Chapter Five

Veronica

“STOP WATCHING ME SLEEP,” I muttered with my eyes closed and heard the deep bass of his chuckle before his arm wrapped around me, pulling me in closer.

“Hey, sleepy head,” his voice tumbled, but I didn’t dare open my eyes.

“What time is it?”

“Time to decorate one of the Christmas trees,” he shared. That caught my attention enough to open my eyes and roll into his arms.

“Are you serious?”

“There are a couple of trees out there without decorations.”

“And you want to decorate?” I asked.

“I want you to keep smiling the way you are right now.”

“You don’t have to—“ I started to say, but he nuzzled his nose against mine.

“I want to. You ready?” he asked, and I nodded, jumping out of bed with him grabbing his tee from the floor.

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“Huh.” He stood by the tree, looking at it, his brow furrowed. “I thought you were a little crazy suggesting teal and red, but it works.”

“Right?” I grinned up at him.

“It’s beautiful, baby.”

“Rolly.”

“Yeah?” His hand moved to my waist and pulled me in close. My head rested on his shoulder.

“What made you do this?” I wondered out loud.

“Honestly?” he asked, glancing down at me, one brow raised.

“Honestly.”

“I watched a Hallmark movie,” he admitted, and I was surprised I didn’t gasp.

“Wait, what?” My lips twitched, and there was no playing off my clear amusement.

“Last night. It came on. I think you—”

“Programmed it.” I cut him off softly and winced. “I was worried I’d forget, and it was a new one,” I explained.

“I watched it.” He shrugged, but I could tell he was a little self-conscious about it. He wasn’t a Hallmark-movie-watching type of guy, and now I was just flat out smiling.

“You did?”

“I figured you were watching it at Jo’s place.”

“I was,” I cautiously admitted, silently wondering how the hell he knew I had stayed at my sister’s place.

“It made me think of you. Made me feel close to you.”

“Baby.”

“Then, the more I watched, the more what you said at the park repeated in my head. How I had somehow let you think I was trying to break up.”

“I should have asked. I didn’t take it all that well—”

“It was my fault.”

“That made you go crazy and decorate the living room with four trees?” I blurted out.

“I needed to make a grand gesture.”

“You do grand pretty great, Rolly.” I shifted, leaning more of my weight against him, and he happily took it. He might not be all about the PDAs, but he loved to cuddle when we were home.

“Though I gotta be honest, Rolly, I don’t want this beautiful gesture to drive you nuts, and Christmas is still a week away.”

“What would drive me crazy?”

“Umm, the mess,” I pointed out. “I love everything you did, baby, I do. And I don’t want to sound ungrateful because I’m not. What you did… This was beyond even a Hallmark movie,” I gushed, hoping I was making sense.

“But?”

“But… I don’t want you uncomfortable for a week, so you can give me this.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. Our fronts now touched. Me in his tee, which fit loosely and fell to about mid-thigh. Rolly in nothing but unbuttoned jeans.

“Do you know what I kept thinking about last night?” he oddly asked.

“No.”

“I kept looking around this place and noticing how this wasn’t my place anymore. How cold my place was before you.”

“What do you mean?”

“The basic stuff was here. Couch, TV, DVD stand. But everywhere I looked, I saw your hand. Your stamp, I guess.”

“I don’t follow, baby.”

“I’m like the house, Veronica. The core of me is here. I’m still just me; you don’t need me to change. But I’m a better version of myself with you because with you by my side, it’s home.”

“Rolly,” I whispered. “I think that’s the sweetest thing I have ever heard anyone say.”

“Good thing it’s also true, then.” My eyes burned with unshed tears. As if sensing it, he brought his face lower, giving me a sweet kiss on the tip of my nose.

“Come here.” His hand in mine, we moved to the father tree. This one had white twinkle lights and red and gold ornaments. A plush throw blanket and pillows were sexily thrown on the floor.

“I need to have you again, but this time, we’re taking our time and you’re going for a ride,” he whispered, his hand sliding up my thigh. My breathing hitched.

“What about the mistletoe?” I asked, and he grinned.

“Left it in the bedroom.”

“Go get it, baby. I have some mistletoe wishes I have to make.” I winked and laughed against his lips when they crushed to mine. All I could think about was how Roland Baxter knew exactly how to take a girl’s breath.

Thank God, he was all mine.