“Yes, that’s me,” Emily said, feeling mystified. “But…”
“Come with me, please.” The driver started to grab her bag.
“Whoa! Wait a minute,” she said, tugging the bag from him. “I didn’t get a limo.
Who sent you?”
He smiled. “This is your Valentine’s Day surprise,” the limo driver explained.
“From a Monsieur Colin Reese.”
Colin. Feeling floaty and disoriented, she allowed the limo driver to take her bags and she followed him to the waiting car.
Somehow it wasn’t a surprise. Colin knew she was coming—even knew what flight she was on. How had he managed that? Obviously he’d called the hotel and someone had told him. Probably Sue, Emily thought with a smile. It would be like her.
It took almost an hour, but the driver took her from the airport to the city, cruising through the picturesque streets. She felt a growing bubble of excitement.
This is going to be my home, she thought. With Colin.
After a long time, they finally wound their way up a hill. “Voilà. Here we are, mademoiselle,” the limo driver said with a flourish.
“Where is here?” she asked, getting out of the car and stretching slightly.
“Montmartre,” the limo driver answered. “Home of artists, poets…lovers. Enjoy!”
She wandered to a set of stairs where people were sitting enjoying the sprawling view of all of Paris below. It was breathtaking. Emily hugged herself.
Suddenly another pair of arms covered her own, hugging her to him. “Hey, you,” Colin’s voice whispered in her ear.
She turned—and saw a completely bedraggled, disheveled Colin. He had about two days’ growth of beard, and his eyes were bloodshot.
“What happened to you?” she asked, concerned.
He laughed. “You would not believe what my last forty-eight hours have been like,” he said. “By the way—we need to talk.”
She stiffened. “About what?”
“No, I mean we need to talk more than we do,” he said, kissing her with a chuckle. “Do you know how many people are swarming all over the Stanfield Arms as we speak? It’s like a packing convention over there.”
“I know,” she agreed ruefully. “I hadn’t even decided yet when I was going to move or where, and next thing I knew I…” Slowly his statement sank in. “Wait a minute. You saw them?”
“I just got back from Connecticut,” he said, kissing her again. “I’ve been on more planes than I care to think about and I had to pay outrageously to beat you here. I just landed, myself.”
She burst out laughing, hugging him. “We’re idiots.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “But we’re in love. That’s got to count for something.”
She felt warmth bubble through her. “I got some investors.”
“I heard.” He hugged her tighter.
“Joy’s running the place—better than I ever could,” she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. “I’m still an owner, but I don’t have to be there anymore. The place stays in my name, and I still can go back whenever I like, but Joy has my apartment. I’m moving here to Paris.” She bit her lip. “I was hoping I could live with you. That we could work things out.”
“That’s the funny thing,” he said. “I’d just set up a telecommuting arrangement so I could be with you.”
The warmth expanded, enveloping her in its comforting glow. “You would’ve done that for me?”
“I would have done more.” He stroked her hair. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t more supportive. I was so intent on all my old hang-ups with Tall Pines that I didn’t see you were having trouble keeping your head above water. I was so focused on what I would’ve done,” he said, kissing her softly, “that I didn’t pay attention
to what you needed.”
Emily smiled. “It took a while, but I finally figured out that I was hiding in my past,” she confided. “I was trying to please everyone. The only important thing was making sure that I was doing what I really wanted to do. And as much as I love Tall Pines, I need to grow. I need to try new things.” She nuzzled his chest. “I need you.”
They kissed deeply. Then they turned to look at the city laid out like a present before them.
“Welcome to your new life, Emily Stanfield,” Colin said.
She turned to him, eyes glowing.
“I can’t wait.”
Epilogue
One Christmas later
“Joy’s really done wonders with the place, hasn’t she?” Emily surveyed their room. It was redecorated in shades of brick-red, deep forest-green and copper and looked like a sumptuous autumn landscape.
“Yeah. The whole town couldn’t stop talking about it at the Secret Santa party tonight,” Colin said, slipping out of his clothes and climbing on the bed.
“Seems like since almost everybody kicked in money for the Investors’ Club, they all feel like they’re owners now.”
Emily felt her heart warm with pride. “I love Paris,” she said expansively, “but I have to say, I’m glad to be back.”
Colin wore a crooked, bemused smile. “You know,” he said with wonder, “so am I.”
She grinned. “What did you get tonight, anyway?”
“A six-foot-tall set of footie pajamas,” he said, laughing, and she joined him.
“I think I’ve been regifted.”
“You won’t believe what I got,” she began.
“You can tell me in the morning,” Colin interrupted, and she noticed that his cock had gone hard and dark. “I’ve got plans for you tonight, Ms. Stanfield.”
Her heart thrilled, and she felt the familiar stirrings in her body. After a year together, they still couldn’t get enough of each other. “You’ll like this,” she said with a mysterious smile. “Just wait there a second.”
She went to the bathroom, pulling the odd gift out of its bag and changing into it with lightning speed. She grinned at her reflection in the mirror as she pulled on the matching hat.
“Em, honey, I don’t care if somebody got you the Hope diamond on a chain,” he called, “I can’t wait to…”
His words died on his lips when she stepped into the room.
“What do you think?” she said, doing a little turn in her high heels.
“Sexy Mrs. Santa?” He looked torn between laughter and desire.
“Just like the outfit you decked out my poor great-grandfather’s statue in—can you believe it?”
“It looks better on you,” he said with admiration, his green eyes alight.
She did a little strut, the short fur-trimmed skirt bouncing high enough to show off the bright red thong. She wore white lace-trimmed thigh-high stockings, and the corset-style top propped up her breasts to their best advantage. “What do you want for Christmas?” she asked with a sly wink.
“Come here.” He reached for her, and she laughed as they tumbled on the bed.
She was still chuckling when he kissed her, but when he tugged down the top of her dress and started sucking on each breast in turn, she turned serious, focusing on the pleasure he was giving her. She shivered as he pushed aside the thin strap of material covering her pussy, stroking her clit with knowing fingers. “Colin,” she breathed, leaning her head back until it hung over the side of the bed. Her hat fell to the floor unnoticed.
He pressed his fingers inside, spreading her wider. “You’re all I want for Christmas,” he said and he replaced his fingers with his long, hard cock.
“You’re all I want forever.”
“Oh, Colin.” She felt his hard length slide inside her slowly, filling her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he entered her with measured thrusts, cupping her breasts so he could tease her nipples with his thumbs as he rocked his hips against her.
She arched her back, squeezing him with her thighs, tensing her muscles so her pussy clenched around him snugly. He groaned. “I love it when you do that,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I do, too,” she murmur
ed.
Their lovemaking was graceful, easy…incredible. After all this time, each time was just as exciting as the first—and at the same time amazingly cozy.
She felt the pressure begin to build, and her breathing went shallow, speeding up. He took the cue, his thrusts becoming harder, deeper. She gripped his hips, meeting his every plunging motion as his cock hit her special spot. She let out a rippling cry as the orgasm rolled over her. Moments later, he shuddered against her, whispering her name as he trembled.
“This is the best Christmas ever,” he gasped, when he could finally speak, and Emily laughed.
“So where are we going to go next year, when the Paris project’s over?” she asked, curling against him as they righted themselves on the bed.
“There’s a project in Tokyo that they’re offering me,” he said thoughtfully. “Or Sydney. What would you prefer?”
She thought about it. “I’d love to see either city,” she said. “As long as we can still visit here once in a while. What do you think?”
He smiled at her, and she felt warmth bubble up through her chest.
“I think,” he said, his eyes full of tenderness and love, “that whenever I’m with you, I’m home…wherever we are.”
She opened her arms. “Then welcome home, Colin,” Emily said and kissed him.
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