down her back in a tantalizing caress.
Abruptly, she pulled away, breathing deeply. Ripping all of his clothes off and having him deep inside her on the bedroom floor couldn't happen right now. The house wasn't empty. "We should go tell the others the good news."
He claimed her lips again, stroking his fingers up and down her back, then clutched the hem of her sweater. "We can tell them later. My dad knows that I was giving you one more present. The bedroom door is locked. Let me love you, Lynn. Put your Christmas present on for me."
She giggled as she turned her head to the socks and hat lying on the bed. "You want me to put that on. What happens if they hear us?"
He kissed her neck, trailing a line of kisses to her ear. She couldn't help but open her neck for more. "They're in the garage. They won't hear a thing. I want to show my fiancé just what she means to me."
She smiled as the heat intensified between them. "Fiancé. I like the sound of that."
He drew her sweater up and over her head and tossed it behind him. Her bra disappeared next with quiet ease. He reached behind her and grabbed the hat, placing it on top of her head. Stroking the strands of her hair, he started to frame it all in a beautiful manner.
She couldn't take it anymore. His touch made her ache for immediate release. She wanted this to last for as long as possible.
"I'll finish the rest. Get naked, mister," she said as she stood up.
***
Elliot whipped off his clothes, his eyes never once leaving her gorgeous movements as she undid her pants and slid the socks on. Provocatively, one at a time. She jumped onto the bed, positioning herself in the middle by propping her hand to her cheek, resting her elbow deep into the mattress. She crossed her feet, then slowly stroked one foot over her other leg all the way to her knee as she gave him a come-hither smile.
Damn luckiest guy in the world. How did he get so lucky?
A simple present left on his porch.
"Merry Christmas, Elliot. Come get your last gift," she said with a glowing smile.
He'd never hate Christmas again. Not when he received gifts like this.
Lynn continued with the sultry looks, stroking her hand down her side. Enticing him. Making him yearn for her. Everything was exactly how he pictured. Lynn gloriously naked, and oh so beautiful. She was everything that he could've asked for. He joined her on the bed and pulled her into his loving arms.
Best Christmas present ever.
***
Thanks for reading my book and I hope you enjoyed it. I would love to hear your feedback. Please leave a review.
Much love,
Amanda Siegrist
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About the Author
I love anything that has to do with romance. As long as there's a happy ending, I'm a happy camper. I love baseball (Go Twins!) and creating awesome crafts. I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, working in that field for several years before I became a stay-at-home mom. When I'm not hanging out with my wonderful family, I'm writing a sweet contemporary romance or a romantic suspense that keeps you guessing until the end. I have a few more amazing stories in the works. If you would like to connect with me or see important news, head to my website at http://www.amandasiegrist.wordpress.com. Or you can also check out my Facebook Page or follow me on Twitter (@amanda_siegrist). Thanks for reading!
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