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The true gift was the future she’d been afraid to imagine, to hope for.

Love and a family.

Vivian couldn’t help but think of Phil, of the first man she’d loved, of the little girl they’d made together, of the promise he’d made her give him before he died.

At the time, she’d been angry by his request, certain she’d never keep her vow to find love again, but now, she wondered if this was what Phil had wanted all along.

Not for her and Pip to forget him but for them to keep living, loving, growing.

Tomorrow morning, Pip would awake to Christmas magic, finding Santa’s gifts beneath the tree. But she would also find Dean there, and someday, maybe, she’d find another gift in their arms—a little brother or sister. Another piece to the family they were building together.

Vivian took Dean’s hand and they walked to her bedroom. Once inside, she locked the door—just in case, though she suspected Pip would be dead to the world until morning—and leaned against it.

Dean continued across the room, sinking down on the side of her bed. More often than not, they were only in her bedroom during the daytime hours, when Pip was at school. He’d only slept over a few times, always when Pip was spending the night with Victor.

He gave her a curious look when she remained where she was.

“Okay?” he asked.

She nodded, smiling, feeling more settled and calm and content than she had in a very, very long time. “I’m just…happy.”

Dean chuckled, then patted the mattress next to him as he tugged off his shirt. “Come here, sunshine. Let’s see if we can make each other even happier.”

She giggled as she pushed away from the door. She unbuttoned her blouse as she walked toward him.

Dean rose, quickly stripping off his pants and boxers, toeing off his socks. He’d kicked off his shoes in the living room while they were making out on the couch.

Vivian, unwilling to be left behind, took off the rest of her clothing as well, climbing beneath the covers after Dean pulled back the duvet.

He crawled in on the opposite side, instantly reaching for her.

She curled into his arms, sighing softly when he kissed her. God, she’d missed kissing, and Dean had to seriously be one of the greatest kissers in the world.

Their lips parted at the same time, his tongue finding hers. She tasted the cinnamon on his breath from the Christmas cookies they’d eaten after dinner.

Tomorrow morning, they would open Santa’s gifts here with Pip, then head over to Victor’s for a big breakfast and more gifts, after which, they would get ready for their friends to arrive for a potluck dinner and the Second Annual Nerf Gun War. Vivian wasn’t sure what Pip was more excited about—Santa or what her daughter described as “the battle to end all battles.”

Tonight, however, Vivian had wanted to keep things simple and small—just the three of them—and to perhaps begin a new tradition. So she, Pip, and Dean had worked together to prepare their surf and turf dinner, complete with homemade fries and a big salad. Then they’d baked and decorated cookies, plowing through a plateful of them as they watched The Polar Express.

“You taste good,” he murmured against her mouth.

She grinned. “After all those cookies we ate, we probably should have brushed our teeth before climbing into bed.”

Dean gave her another hard, quick kiss. “We’ll do it after. I like the cinnamon sugar.” He proved just how much by giving her a longer, deeper, toe-curling kiss Vivian wished would never end.

When it did, Dean moved, climbing over her to cage her beneath him. He was a large guy, tall and broad and pure muscle, thanks to the fact that he worked out with the team. She stroked his beard, then ran her fingers through his rich, wavy brunette hair. She loved the way he held her gaze with those chocolate-brown eyes of his, accented with laugh lines that were apparent now as he smiled at her.

“So introspective tonight,” he mused.

“Just counting my blessings. There are a lot, so it’s taking some time.”

He didn’t laugh as she expected. Instead, he nodded. “My cup is overflowing too. Vivian, you’ve made me the happiest man on the planet.” He grasped her left hand, both of them glancing at the ring. “Thank you for saying yes.”

“Thank you for finally asking,” she replied, and this time, he did laugh. She did too. She didn’t have any choice. It was just as he’d said, she was overflowing with joy, and holding it inside was impossible.

Dean kissed her again, and then, he guided his cock to her pussy. She’d started birth control after Thanksgiving, but this was their first time making love without a condom.

That fact was lost on neither of them as he slid in bare.