I bring in the last box of Christmas decorations and my head falls back to my shoulder blades.

“Tahl, you’re going overboard.”

She looks down from the ladder where she’s placing garland over the tall windows.

“It’s Christmas, we need decorations.”

“There was a poinsettia when we got here.”

“A half dead one. Seriously, the guy who rents these out needs to invest in a woman’s touch.”

Blowing out a breath, I walk over so I can at least hold the ladder. Her need to make every event a huge thing is a part of her I love, but it’s exhausting at times.

The ladder wobbles on my way and I rush over, catching her before she falls.

She lands in my arms, and her face morphs into that you’re-my-savior look that I’m addicted to.

“My hero,” she says, kissing my cheek.

“Let’s go make use of one of the rooms.”

She glances to the boxes and up to the unfinished task of the garland half hanging down from the window. I gradually let her feet down to the floor and then climb the ladder myself to finish the job with the hope that I’ll get rewarded for my help before the others show up.

She heads to the other boxes, pulling out lights.

“Babe, I’m not putting up Christmas lights.”

Her lips turn up. “I thought you and the guys—“

“We’re on vacation.”

She falls to the floor. “I want everything to be perfect.”

I shake my head, climbing down the ladder, the garland hanging down the middle of the floor-to-ceiling windows that look out into the mountains of Oregon covered with snow.

“It is perfect. We’re together. Our friends will be here soon. We’re going to have a week of fun and get to celebrate Christmas together.”

I hold my hand out and she grabs it letting me pull her to her feet. “Come on. Let me show you why we came up here.” I wink and she falls into my arms like usual.

“Ten minutes,” she warns as I lead her up the stairs.

“Thirty,” I counter and she doesn’t argue.

One place Tahl rarely argues is the bedroom.

“I’ll let you undress me,” I joke, winking as we round the staircase.

“Oh jeez, thanks babe.”

I pull her into the game room and slam her back to the wall, my body caging her in, my gaze dipping down to her chest as her ragged breaths make it rise and fall.

God, she’s gorgeous.

“Kiss me,” she says, her fingers dipping into my waistband and pulling me forward.

“You don’t have to ask me twice.”

The loving kiss turns frantic, our hands pulling each other’s clothes off, our bodies moving as one throughout the room until we fall onto the pool table.

“Say your mine.” My hand slides down the front of her naked chest.

Her one dimple indents. “I’m yours.”

“Damn right.”

Two hours later, the doors of the cabin open and a furry four-legged animal runs in and lifts his leg on the half dead Poinsettia.

“No!” Tahlia drops the lights and screams. “Who brought a dog?”

We both turn toward the front door, but only one of us is surprised by whose dog it is.