Page 22 of Secret Santa

Clearing my throat, I subtly adjusted my hard-on, and scanned the pantry again. “Hannah brings her kids to work with her most days, so I want them to have snacks they like while they’re here.”

She blinked a few times, clearing her eyes of their lust-filled haze. “That’s nice,” she said, still slightly breathless. “Do you have any kids?” I shook my head as I leaned back against the island.

“Nope,” I said, trying to keep my voice light. It’s not that I didn’t want kids. I desperately wanted a family, but settling down and getting married, finding a woman to marry, held a certain level of vulnerability I wasn’t sure I possessed. “Do you?”

She let out a humorless laugh as she shook her head. “No.”

“Don’t want them?” I asked, and she shrugged.

“Maybe one day,” she said. We stared at each other for a moment. This conversation felt heavy—too heavy for people to be having when they decided to be together only hours ago. “I’ve never found anyone interested in me.” I blinked a few times, her words pulling me from my thoughts.

“Baby,” I laughed. “Come on.” Her brows pinched together.

“What?”

“Look at you.” I gestured to her, and she literally looked down at herself, seeming more confused. “You’re gorgeous, and smart, and kind. You’re telling me no one has ever been interested in you?” I shook my head. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

Her head stayed lowered, but pink tinged her cheeks again, brighter than before. “You really think I’m gorgeous?” She said it so quietly, I almost didn’t hear her.

She was killing me. The sadness in her voice, the slight tremor in it, killed me. I kept my voice as level as I could as I said, “Yes, Danica. You’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met.”

She blinked at me, looking stunned.

“That’s not true,” she said, and I lifted my brows. Folding my arms over my chest, I nodded at her.

“Tell me why you think it’s a lie,” I said calmly.

“Well,” she drew the word out as she looked around the kitchen, chewing on her cheek nervously.

“Stop chewing,” I reprimanded, and she immediately stopped, then glared at me. It was cute when she scowled, and I grinned.

“You can’t keep telling me what to do, you know,” she said.

“You’re avoiding my question.” My brows lifted again.

“Fine,” she sighed. “You’ve seen Monica and Sadie. They’re both beautiful, way prettier than me, and you can’t deny it.”

“Well, I can deny it,” I said, and she rolled her eyes. “Yeah, they’re attractive women, but they’re not you. You, and I mean this wholeheartedly, are fucking beautiful.” Again, she just stared at me. I’d never wanted to be a mind reader so badly in my entire fucking life.

“You really mean it?” she asked shyly. “You’re not just saying it because you think it’s what I want to hear?” I sighed and dropped my arms to my sides before making my way to her. Gently, I rested my hands on her hips and tugged her toward me.

“I really mean it,” I murmured. “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t think it was true.” She wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head against my chest.

“Please don’t break my heart, Aiden,” she whispered into my shirt. My heart squeezed at the sad tone of her voice, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly.

“I don’t plan on it, baby girl,” I said against her hair, then pressed my lips against the top of her head. She nestled closer to me, and for the first time in my life, I had a feeling of rightness settle over me, like this was exactly where I belonged. This is who I belong with, who I belong to, and who belonged to me.

It was too soon to feel what I felt, and way too fucking soon to say it. Instead, I kept it to myself, tucked safely away in my heart for her.

10

DANI

I stared at the dark ceiling, Aiden’s calm, steady breathing quiet beside me. I couldn’t believe I was in his bed. He hadn’t tried anything, which I was kind of shocked by, and if I was totally honest, a little disappointed. I knew he was trying to do the right thing, and the right thing to him was taking things slow, even though I definitely didn’t want to.

I didn’t know why I wanted to throw caution to the wind and jump into bed with him—well, I was already here, but I wanted to sleep with him, not just beside him. I’d never felt like this toward anyone before. I’d never even thought about trying to sleep with someone before getting to know them better, but everything felt different with Aiden. Everything felt…right.

Sighing, I rolled onto my side, giving him my back. I was exhausted, but I still couldn’t sleep. My mind was working on overdrive, everything that had happened keeping me awake.

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