“Hi,” is all I manage as I stare at her.
“Hi,” she replies, tucking a strand of curled hair shyly behind her ear.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. I must admit, you look very handsome yourself.”
“Thank you. Are you ready to be swept off your feet?” I say with a wink. “Again.”
She gives a breathy laugh and nods. “I suppose I am.”
“Good. I have big plans for you, Olive.”
Then, I take her hand and place a small black box in it. Not that small. Medium.
“What is this?”
“Your first surprise.”
“A gift?”
“Open it,” I encourage her, stepping closer into her space, lifting her hand close to her chest. Then, looking down at her, I open the lid. A tennis bracelet, silver with all onyx stones, shines up at us.
“I saw it and thought of you.”
And couldn’t leave it. I don’t understand my own actions, but I needed her to have it. If only to see it on her tonight, to know she was mine, if only for one night.
“This is too much.”
I shake away her silly comment and place the gift around her wrist.
“Consider it a Christmas gift, if you want to. Santa isn’t a one-day gig for me.”
“Thank you,” she says reluctantly.
“You’re very welcome.”
My reply is whispered against her fingers as I place a meaningful kiss on her knuckles, loving the look of adoration I receive. Too soon, it’s gone, replaced with her usual guarded smirk, but I saw it. I earned it. This woman see’s somethin’ in me no one else has before. Maybe not even me.
With my heart feeling too many things, it gets me thinkin’. About Olive and me drinking coffee together tomorrow morning. Me stayin’ in her bed all night with her in my arms. For this thing between us to be given a real chance…Am I ready for everything that this will mean for me and Penelope? And Whitney and Stephanie, too, for that matter? My life also includes two grown woman, who are equally important.
“What do you have in store for me tonight, Santa?”
“Oh, you’ll never guess,” I say intertwining our hands and pulling her out of the doorway.
She locks her door with a push of a code, and I take the quick minute to appreciate her. Good fucking god. The hour glass shape of this woman, so full and soft. Her tight black dress has long lace sleeves and hugs her mouthwatering hips.
“God damn, baby. You look amazing.”
She blushes, tucking her free hand around my bicep. The action, seemingly casual, but to me, I feel owned. This isn’t a woman who would stand at just any man’s side, and she’s not just smiling, but beaming up at me with pride. Me. Hard to fuckin believe I make her happy. I just hope I can make it last. The fun guy doesn’t usually get the girl…Throw in my baggage, and I have to remind myself it’s just tonight. To pay her back.
“Thank you. Do I get any clues?”
“Hhhmmm. It’s a place you’d never think you’d enjoy.”
“Anywhere there’s people,” she says in a monotone voice that makes me laugh.
“Why do you hate people?”