The days between Hunter’s wedding and Christmas passed in a whirl of work and holiday parties and long hours in bed with Charley. Tyler had never neglected his business as much as he had since Charley had been staying with him, but he figured it was a small price to pay to spend hours lost in her.

She’d been quieter than usual since the drama with Max and Chloe at the wedding, and he’d wanted to ask her what was on her mind, but he’d held back, afraid of what he might hear. Despite all their many steps forward, he knew it wouldn’t take much to send her spiraling backward.

On Christmas Eve, they wrapped the last of the presents that had been delivered to his house from her rash of online shopping.

“I’ve got to admit there’s something to be said for having it all show up in the driveway instead of slogging through malls in the cold and snow,” she said late in the afternoon.

Wearing only a Dartmouth T-shirt of his, she sat on the sofa and he was on the floor as they used the coffee table to wrap. He knew there was nothing under the shirt because he’d put it on her when he dragged her out of bed earlier to attend to the wrapping that had to be done before the gathering at his parents’ home later.

“I won’t tell anyone you said that.”

“Please don’t. I’ll get run out of the family.”

“Who would manage their systems if they ran you out?”

“Systems administrators are a dime a dozen. They’d find someone.”

Tyler studied her intently, one of his favorite pastimes. There was so much insight to be found in her many expressions, her tone of voice and the things she didn’t say. “Do you think Hunter would be as easily replaced because CPAs are a dime a dozen?”

“He’s way more than a CPA. He manages the whole show. We’d be lost without him.”

“How about Will? Couldn’t just anyone run the Vermont Made line?”

“Will knows this state better than the governor does. He’d be hard to replace.”

“How about Ella and Wade?”

“Ella is magic with the employees. They absolutely love her. And Wade, as our resident healthy living fanatic, is ideal for running the health and wellness line. They’re all really good at what they do.”

“And you’re not?”

“I am, I guess. I’ve spent a lot of time building the systems and making them talk to each other. But that doesn’t mean someone else couldn’t come in and take over for me.”

“If you ask me, you’re selling yourself short. You’re as essential to that business as any of your siblings are.”

“Dad’s making noise about a catalog and distribution center after the first of the year. That’ll make for a nice juicy challenge.”

“And you love nothing more than a nice juicy challenge.”

She smiled, flattening him with the punch of emotion that hit him when she looked at him that way.

“Don’t look now, but I think we’re done wrapping,” he said.

“Thank God. I don’t know how the ladies in the store wrap all day at work and then go home to do their own. They must see dancing Santas in their sleep.”

He stood and stretched, working the kinks out of his back from an hour sitting on the floor. Wearing only boxer briefs, he tried not to think about all the keys he’d handed out to her family and how often they’d made use of them. Then he opened his eyes to find her staring at him. “What?”

“You.”

“What about me?”

“I like to look at you.”

Taken aback by the statement and the blatant invitation in her eyes, he said, “You can look at me any time you want, free of charge.”

She held out her hand to him and brought him to lie next to her on the sofa.

“You rang?”

Charley laughed and flattened her hand on his chest, stopping his heart. He was still getting used to what it felt like to be touched by her. “I wanted to tell you that I think that having a boyfriend is . . .”

Tyler died a thousand deaths waiting to hear how that sentence would end.

“. . . pretty nice.”

“Pretty nice, huh? I suppose that’s better than pretty awful but not quite as good as pretty awesome would be.”

“You never give up, do you?” she said, her lips curved in amusement.

“No, I’ll never give up on you, unless you tell me I have to. But please don’t do that.” He ran a finger over the furrow that had frequently marked her brows since the wedding. “What’s this about? You’re stewing over something, and you have been for days now.”

“I’ve been thinking about Max and the baby and what Chloe did—and how hard it must’ve been for her to decide that motherhood isn’t for her.”

“She probably should’ve thought about that before she had a baby.”

“He wasn’t planned. Accidents happen—and they happen to people who don’t want to be parents.”

“True, and I don’t mean to be judging someone I don’t even know, but I can’t help but feel sorry for Caden. Someday he’s going to learn that his mother didn’t want him, and that’s going to be tough.”

“He’ll have plenty of people who love him and want him.”

“But his mother isn’t one of them, Charley. Whenever he figures that out, he’s going to have a lot to deal with.”

“I know,” she said with a sigh. “You’re right.”

“So what else is bothering you about this? I know it’s more than Max and Chloe.”

She rolled her lip between her teeth and glanced up at him with huge brown eyes gone liquid with emotion.

“What is it? Just tell me and we’ll figure it out. Please don’t cry.” He kissed her cheek and lips.

“You want kids someday, right?”

“I guess. I like being an uncle. I like that a lot, but I’ve never even come close to having my own kids. Of course, there’s no comparison between an occasional visit and a daily commitment that lasts for eighteen years. Why do you ask?”

“Because I don’t think I want them. I never have. While my sisters and cousins were playing with babies, I was shooting baskets or wrestling with my brothers or skiing. While they were babysitting, I was waitressing. I’ve never been into babies and kids, and at thirty, I’m not expecting to change my mind about that.”

“Okay.”

She eyed him skeptically. “That’s it? Just okay?”

“What do you want me to say?” He twirled a strand of her hair around his index finger. “I’d never try to talk you into something you don’t want, especially something as important as a baby.”

“You built this house for the family you hope to have someday. Those are your words.”

“If my family were you and me and Rufus, I’d be pretty damned happy about that.”

“That’s a lot of empty bedrooms, Tyler.”

“Who says we’d have to stay here?”

“You love this house.”

“I love you more.” The words were out of his mouth before he took the time to weigh the pros and cons of telling her that.

Her eyes went wide with surprise—or maybe it was shock. “You . . . You . . .”

“I love you, Charley. I’ve loved you for a while now, even when you were pushing me away and shooting me down.” He leaned in close enough to kiss her, forcing her to make eye contact with him. “I. Love. You.”

“Oh,” she said on a long exhale. “Well . . .”

Laughing at her befuddled reply, he said, “No need to panic or freak out or run away or do any of your usual things. It doesn’t change anything.” Even as he said that, however, he knew it wasn’t entirely true. It actually changed everything.

“Yes, it does,” she said softly.

“If I get to have you but I don’t have kids, I’d be just fine. I’d be better than fine. I’d be fantastic because I had you.”

“Your parents would hate me if I kept you from being a father.”

“They won’t hate you. They’ll love you because I do.” Now that he’d said those three powerful words out loud, he couldn’t seem to stop saying them. “And they’d never know anything other than we decided not to have kids.”

“This conversation is getting pretty far down the road seeing as how you’re my temporary boyfriend.”

“I thought we decided deadlines were silly.”

“We did and they are, but still . . . Nothing has been decided, and we shouldn’t even be talking about this stuff.” When she would have pulled away from him, he stopped her by tightening his arm around her.

“Don’t, Charley. Don’t run away from me because it’s gotten intense between us.” He moved ever so slightly to position himself on top of her, looking down at her as he spoke. “Don’t run. Stay here with me and freak out. I’ll hold you until you get it out of your system.”

“What if I never get it out of my system?”

“I’d hold you forever if you’d let me.”

“You’re too good for me, Tyler. You deserve someone who can give you everything you want and need.”

“I already have her. I have what I want and need. The question is, Charley, what do you want?”

What do you want? Tyler’s question stayed with Charley as she showered and changed for the gathering at his parents’ home. It stayed with her when she met his brothers, Rob, Chris and Dave, as well as his sisters, Cheryl and Paula, and their husbands and children. It stayed with her while she chatted with his dad and watched Tyler on the floor wrestling with his nephews and later, allowing his nieces to paint his nails a bright shade of pink.

What do you want, Charley? Her heart melted at the sight of his littlest niece, Violet, asleep in his arms while the family chatted in their big family room after dinner. The tiny girl’s face was flushed with holiday excitement. Tyler ran his fingers through her blond curls while talking football with his brothers.

I love you, Charley. I’ve loved you for a while now, even when you were pushing me away and shooting me down.

He caught her eye and sent her a private smile that warmed her all the way through.

She thought about everything he’d done for her since her accident, the nights he’d spent by her side in the hospital, bathing her face with cold cloths while she burned with fever, carrying her around those first painful days at home, helping her in the bathroom, setting up his bedroom for her, holding hands in the dark with her night after night, encouraging her through physical therapy and cooking delicious meals. Even when she was cranky from the pain, he’d never lost his sense of humor or his ability to cheer her up.

I want him, she thought with sudden clarity that left her breathless. I want to always feel the way I do when he looks at me. I want to stop being so afraid and take everything he’s offered me. The decision sent her reeling, which of course he noticed, his brow raised in inquiry. That he could be so attuned to her in a room full of people validated her life-changing decision.

On the verge of overheating, she got up and hobbled into the kitchen in search of a glass of ice water.

Vivienne, who’d been unloading the dishwasher, stopped what she was doing when Charley entered the room. “You shouldn’t be on your feet, honey. What can I get for you?”

“Just some water, please, and I’m fine. My knee is feeling great.”

“I’m so glad to hear it.” Vivienne filled a glass with ice and poured water from a pitcher. “Here you are.”

“Thank you.” Charley took a greedy drink of the cold water and felt her nerves begin to settle ever so slightly. “And I’ve never gotten the chance to thank you for what you did to help Tyler get his place ready for an invalid.”

“It was my pleasure to help you—and him. He was out of his mind after you got hurt.”

“So I’ve heard. He’s been really great helping me get back on my feet.”

“He cares for you very deeply.”

“I know.”

Though Vivienne smiled and began to wipe the counter, Charley could tell there was more she wanted to say.

Charley went to her, put her hand on the other woman’s arm. “Don’t worry. I think it’s going to be okay.”

“Oh, honey . . .” Vivienne took a deep breath and blinked back tears. “I’m so happy to hear you say that.”

“What’s going on in here, ladies?” Tyler asked when he joined them.

“Just girl talk,” Vivienne said with a smile for Charley. “None of your business.”

Charley laughed at her saucy reply. She glanced up at Tyler, who was looking sexy in a gray cashmere sweater and dark jeans that hugged his muscular body in all the right places.

His eyes heated with awareness of her. “My girl and I need to head out. I don’t want her overdoing it.”

“And he thinks I buy that,” Vivienne said, rolling her eyes.

Charley cracked up laughing as Vivienne hugged her. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”

“It was delightful to have you here with us, Charley. I hope you and all the Abbotts have a very merry Christmas.”

“Same to you.”

Tyler hugged and kissed his mother. “Thanks for a great night, Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“You enjoy your time with Charley and her family.”

“I will.”

They said good-bye to the rest of the family and went out into the frigid night.

Tyler kept his arm tight around her as they walked to the Range Rover. “Look up.”

“Oh wow,” Charley said of the stars that filled the night sky. She brought her gaze down from the heavens to find he’d been looking at her while she looked at the stars. And then he was kissing her with hours of pent-up desire.

She curled her arms around his neck and lost herself in the kiss—and in him. The kiss was so hot she could barely feel the cold.

He pressed her against the car and destroyed her with deep sweeps of his tongue and soft bites of his teeth on her bottom lip. “Charley,” he whispered when he finally broke the kiss many minutes later. “I’ve been dying for you for hours. How do you do that to me?”

“The same way you do it to me, I suppose.”

“Let’s go home.”

When, she wondered, had his home become their home? When had she stopped thinking of her apartment as home and started thinking of the spacious home on the hill as theirs rather than his? Maybe it was when he brought home a huge Christmas tree and she helped him decorate it. Or perhaps it was when she tried to cook for him and burned pancakes beyond recognition, forcing him to open windows to let in fresh, freezing air while praising her efforts. It could’ve been the many times they’d stayed up all night talking and laughing and making love.

How was it that tearing up her knee could’ve led to some of the best times of her life?

She stared out the passenger window on the way home, fully aware that at some point over the last few weeks she’d stopped pushing Tyler away and had begun to actively pull him closer. And now he was closer to her than any man had ever been, and she was actually okay with that.

Charley pulled off her glove and reached over to put her hand on his leg.

He looked at her, smiled warmly, and covered her hand with his.

When they got home, he took her coat and hung it next to his in the mudroom. When she was growing up, her coat had hung between Ella’s and Wade’s and now it was next to Tyler’s as if it belonged there.

She went into the kitchen, as if it were hers, and put a kettle on to boil while Tyler lit the Christmas tree and the fire. Instead of her usual bedtime cup of tea, tonight she made hot chocolate with shots of Baileys that she found in the liquor cabinet above the fridge. She topped it off with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.

Tyler came into the kitchen to see what she was up to.

“I’ve made myself right at home here, rifling through your cabinets.”

“You’re more than welcome to rifle through anything of mine. You know that.”

She handed him one of the mugs. “How do you do that so easily?”

He took a sip of the hot chocolate. “Oh, that’s good. What is it that I do so easily?”

“Cede your personal space and make me feel like I belong here.”

“You do belong here. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you for weeks now.”

“You really believe that, don’t you?”

Tyler put his mug on the counter and slid his arms around her. “When I was building this place . . .” His voice trailed off and he looked away, as if he’d thought better of whatever he was going to say.

“Tell me.”

He looked down at her, handsome, adorable and sincere, like always. “I pictured you here.”

Shock reverberated through Charley. “That was years ago! Before you ever even asked me out the first time.”

Shrugging, he said, “I pictured you here.”

“Tyler—”

He kissed the words right off her lips, keeping her pressed tightly to him as he devoured her. Tasting of chocolate and Baileys and Tyler, he thrust his tongue into her mouth. He kissed her until she forgot what she’d been about to say, until his hands were under her sweater and his lips were on her neck, clearing her mind of every thought except for one. He’d pictured her here years ago.

“Let’s go in the other room,” he said when he finally released her.

It took a second or two for her brain to unscramble enough to take her mug as well as his outstretched hand and follow him into the living room.

When they were settled on the sofa, he turned to her and caressed her face while gazing at her lips. “Do you want your present tonight or tomorrow morning?” he asked.

“Oh. We’re doing presents?”

“I got you a little something.”

“I got you something, too,” she said with a teasing smile. His fingers slid through her hair. “Tonight or tomorrow?”

“Right now.”

“Okay then.” He got up and went into his office, returning with a big box that was wrapped in gold foil paper with a huge bow on top.

“That is not a little something.”

“I could always send it back if you don’t want it.”

“Gimme,” she said, making him laugh. Knowing he did nothing halfway, her hands trembling ever so slightly, she removed the top lid to find a box full of smaller presents. “You said a little something. This is a lot of little somethings.”

“Can still send it all back . . .”

“Stop that foolishness.” She dove into the box, her excitement trumping the anxiety. Each gift that she opened proved how closely he paid attention to what she loved—some of the sexiest lingerie she’d ever seen, high-end bath oil and body lotion and a new pair of running shoes that were lighter than air.

“You’ll be needing them again before you know it.”

“I hope you’re right about that,” Charley said, examining the pink sneakers in detail.

“Is that color okay?”

“I love them. Thank you for all of this. You went way overboard.”

“There’s one more in there, at the bottom.”

She sifted through tissue paper to find the small remaining box. “Tyler . . .”

“It’s not what you think, so don’t panic,” he said, laughing. “Just open it.”

“Don’t make fun of me. This relationship business is all new to me, and I’m at a serious disadvantage here. You’re excellent at it, and I suck.”

“You most definitely do not suck at it. You’re much better at it than you think, and you know how I know that?”

Charley shook her head.

“Because I’ve never been happier in my life, so you must be doing something right.”

She smiled at him. “See what I mean? That, right there. A plus.”

“Sorry. I’ll try harder not to be so good at this.”

“Now that would just be silly. As long as you’re aware of who you’re dealing with, it’s all good.”

His fingers continued to slide through her hair, making her want to purr from the pleasure he gave her with even the simplest of touches. “I’ve never been more aware of anyone. Ever. Now open your present.”

Charley slid the bow off the small package and opened the box from a jewelry store. Inside was a platinum charm bracelet. “Oh, that’s beautiful.” She held it up for closer scrutiny, taking note of the various charms he’d chosen—a runner, first aid, crutches, snowflakes, a Christmas tree and a heart with his name engraved on it. “Tyler, this is amazing and so sweet!”

“It’s our story—so far—but there’s room for more. Much more.”

“I love it.” Charley hugged him. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you love it.”

“I really do.” As she watched him put the bracelet on her arm, she wanted to tell him she loved him, too, but the words were frozen on her tongue. Saying them would change everything, and as much as she wanted to give him what he’d already given her, she couldn’t. She wasn’t ready to change everything. Not yet anyway. “Do you want yours now, too?”

“Whatever you want.”

Charley got up and limped into the bedroom where she’d hidden the presents she’d gotten for him, hoping he’d like them as much as she’d liked his. What did one get for the man who had two hundred million dollars? That question had kept her awake on more than one night recently. He’d done so much for her that she wanted to get it right. But as always where he was concerned, she questioned herself and her judgment.

The Baileys and the fire had her feeling overheated, so she removed her sweater and tossed it on the bed. When she returned to the living room, Tyler immediately homed in on the tank top she wore. His attention made her nipples tighten with awareness. Naturally he noticed that, too.

Making the slow walk across the room with two wrapped packages in hand, Charley’s nerves went berserk as she second-guessed one of the presents. Quadruple-guessed, she thought grimly. She’d rethought the wisdom of one of these gifts for days since the idea first came to her.

“Why do you look like you’re walking to a firing squad?” he asked as she approached.

“Because I’m quintuple-guessing the wisdom of one of these gifts.”

“Do you think I won’t like it?”

“Oh, you’ll like it. I’m just feeling a little . . . self-conscious, I guess.”

“After everything we’ve done together, you still feel self-conscious around me?”

She nodded. “About this. Yes.”

“Now I’m crazy with curiosity. As you would say, gimme.”

Charley handed him the first one and watched him unwrap the video game version of Risk that she’d found online.

“This is awesome! I didn’t even know there was a video game.”

“Do you have that game console?”

“Yep, I’ve got all of them. Boys and their toys,” he said with a sheepish grin. “I really love this, and I look forward to kicking your ass on the video version.”

“The way you haven’t yet on the board version?”

“Exactly. Gimme the other one.” He tugged on it and she held back, her face burning as she imagined his reaction. “Oh this must be good if your face turns bright red.”

“First some backstory. Remember the day you went to help your brothers get a Christmas tree for your parents’ house?”

“Yep.”

“My cousin Izzy came over to see me that day.”

“She’s the photographer, right?”

“Yes, and she brought her camera so she could take some pictures of your view. While she was here, I asked if she might take a couple of photos of me, and well, she had a few ideas and we sort of got into it a little and well . . .”

“Give me that gift, Charlotte. Right now.”

The sexy, gravelly tone of his voice made her heart leap wildly as she handed over the package.

He tore the paper off it and stared at the black-and-white photo of her, wearing a sexy black push-up bra and nothing else, wrapped up in the rumpled sheets on his bed. While the photo was tastefully done, it left the curve of her ass on subtle display. She’d worn smoky, sexy eye makeup and her hair was messy. She looked as if she’d just been thoroughly ravished.

“Charley . . .” He continued to stare at it while his Adam’s apple moved in his throat. “Holy fuck,” he whispered. “Except for the real you, this is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“You like it?”

“I love it.” He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her into a lusty kiss that set her on fire for him.

Charley broke the kiss. “You won’t let anyone else see that, will you?”

“Never. For my eyes only. Are there others?”

“Maybe . . .”

“I want them. I want all of them.”

“I might be able to work out something with the photographer,” she said with a coy smile. “I know it’s not much, but what do you give the man who has everything?”

“You gave me the one thing I want that I don’t completely have. You gave me you, Charley. What could be better than that?” He studied the photo again, as if he couldn’t get enough of it, running his fingers over the glass. “I love that you did this for me.”

“I wanted you to see me without the leg brace and the ugly scar and the limp.”

“I don’t see any of that when I look at you. That’s all temporary anyway.”

Charley took the frame from him and put it on the coffee table. Then she took hold of his hands and tugged on them as she lay back on the sofa.

Tyler willingly followed. “What’s on your mind, honey?”

“You are. We are. I’m thinking a lot about what you said before.”

“I hope that didn’t make this harder on you.”

She squirmed against his erection. “It seems to have made it harder on you.”

His bark of laughter drew a smile from her. “Baby, I’m always hard for you. All you have to do is breathe for that to happen, or walk into the room wearing this sexy shirt.” He dragged his finger over the tops of her breasts. “Are you ready for me?”

“Always, it seems. I’m not quite sure how you do that.”

“It’s magic between us. I feel it. Do you?”

She nodded, unable to deny for another second the magnitude of what she felt for him. “Make love to me, Tyler.”

He released a slow, shuddering breath and captured her mouth in a savagely passionate kiss. Her request had undone something in him, something wild and untamed, and she loved it.

Clothes came flying off, pillows fell from the sofa, hands and lips and tongues aroused to the point of madness before he pounded into her and took them both on a crazy ride that ended in simultaneous cries of completion.

“Jesus,” he whispered.

Charley laughed at the astounded tone of his voice as he said the single word. She was feeling rather astounded herself at the moment.

“We didn’t even get our pants off.” His jeans were down around his thighs. Hers were tangled around her left leg.

“Your knee . . .”

“Is fine. Everything is fine.”

“Good,” he said, sounding relieved. “I didn’t mean to be so rough.”

“I loved it.” Her fingers slid through the perspiration on his back while his chest hair tickled her breasts, making her squirm under him.

He groaned, and his tongue touched the spot behind her ear, and just that quickly, she wanted him again.

They began to move together, slowly this time. He gazed down at her, seeming to memorize her every expression, her every reaction.

Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute he had chipped away at her defenses until all her walls had fallen, leaving her fully exposed to him in every possible way. A few weeks ago, the realization would’ve had her running from him as fast and as far as she could, injured knee or not.

But now . . . Now things were different, and she had no desire to run. No, she wanted to stay forever, and that was far scarier than running had ever been.