As I tuck Scout into bed, she asks for another bedtime story. “Okay, but only one more. I already read you three.”

“I want a fairy tale, Papa,” she says, her voice soft and precious. “A story with a princess. One who looks like Noelle.”

I grab one from her shelf. “This princess has black hair and red lips and lives with seven dwarves, will she do?”

“It’s perfect,” Scout says snuggling into her blankets as I read her the fairytale. By the time I finish, she is yawning.

“Time to sleep, sweetie,” I tell her, kissing her cheeks. “I love you.”

“Can Noelle come over for Christmas morning?”

“You’d like that?”

She smiles, curled up in her blankets. “I’d love that.”

I turn off the lights, leaving her to sleep, knowing I’d love that too.

“She go down okay?” Mom asks as I enter the kitchen. She’s washing dishes from dinner.

“Oh, she’s great. Already asleep I bet.”

“And what about you, Brooks?” She sets down the sponge and dries her hands. “Are you great?”

“Got a lot on my mind.” I open the fridge, not hungry, but antsy.

“You should go out tonight,” she suggests. “Your dad is watching the news, I’ll be wrapping some gifts, go enjoy yourself and don’t come home until morning.”

“What would I do?” I shake my head. “You’ve got whiskey here and plenty of desserts.”

“True, but is that what you really want?”

I chuckle. “God, Mom, you’re really pushing me to get out of the house, aren’t you?”

“I just don’t want you to have any regrets.”

“I’ll think about it, thanks for the offer.”

I grab a cookie that Noelle left us, and head to the living room, taking a seat opposite my dad. “What’s all this?” I ask, pointing to the pile of printouts from the computer. I pick up the stack and thumb through it. It’s listings for houses in Linesworth.

“Just saw a few things I thought might interest you.”

“You think I should move here too?”

“You could make a pretty penny off your place in Seattle. Buy a home outright here. I’m not getting any younger, and Scout keeps me busy. It’s good for an old man.”

I look over the houses, some are just gorgeous — gingerbread trim and picket fences — and the prices are unbelievable. Your money can go a lot further out here than in the city.

“You’re the one who left Scout and me, not the other way around,” I say. “You shouldn’t have moved if you felt this way.”

“Your mother wanted to retire here, was her dream all her life. I’m a smart enough man to know a happy wife, a happy life.”

“Fair enough.”

“What about you, son. Ever consider getting married?”

I lift my eyebrows. “God, you too?”

He laughs. “Okay, your mother and me, we’ve been talking. Just that sweet girl looks like she wants a family.”

Defensive, I say, “She doesn’t need just any family. Hell, most people probably wouldn’t realize what a gift she is. Can’t think of anyone who deserves her.”

Dad goes quiet, but his silence only reinforces my outburst.

Finally, he speaks, “Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe you deserve her.”

“We met a day ago.” I shake my head. “What kind of water is in this town’s pipes?”

“Life has a funny way of surprising us all.” Dad smiles, leaning back in his recliner. “Maybe your Mom and I moved here at just the right moment. Maybe we’re here so you could find Noelle.”

“Dad—”

He cuts me off. “There are worse things in life than falling in love unexpectedly.”

My phone buzzes and I pull it from my pocket. Noelle’s number pops up.

Noelle: Can you come get me? I need a ride home.

Me: Of course. Where are you?

She gives me the address and I’m already reaching for my coat.

“Where you headed?” Dad asks.

“I’m taking your advice,” I tell him. “I need to get the girl.”

We’re walking to her apartment and I’m trying to understand just went wrong.

“It doesn’t matter,” she says. “Sophia and I had a fight and--”

“And what? What did she do to you?”

Noelle groans. “She’s drunk and Kensie and Tillie can deal with getting her home. I’m tired of taking care of her.” She jams her key in the lock and pushes open her door. The fresh smell of her pine tree reaches us, but even that doesn’t seem to relax her.

“Did she hurt you somehow?”

“Not me, I mean, she said some rude things, but it’s James she really hurt.”

I nod, understanding. Must have been some bachelorette antics that got too out of control. “Do you need to call him? Anyone?”

She shakes her head, shrugging off her coat. Her dress is so fucking sexy I have to hold back the catcall on the tip of my tongue.

“I’m not calling anyone. I’ve spent way too many hours planning their wedding and it’s not my job to make sure they actually want to go through with it.”

I frown, stepping toward her. “I’m sorry, sounds like a really shitty night.”

“Was it wrong of me to call you? I could have gotten a cab. But …”

“But what?” I ask, resting my hand on her waist.

“I wanted you to come to get me.” She licks her lips. “I wanted you to stay with me.”

“Good, because I’m not going anywhere.”

I kiss her, hard, needing to hear the sound of her whimper, needing to feel her skin against mine. I pull her dress up, squeezing her ass, our lips parting, our tongues colliding.

God, she feels good in my hands. “I want to make your Christmas wishes comes true, Noelle,” I tell her.

“You already have.”

We undress quickly, and I reach behind her, unclasping her bra, her round tits spilling out. They are so perky and full, so fucking cute, just like her. My cock pulls in my pants, and she undoes my buckle, setting my raging hard-on free.

“You’re so big,” she says, running her hand over my length, stroking me until my throbbing cock is nothing but a thick, hard rod.

“And you’re so wet,” I say, running a hand between her thighs, her creamy slit so ready to be licked. “I love touching your pussy.”

She drops her head back, as I lift one of her legs, slipping a finger into her tight hole. “Oh, Brooks,” she whimpers and I know she loves it. Needs it. Craves it as badly as I crave her.

We move to the floor, lying on the carpet in front of the Christmas tree. “It’s not decorated,” I say. “But I think we can light this room up. What do you think?”

She laughs as I spread her knees, licking her tightness, my tongue flicking her round little clit. Her need obvious, her words so damn clear. “Please, I need you in me,” she pleads. “Don’t tease me, just make me come.”

“Demanding. I like it,” I say with a grin, leaning over her as she continues to stroke my desperate cock. God how I want to get off inside her warm, tight cunt.

I move against her, her body opening as I begin to fill her up. She’s so tight, so pure and sweet, and all I want is to make her feel good. Like all her dreams could come true.

“God,” I tell her. “I fucking love you.”

Her eyes widen as I move deeply against her, our fingers lacing and our eyes meeting. Our hearts beating on a constant, steady rhythm and I don't regret what I said. Not for a single second.

“You what?” she asks, gathering her thoughts as I take her breath away.

“Love you.” I kiss her again. Her lips as sweet as her pussy, her legs wrapping around me as we roll over, trading places, her riding me as I look up into her eyes.

“Don’t play with me,” she says her hands on my chest. “I can’t take that.”

“I’m not,” I say, running my hands over her soft skin. “Love at first sight is real, Noelle. At least it is when it comes to me and you.”

She blinks quickly as I thrust inside her, her hips stilling as she absorbs my words.

“Is the timing wrong?” I ask. “Should I have waited until after—”

She presses her hand over my mouth. “No. It’s perfect. It’s… everything.”

I pull her to me, kissing her again, sitting up so she is in my lap — our bodies close together, our hearts beating as one. “I love you too, Brooks. And I don’t care if that sounds crazy.”

“We can be crazy together.”

She laughs, eyes glassy with love, and I pull her deeper to me, my cock buried inside of her, both of us exactly where we belong.