Alexa’s delighted to find the tree in front of the living room window. I guess from her perspective a tree inside the house is pretty damn exciting all by itself. Just wait until we get it decorated.

With her head tipped back, mouth open, and wide eyes, she watches while Heidi and I unwind strings of lights and work them into the branches. Around and around.

“Should we wait and do the ornaments with Rock and Hope?” Heidi asks when we run out of lights.

“Sure. Let’s see how these look though.”

I plug it in, unprepared for the shrieks of joy behind me. Alexa freaking out.

“Twee! Twee!” She crawls closer and Heidi pulls her back.

“No touching. Just looking,” Heidi reminds her.

“Look!”

“Yes. Look. No touch.”

Heidi settles on the floor in front of the tree with Alexa in her lap. I stand behind Heidi and she tips her head back, resting it against my leg.

“I think she likes it,” I say.

“Me too.”

Eventually, I drop down next to them. “What’d you think about Charlotte offering to have us stay there for Christmas Eve?”

She nibbles on her bottom lip. “I really like the idea. Would you be okay with that?”

“I think it would be nice to let Rock and Hope have the house to themselves for Christmas Eve and Marcel would love having you guys there.” I hesitate because I’m not trying to lay a guilt trip on her.

“And?”

“He missed you and Alexa last year.”

She nods slowly. “Let’s do it. We’ll come back here and do presents in the afternoon with Rock and Hope. Then Trinity’s planning a big dinner at the clubhouse for everyone. I promised I’d help her and Swan.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Wow, I feel like such a grown up.”

I chuckle and pull her closer. “You’ve been one for a while now.”

She glances down at Alexa’s sleepy face and smiles. “Yeah.”

A few minutes later, Alexa conks out completely, hands fisted in Heidi’s shirt and a happy smile in place.

“My legs are asleep,” Heidi whispers.

“Here, I’ll take her.”

Gently, I lift Alexa, praying like hell I don’t wake her. Together, Heidi and I put her to bed.

We return to the living room and she flops on the couch.

“Tired?” I ask.

“It was a good day.”

I sit next to her and pull her against my side. “Day’s not over yet.”

“Are you sure you’re not mad you couldn’t go to the party?” Heidi asks.

The thought of spending another night of my life inside a strip club actually makes me want to vomit.

Totally normal for a guy my age, right?

But I’m perfectly content right where I am. My girl snuggled up on the couch next to me and Alexa sleeping in her room.

“Blake?” Heidi prompts when I take too long to answer.

Love Heidi so damn much, but some nights she frustrates me.

Placing two fingers on her cheek, I turn her to face me. “If I really wanted to go, I would’ve gone.”

Her eyes widen at the simple truth.

“Spending the evening at Crystal Ball or spending all day and night with my girls? No contest. None. This is exactly where I want to be tonight and every night.”

A hesitant smile flickers over her lips and she exhales slowly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She stops and picks at a loose thread on her jeans. “I feel restless. Like I’m supposed to be doing something.”

“You are. Relaxing. We had a busy day.” I rest my hand over hers. “You’ve had a pretty crazy year.”

She opens her mouth, but I place one finger over her lips. “I’m really proud of you. You’re balancing being a mom, going to school, your job, and you’re killin’ it.”

“I don’t feel like I’m killin’ it,” she mumbles behind my finger. “I feel like I should do more. I wouldn’t be able to do any of it, if it wasn’t for you.” She waves her hand in the air. “Hope and Rock, my brother.”

“You can do anything you put your mind to, but tonight you’re going to chill with your fiancé. Alexa’s sound asleep. Rock and Hope are out for the night. Trinity’s studio is closed until after New Year’s.”

Heidi’s mouth quirks at that. Turns out Trinity’s as demanding to work for as Wrath. And just like Wrath never cut me any slack working for him at the gym, Trinity expects a lot from her photography assistant. Eager to prove herself, Heidi’s excelled at the job—Trinity’s words, not mine. Also like her husband, Trinity doesn’t hand out compliments unless someone’s earned them.

Her gaze wanders to the tree. Heidi wanted to wait and do the rest of the decorating with Rock and Hope.

“Since we have the place to ourselves tonight, want to check out the hot tub?” I ask, pushing her hair off her neck and replacing it with my mouth.

“Hmm,” she sighs, then giggles. “I was putting my summer clothes away yesterday, so I even know where my suit is.”

I hadn’t planned on wearing anything, but since I’m excited to get her alone in the hot tub, I keep my mouth shut. Her suit can always be removed later.