Page 32 of Big Mistletoe

I move from behind her to stand in front of her, holding both her hands now. “Home.”

She hesitates, and I squeeze her hand. “With me.”

Her eyes soften, and she shakes her head. “Nick…”

“I mean it. Come home with me.”

She looks toward the door, then back at me. “Living together when it’s all so new is only going to complicate things.”

I shake my head. “I love you. There’s nothing complicated about it.”

Finally, she nods. “Okay.”

I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles. I straighten up the empty totes and boxes, and then I pick up her coat and help her into it.

We have a hundred things we should probably discuss, but all I can think about is taking Joy home… where she belongs.

12

JOY

I’m warm and cozy when I finally open my eyes. Nick’s arm is wrapped around my waist, holding me against his chest, and his breath is warm against the back of my neck. I smile into the pillow. This is my favorite way to wake up, but unfortunately, I can’t stay here. I let out a long moan.

Nick’s arm tightens around me. “What?”

I groan again. “I have to get up.”

He snuggles into me closer. “No, you don’t.”

I laugh softly. “Yes, I do.”

He kisses my neck. “It’s Christmas Eve.”

“Exactly.”

I turn in his arms until I’m facing him. His hair is messy, and he looks so handsome I wish I could stay in bed, but I have a job to do. “I have a wedding I have to help decorate for today.”

He groans, and I roll my eyes. “Chance and Stormi are getting married at the ranch tomorrow, and I have to get everything set up.”

He groans and pushes me to my back, hovering over me. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He kisses me, and I smile against his mouth. “If you keep doing that, I’m definitely going to be late.”

He groans and pulls back. “We don’t want that.”

He jumps up from the bed, and I put my hands behind my head and watch as he walks around the room. He’s half hard, and I’ve never wanted to skip a Christmas decoration more than I do right now.

He stops and catches me staring at him. He fists his manhood. “Changing your mind?”

I groan and force myself to sit up. “I wish I could, but this is someone’s wedding. I can’t flake… no matter how much I want to.”

I force myself to get up, and he wraps his arms around my waist. “Come on, we can save some time and shower together.”

I don’t move. “Right. You think showering together is going to save time?”

He chuckles. “I promise. I’ll be on my best behavior.”