Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
The old lady was full of sass and suggestion, and there was no stopping the chuckle that rolled up my throat.
“Nelly,” Piper warned as she peeled herself out of that coat, the woman still wearing the same soft cream sweater and velvety baby blue pants that matched her eyes that she’d had on earlier.
Didn’t matter.
The sight of all those curves wrapped in the fabric still punched me in the gut.
My mouth went dry, and I attempted to swallow around the need that thickened with each breath I took.
“Might have a couple things bringing me to your door,” I admitted on a gruff breath.
One of Finn’s arms shot for the sky. “Me!”
And there I went.
Fuckin’ falling.
I gave him a gentle bounce as I hooked him onto my hip. “Definitely you. Thought you might need some help getting that tree in its stand so you can decorate it.”
I glanced to where it was still leaning bound against the wall.
“I decorate twee!” Finn bobbed his head, excitement pinking his cheeks.
I ruffled a hand through his hair. “And I bet you’re going to do a good job of it, too.”
“I got owl, Feo.” He kicked his little legs in a bid for me to set him down, and the second I did, he scrambled for the red box that had the owl ornament. He dropped to his knees and held it over his head. “Wook!”
Affection rushed. “I thought you might like that one.”
“You get it for me?” he peeped.
“Yeah, buddy.” My voice was soft. “I got it for you.”
Whole time, I could feel the weight of Piper’s gaze. Her reservations woven with the specks of hope that vied for a way out.
I was a bastard for putting them there.
This was temporary.
We all knew it.
And still, I couldn’t force myself from this place if I tried.
“I wuv it!” He hugged it against his chest.
I cleared the heaviness from my throat. “Well, what do you say I put up that tree so you can hang it?”
“I say yes!” His pink bowed lips stretched in delight.
I met Piper’s eyes for a moment.
A thousand things passed between us in that bare moment.
Gratitude and need and knowing.
Questions and uncertainty and fear.
I sent her a knowing smile before I grabbed the tree from the wall. I wrangled it around the furniture as I glanced between Piper and the pile of bags on the floor. “Would you mind grabbing the stand and putting it wherever you want the tree?”
“Sure.” She turned and dug around in the bags. When she found it, she wound around the couch and set it in front of the left window beside the fireplace.
“Good choice,” I murmured as I went to work.
“How about some holiday music to get this party started?” Nelly hollered from the kitchen, and Piper linked her phone with the Bluetooth speaker that sat on the kitchen counter.
A second later, the cabin was filled with festive music.
The mood went light.
The fireplace crackled as the flames leapt in the hearth.
The whole time, Nelly sang from the kitchen as she prepared dinner, while Piper and I strung lights.
Our smiles soft and our gazes long.
Touches not quite covert since the only thing I wanted to do was get my hands all over her gorgeous body.
Laughter rang from Piper and Finn as she held him up so he could place ornaments on the tree, then she spun him around and started dancing with him in her arms when “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” came on.
The sight was nothing but sheer, unmitigated bliss.
Pulling and tugging on me.
Finn squealed, giggling out of control with his head tipped back as she spun him round and round, before Piper danced back my way with her son in her arms.
Their faces flushed and full of happiness.
A vision that punched me straight in the gut.
“Only the topper is left. Can you get it?” she gently asked Finn as she set him onto his feet, and he went tottering for where it sat on the coffee table.
A snow angel.
Raven had been there to help me pick everything out since I’d never ventured into this territory before and I figured I’d screw it all up. I saw it and knew it was perfect.
Reminding me of this girl with white hair and a brand-new joy in her arctic blue eyes.
“Up!” Finn instructed, jumping high in front of me like he was going to reach the top.
I swooped him up and held him high so he could reach the top.
He placed it like a little pro, and I pulled him back down, keeping his back to my chest so we could all inspect our handiwork.
Piper eased up to our side.
For one second, she hesitated, emotion thick and soggy, before she wrapped her arm around my waist and leaned against me as we gazed up at the tree.
And fuck me.