“Are you pain today?” I inquired, a little surprised to find him withholding information from me.
“Apparently,” he admitted with a confused expression. “I didn’t realize it until you pushed on it, though. It felt fine all morning, but now it’s like you’re pushing on a bruise.”
His confused expression morphed into one of concern, before his eyes lifted to mine. It tugged at my emotions a little because it wasn’t one I was used to seeing on him. I slipped my professional mask back on and got to work.
“It wasn’t bothering you before I touched that spot?” I asked, and he nodded.
“Did you already work out today?”
He shook his head. “No, I figured I could work out tonight with,” he paused to consider his words before settling on, “my girlfriend.”
I hid my grin as I continued to palpate his knee. “Have you done anything physically exerting in the last day or so that hasn’t been part of your daily routine?”
Jonathan’s lips thinned as he looked to be holding back a smile. But knowing him, it was more like a sarcastic comment. Before I could question that, he admitted, “Well, I did do some upper body weights yesterday afternoon, which was followed by a very vigorous lower body routine, consisting of three different sets of multiple reps that were focused on my gluts, quads, and hamstrings. Although others muscles were involved.”
My hand movements stopped as my eyes whipped up to meet his. I’d admit, I walked full speed into that wall, didn’t I? I needed to think of a good come back.
Taking a moment to compose myself, I stood and retrieved an ice pack. Walking slowly back toward the table, I avoided eye contact. If I locked eyes with him, and he was still trying to hold back the laughter, I would lose it. Placing the ice pack on his knee, I pulled an ACE wrap from my pocket and secured it against his knee. Sitting back on the stool, I crossed my arms and gave him a stern look before saying, “I’m not sure what other muscles were involved, but, maybe, in the future, you could exercise a little control. Or perhaps let someone else have control, and maybe you wouldn’t be in this position.”
Jonathan gave up the fight and unleashed the power of his full smile. He leaned forward and whispered, “The problem is, though, I have absolutely no control where this workout is concerned. I get so excited that I forget everything else.”
His words were like a shock to my system, and my girly parts all jumped to attention. The low, sexy sound of his voice brought back all the memories of the night before and how good it was when he lost control. I closed my eyes and took in a slow, controlled breath, willing my lust-riddled brain to function properly. When I opened my eyes, I smiled. “Maybe you should just try this workout while you’re lying on your back; you know, take the strain off your knee.”
Jonathan nodded, seeming to search for a response to my innuendo-heavy comment. Again, that smirk of his appeared, and I should have known to prepare myself. Or at least tried to contain my hormones.
“Nah, I’m thinking I should just use one leg for the pushing maneuvers,” he said. He leaned a little closer, pulling me further under his spell. “What do you think about if I did the workout standing up? You know—holding on to something in front of me to keep my movements strong and precise.”
And I think my girly parts just exploded.
“I’m just sayin’ I think I should get a private therapy session from you since the office was closed today. I mean, it’s not my fault my regular appointment falls on a day when the office is closed.” I was certain Leeann couldn’t tell I was smiling through the phone.
“Don’t be a butthead. It’s not like the office is closed for a randomly chosen day. It’s Christmas Eve,” Leeann said humorously. I’d bet she was shaking her head, and, if I kept going, I could probably get her to snort.
“Again, how is that my fault? We agreed at the beginning of my treatment that we were both on the same page as far as my recovery. Taking a day off in the middle of the week makes me question your dedication, Leeann. I definitely think a private session is in order, to, you know, keep me on the right track.”
I heard the muffled snort through the line. High five me, I thought with a smile.
“Wow, you really know how to lay the bullshit on thick, soccer player. I bet if I was there, you’d be putting out that pouty lip of yours, too.”
“I’m wounded you’d think I would manipulate the situation with theatrics like that,” I said, trying to sound mortified by her implications. This, of course, only made her laugh, which was the goal anyway.
“You must be knee-deep in it by now; doesn’t the smell get to you?” she chided. Now it was my turn to laugh. She gave as good as she got. I was a lucky bastard for sure. I couldn’t stand it when chicks looked for hidden meanings with things and overreacted. Leeann didn’t seem to be that way. I smiled at all the possibilities this difference could mean.
“Okay, okay, I give. But if I can’t get a private session from you, I’ll settle for something a little more intimate.” We weren’t strangers to the sexual innuendos, and I wanted her to want to see me as much as I wanted to see her. No, I wasn’t above just showing up at her place, but it was always nicer to be invited, made it less likely she’d ask me to leave. If she lived alone, I probably wouldn’t be concerned. But after sharing an apartment with Robby for the past three years, experience told me some people really knew how to wear out their welcome with the roommate.
“Well, that’s mighty generous of you. You’ll settle for something more intimate? Feel free to elaborate.”
“Hmm…” I paused, trying to come up with a good one. “How about something that involves you on my lap? It is Christmas, after all.”
“I beg you to not take that any further. For the record, I am not into the whole what-would-you-like-from-Santa-little-girl or the I’ve-got-your-present-right-here crap. It creeps me the hell out, so whatever you do, don’t take it any further.”
“Now I’m slightly creeped out too. But hey, you’re begging again! That definitely means you should be sitting on my lap. I should come over right now to fix this problem.”
I could hear her laughing through the line as I waited for her to tell me to come over. It was Christmas, after all, and I did have something for her. Something of a non-sexual nature.
“I thought you had family things to do today?” she asked when she stopped laughing.
“We have a family thing tonight. The whole damn family will be coming over, and Santa stops by for the little ones. Since there are so many adults, they do a Secret Santa thing. General chaos all around,” I said with a laugh. “But during the day, I’m totally free.”
“Sounds like fun. Do you have a big family?”
I chuckled. “You could say that. Considering I was raised to call all of my parents’ close friends aunt or uncle, I have a lot of them. Plus, my parents own a construction company, and some of their employees come, too.” Wow, I was tired just thinking about the crowd that would be at the house tonight. My mom really needed to learn how to say no or something. “What about you?”
I silently considered inviting her over for it. Was she ready, or even willing, to meet my family? Or was it too soon? Probably should feel this out a little more.
Leeann was doing something, I could hear paper shuffling in the background, and then she grunted before taking a deep breath. “My family is pretty small—just me and Mom. Well, she has a sister, so there’s that small extension, but it’s pretty chill on Christmas Eve.”
If she was used to chill, maybe throwing her into the pits with my family this soon was a bad idea. Maybe the New Year’s Day get-together was a better option. Still wanting to see her, I asked, “Do you have time today when I can stop by? I’d love to see you.”
Nothing wrong with just coming out and saying it … right?
I could hear the smile in her voice when she answered, “I was wondering how long it would take you to ask. After you said I was begging, I refused to ask you to come over.”
“Ah, well played, Leeann. Well played.”
“Thanks. So when did you want to come by? I have to leave here at three o’clock to pick up my mom,” she offered.
Glancing at the time, I figured it would take me thirty minutes to be done and out the door. “How about noon? I can bring something to eat.”
“Mmm, I didn’t realize I was hungry until you said that. Sounds great, see you soon.” When she mmm’d into the phone, I’d conjured thoughts of what else she might be hungry for. I fought the sarcastic response so I could get off the phone and wrap her present and get over there.
“See you soon.”
I just finished wrapping the last present when I heard the knock at the door. As I stood to answer it, I heard a second knock, much softer than the first. Then I heard a soft giggle and some whispering. Puzzled, I opened the door to find an adorable little girl standing there smiling up at me. Her brown curls were sticking out the bottom of a pink and white Santa hat with ELLA embroidered across the front.
She had on a pink and black sweater with little black pants and the cutest little pink snow boots I’d ever seen. Smiling, I was about to say hello when she looked to her side. Then I heard whispering before she looked back to me, gave me a smile that crinkled her little nose, and squealed, “Ho, ho, ho. Mewwy Cwistmas!”
Her little hands held a small present complete with red bow, which she shoved up in the air toward me. Completely captured by her, I let out a laugh as I took the gift. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
“You welcome,” she said with a satisfied smile and nod before clasping her hands behind her back and twirling at the hip. Quietly, she watched me, and the gift, with a bright smile.
“Are you Santa’s little helper?” I asked as I dropped down to her level.
Ella bent forward as she giggled hard, like my question was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. I found myself giggling along with her. Jonathan was right; adorable really was her super power.
“No, silly! I help my Jonfin!” Ella said, pointing to the side of the door, just outside my view. When I leaned forward, I caught sight of an amused Jonathan, fighting his own need to laugh. My smile for him was easy and big, and my heart did a little stutter at how cute it was when Ella dove at her brother and wrapped her arms around his neck, still giggling.
He promptly wrapped his arms around her and stood. Filling my doorway, he wrangled a now loudly laughing Ella, who he was apparently tickling. Motioning them in, he stepped in and set Ella on the floor. I watched the little girl try to catch her breath and shove her hair out of her face before noticing her hat was gone. She struggled to put it back on, so I offered, “You need some help with it?”
“Yes, please,” she said in that cute, high-pitch voice.
Once it was on, I smiled at her and she smiled back. Standing again, I grinned at Jonathan. “Yeah, she really does have that adorable thing nailed, doesn’t she?”
“Told ya,” he said with a smirk before stepping into my space. He pressed a quick and tender kiss to my lips before retreating. My lips tried to follow his, which only made him flash that sexy smile of his—maybe that was his super power. A few moments of silence passed as we stood closely before he said in a voice as sexy as his smile, “Merry Christmas, Leeann.”
“Merry Christmas to you, too,” I said as I felt myself gravitate toward him again, wanting just another taste of that smile. Just as I was within reach, a little voice startled me out of my dazed state.
“Mewwy Cwistmas!”
“Ella!” I squealed, surprised I’d so quickly forgotten she was there. Bending over, I smiled, appreciating how easy it was to hide my embarrassment from a three year old. “Merry Christmas to you, too.”
She did that giggle and bounce thing before throwing her arms around my neck and squeezing. I wrapped my arms around her and picked her up. When my eyes found Jonathan, his smile was more of an adoring one.
“Uh-oh, it looks like she’s launched a full-scale Ella-attack on you. You’re in trouble now,” Jonathan said with humor as we all moved toward the couch. Sitting, I settled Ella in front of me as I felt the couch dip next to me.
Leaning back, I smiled. “If I’d known we’d be meeting today, I would’ve had a present for you, too.”
I made sure Jonathan heard the chastising in my tone. How uncool was it for me to not have a gift for a visiting three year old. He shrugged, looking like he felt a little bad. “Sorry. Mom cornered me on the way out the door … she seemed a little desperate. Apparently she needed a few Ella-free moments to wrap up loose ends.”
“Oh … I see,” I admitted. It couldn’t be easy to wrap gifts with a curious toddler around. Holding up the gift in my hand, I asked Ella, “Well, do you think you can help me open my present? I don’t think I can do it all by myself.”
Ella’s face lit up with excitement as she declared, “I help you!” before she climbed up on my lap and removed the present from my hands. Christmas with a little one must be tons of fun, I thought as I looked over at Jonathan. He was watching me, not Ella. I gave him another smile before turning my attention back to the present. As soon as the last piece of paper was discarded, Ella bounced off my lap and turned to face me.
“It’s time! It’s time!” she declared excitedly.
I took the box from her as I asked Jonathan, “Is she always this happy?”
Before he could answer, Ella had my face in her hands and turned it toward her. “You open time.”
Jonathan and I both laughed. “Okay, I’ll open time.”
Really looking at the box for the first time, I now understood what she meant by time, as I pulled out a running watch. It was very similar to the one I’d recently lost, and, for the life of me, couldn’t recall ever mentioning to Jonathan. Looking to him, my surprise must have been evident, and enjoyable, if that smirk he was wearing meant anything.
“You like it?” he asked.
Still surprised, I leaned over and quickly kissed him on the lips. “I love it, but how did you know? I don’t remember telling you about my other one.”
He shrugged. “I’m pretty good on picking up the hidden details.” The smug tone of his voice made me slap at his shoulder. A second later, Ella slapped at his shoulder, too. I covered my mouth to hide the laughter bubbling over. Ella backed herself up into the area between my legs and giggled as her brother mock-glared at her. “Oh, so that’s how it is? I buy you chicken nuggets, and then you turn on me.”
“Nuggets!” she again declared in that excited voice and abandoned her post at my side. Diving for Jonathan, he swept her into his lap.
“That’s what I thought.”
I smiled when Jonathan looked to me. “Seriously, how did you know I needed a new watch?”
Another shrug. “Once or twice you may have mumbled about how you needed to get a new watch. When you were timing my workout, or when you had to dig your phone out of your pocket at lunch to check the time. I thought it funny because most people don’t use watches anymore since we have cell phones. I assumed you could use one of those cool running ones.”
My cheeks warmed as I took in the thoughtfulness of his gift. “Thank you. It’s perfect.”
He leaned over a contented Ella and kissed me. We let this one linger a little longer before breaking away, and he asked, “Ready for some lunch?” He held up a brown paper bag and smiled.
“Yes,” I answered with a smile and stood. “Wait, no, I almost forgot.” I’d been so caught up in the moment I forgot all about Jonathan’s gift. Grabbing Ella’s hand, I asked her, “Will you be my little helper now?”
“Yes!” she proclaimed, and I led her to my room. Grabbing his gift, I tried not to feel self-conscious at the significant price difference in our gifts. Jonathan didn’t seem like the type of guy who’d care, but the feeling was there nonetheless. Handing it to Ella, she giggled and carried it proudly into the living room.
When she handed it to him, he smiled at her. “Thanks ladybug.” Then he smiled up a
t me. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
Dropping onto the couch next to him, I said, “I could say the same for you, soccer player.”
We stared at each other for a moment, something passing between us. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but it left a warm and tingly feeling in my chest. It was quite pleasant. He turned his attention back to the present as Ella demanded for him to open it.
“Okay, I’ll open it.”
When he unwrapped it and just stared, that self-conscious feeling began to drown out the warm and tingly one. Then I watched his hand stroked over the DVD case like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. I had begun to think I’d overstepped some boundaries since we’d only been “boyfriend-and-girlfriend” for a short time. The silence was going to kill me, so I began to babble, “If you don’t like it, I can return it for something else. I wasn’t sure if you already had it, but you mentioned watching it with your uncle. And you have the car and all … and when I saw it, I immediately thought of you…”
My words were cut off when Jonathan’s lips landed on mine, and his big arms wrapped firmly around me. I melted into the kiss, which seemed to be loaded with a mixture of emotions. All of which I was fine taking from him. Too soon, the kiss ended, and he placed his forehead against mine. Our breath mixed in the space between us, and his hand reached up and swept a lock of hair that had fallen in my face, as his eyes met mine.
“Looks like I’m not the only one who’s good at picking up on the hidden details,” he whispered in a voice thick with emotion. Clearly my gift hit on something stronger than I’d expected. Squeezing him tightly, I didn’t say anything; I just held him and let that awesome feeling fill me up again.
Jonathan’s hand at my back was the only thing preventing me from bolting. I’d somehow managed to dodge this situation since Christmas last week, but it appeared the jig was up. Time to do this. Not sure why meeting the family had me so worried. Not like I’d never done it before. I guess the difference this time was Jonathan. It kind of mattered to me what they thought. Insecurity had never been such a bothersome thing in the past. Today, though, vomiting and/or hyperventilation were very likely.
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