Page 96 of The Reluctant Roommate

After the huge meal, there was the family walk along the blustery shoreline, then home for the Secret Santa gift exchange. Heidi had drawn Ellie. At Morgan’s suggestion, she had bought her a Starbucks gift card and placed it in a Starbucks holiday mug, which was received with shrieks of delight. Heidi received a New York Jets hoodie as her gift, which she quickly added to her layers of clothes.

Morgan received an elegant cashmere sweater in the perfect shade of pale blue. The exchange was anonymous for the most part, but when Morgan opened her gift, Heidi saw Linda’s pleased smile at Morgan’s obvious delight.

Everyone pitched in for the cleanup, and by the time Linda and her kids went home, Heidi was nodding off in the recliner.

Morgan yawned. “We’re off to bed.” She kissed her parents and then took Heidi’s hand, hauling her out of the recliner. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

Heidi gave them a sleepy wave and followed Morgan up the stairs. By the time the bedroom door was shut behind them and Morgan had taken her in her arms, kissing away all trace of lethargy, the thought of curling up on the bed and sleeping was the last thing on her mind. Well, the curling up with Morgan part, sure, but sleeping? She’d sleep when she was dead.

“I know we exchanged gifts before we left Denver,” Morgan said. “But I got you one more thing.”

Heidi’s eyebrow lifted. Morgan had given her a huge courier satchel made from patchwork leather of all different colors. To carry her things to DU, Morgan had said. And Heidi had set up a winding trail of tiny rubber ducks through the house for Morgan to follow. The trail had ended in the backyard where there had been a special gift that they could both enjoy. What had Morgan got her now?

Morgan went over to her bag and dug around in the bottom, then produced a small box wrapped in red-and-green paper.

Heidi eyed it. It was the size of a jewelry box, but she and Morgan had never discussed being anything more formal than girlfriends. For a moment, her breath wheezed in her chest. This was too soon. She wasn’t ready.

Morgan had to have seen the worry in her eyes, for she pushed Heidi’s hair behind her ears. “Don’t worry. It’s not an engagement ring.”

Heidi closed her eyes. “For a moment, I wondered. Not that I don’t want to be with you. But—”

“That might be one commitment too far.” Morgan kissed her again. “Your new commitments are already astounding. I think we can wait a while before adding to them.” She nudged her. “Open it.”

Heidi turned the box over in her hands. “I didn’t get you anything extra.”

“You mean apart from the starfish-shaped vibrator you already bought me?”

“It’s cute.”

“It is. It’s also very arousing. And it’s a wonderful Christmas gift. This is nothing like that.” A beat. “I thought of getting us a dildo and harness for Christmas, but I could just imagine the scene at TSA.”

“Yeah, nah. Although if you tell me it’s being delivered after Christmas I won’t object. Far from it.”

Morgan’s eyes darkened. “You’re giving me ideas.” She nudged Heidi’s hand again. “Stop stalling.”

Heidi carefully unstuck the tape and removed the wrapping to reveal a small box. She looked at Morgan in question.

“Go on,” Morgan said quietly.

Heidi lifted the lid to reveal a dark-red stone in a chunky silver setting hanging on a leather cord. She lifted it out. “It’s lovely.”

“It’s red jasper,” Morgan said. “It’s a grounding stone, one that is supposed to help you achieve your goals through perseverance. I saw this and thought of you. Because I know you’ll achieve your goals, but I thought this was a beautiful way of reminding you of them.”

Heidi cupped the stone in her hand. It already seemed warm to the touch. “I love it. I love what it represents. I already feel I can achieve anything I want with you by my side. We balance each other, Morgan. Our strengths complement each other. I love you.”

Morgan wrapped her arms around Heidi and kissed her again. Their breath mingled, and Heidi’s tongue slid into Morgan’s mouth, tasting her. She burrowed her hands under Morgan’s clothes until she found warm, soft skin.

“I think we should go to bed. So you can find out exactly what my immediate goal is.”

Morgan smiled against her mouth, and her hand rose to cup Heidi’s breast. “Somehow, I don’t think you’ll need any help in reaching that goal.”

Chapter 43

Always Answer Unknown Numbers

Heidi’s cell phone rang as she and Morgan were driving to the airport to return to Denver. She didn’t recognize the number. “Likely a scammer pretending to be the IRS again.”

“Or it could be someone calling you about a job.” Morgan passed a car dithering in the inside lane.