Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
He squeezed her hand in his. And if what he and Cammie shared wasn’t enough to impress McClain, he’d have to hope his stellar work history would get the man’s attention. But when he introduced them, McClain seemed completely charmed, especially when Cammie chatted with him for twenty minutes about how much she loved visiting his amusement parks when she was younger.
The band stopped playing and everyone sat for dinner. The partners of the company each made a speech, all three of them, and there were small gifts given out, shot glasses with the company logo on them.
They’d just finished their dessert, a meringue confection topped with sweet berries, when he placed a hand on Cammie’s thigh and leaned in close. “What do you say about getting out of here?” he asked.
Her eyes sparked with happiness. “Let’s go.”
He drove them to his apartment, and she held his hand in the elevator, leaning her head against his shoulder. The intimacy came easily for her, and he liked how comfortable she felt around him. He wanted to be her safe harbor, always.
When they arrived at his apartment, her gaze fell to the gifts wrapped and sitting on the coffee table in the living room, waiting to be taken to his parents’ house tomorrow.
“You know, that’s why most people have trees,” Cammie pointed out. “It’s a place to put gifts.”
“Or the coffee table can substitute just fine.”
Cammie let her out annoyance with a huff. “Are those for your family tomorrow?”
“All but one.” Walking over, he picked one gift off the top and handed it to her. “For you, Cammie.”
Eyes wide, she ripped open the small box and squealed in delight. “Earrings in the shape of coffee cups! How did you find these?”
“Oh, I went hunting. And since I’ve never seen you wear anything like them, I took a chance. I know it’s not much but—”
She cut him off with a kiss full of pent-up longing. Her tongue swiped against his and they lingered as if they were under the mistletoe until she broke away.
“I love them. But how did you know you’d see me?” she asked.
He had his answer ready. “I planned on making it happen, sweetheart. I wanted to see you on Christmas. I even…” He trailed off, unsure whether to finish his sentence.
“You even what?” Cammie asked.
With a groan, he walked over to a foil covered tin. “Well, I took a crack at making cinnamon rolls. You know, so you’d have some on Christmas morning, like you used to make with your mom.”
“Oh, Leo. Nobody has ever done anything so thoughtful for me. Thank you.” She placed her hand on his arm, squeezing his bicep, then pulling him into a hug. “I think you finally do understand what’s so special about Christmas.”
He couldn’t help but agree. She’d opened his eyes and he knew the future was going to be merry and bright.
Epilogue
Bryant Park was just as mesmerizing now as it had been last year, when Cammie first brought Leo to enjoy the Winter Village. The crowds were expected, especially two days before Christmas with people scrambling to complete their last-minute shopping or cram in some fun before the actual holiday began.
She and Leo belonged in both categories. Cammie was shopping, looking for a gift for Leo’s parents, who were hard to shop for. What did she buy people who could afford anything they could ever want? She finally settled on a soft, handmade, crocheted blanket that matched their family room. Once she’d picked out her final gift, they could focus on the more fun parts of the Winter Village. This year’s tree was a little shorter than last, but it was still impressive.
Deciding to make it a tradition, she dragged Leo over to take a selfie in front of the massive evergreen. Though he grumbled under his breath, there was a playful edge to his complaining this year. She knew his attitude about Christmas had changed.
One year together and he didn’t just appreciate the holiday, he celebrated it. He’d been the one who insisted they set up a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, taking her to a lot and walking around for nearly an hour before finally finding one that he deemed perfect.
She’d stood in front of it with her head tilted back to see the top. “Are you sure that’ll fit in your apartment,” she’d asked.
“Our apartment,” Leo had corrected her, and she’d smiled.
She’d moved in two months ago, and referring to the space as his was an old habit, one she knew she’d break quickly since the place already felt like home. It wasn’t just because he’d let her add girly throw pillows in the living room or that the Christmas decorations transformed the room into a completely different place than the one that she’d first seen three hundred and sixty days ago.