Page 105 of Without Judgment

“Come wake me when you do. I’ll help.”

She kissed my chest. “Thank you. Also for helping with dinner. It turned out pretty good tonight, I think.”

“It was the best meal I’ve ever had. And I was happy to be your sous chef. Gave me an excuse to sneak in little touches.”

I cupped her ass as a demonstration, causing her to laugh.

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

Her simple words made me enormously happy. “Me, too. I sent an email to Mick’s family earlier today. His mother mentioned a package she sent to us?”

“Oh, crap. I forgot. I received it in Austin the day before I came here. She had emailed me and asked me for my address. Since you were traveling the last couple of days, she worried if she sent it to you, you wouldn’t receive it. I brought the box with me since she said she’d baked cookies, and I didn’t want them to spoil. I didn’t know if you preferred to open it here or wait until the cabin.”

“Oh, good. Wait. Shit. I probably should’ve sent something back.” This whole gift-giving business was new to me after going years without shopping for anyone. At least I’d bought Avery gifts this year, but that was it. “I should probably bring presents for my father’s house, too, shouldn’t I?” I felt like an idiot. Of course I shouldn’t show up empty-handed.

“Um, well, I hope you don’t mind, but I got some stuff. I mean, we don’t have to bring the gifts I bought. You can certainly get something else if you want.”

She was tensing up and rambling, her tell for feeling nervous. I shifted down in the bed so we could both be on our sides and face to face. “What are you talking about?”

She swallowed hard. “I was shopping for everyone. And because I knew we were seeing your family, I picked up a few things. But I wasn’t sure if you intended to give them gifts or not. I got these remote-controlled drone things the guy at the store said all the teenagers are into. Then you mentioned once your dad drinks bourbon, so I got him a bottle of the same stuff my father likes. And for his wife, I bought a set of Christmas dishtowels, spatulas, and bowls. It’s a gift set that says, ‘I don’t know you, but you can always regift these if you don’t like them.’ I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep. I was nervous and not sure whether we should bring gifts or not. And you know how I enjoy shopping—especially for presents. But I can take everything back.”

I was confused as to why she was apologizing. “Why would you be sorry? You remembered, and now I don’t have to go out the day after Christmas to last-minute shop. But you’ll have to let me pay you for everything.”

Although Avery came from money, I never wanted her to think I’d take advantage of her generosity.

But she still didn’t relax.

“What’s wrong?”

She bit her lip in the adorable way that always made me want her naked. “Because Mick’s mom was so kind in sending us a box for Christmas, I also sent them something.”

“You did?” Her thoughtfulness knew no bounds. “What did you send?”

“She asked for a picture of us. I sent her the one we took in the park with Koda, putting it in a frame. And then, you know Mick’s favorite horse?”

“Yeah. Phantom.” Cool name for a beautiful horse.

“This woman I found on Etsy made him a horse blanket which looks like the Marine Corps Dress Blues and has his name on the chest. I probably should’ve told you, but I got so busy with the holidays, and then I was worried I wouldn’t get it sent off in time. And in my defense, she did send the cookie box to my address, which meant I couldn’t not send something back. I hope you don’t think I overstepped.”

I didn’t understand why she thought I’d be irritated. That wouldn’t be a word I’d associate with what she’d just told me. But there were some words I could no longer hold back. It was coming out whether she was ready for it or not. “I love you.”

Her expression was shocked. “What?”

My delivery made me wince. “I’m sorry I’m telling you this way, but I can’t hear about all of your thoughtfulness and how worried you might be I’d be annoyed without just putting it out there. I love you, Avery. I love how you thought of all these things. I love how you were thinking of my family. And thinking of Mick’s. Especially to find something that special for Mick’s horse. I believe he’s grinning in heaven at the thought of his horse wearing blues.”

Tears came to her eyes.

I reached out, stroking her face and wiping the drops with my thumb.

“Happy tears? Or the type which come before you tell me you don’t feel the same? I’d thought to go slow, and here I am using the L-word.”

“Definitely happy tears because I love you, too. I just didn’t know if you were ready to hear it.”

My smile came easily because of how ready I was. “So we’ve both been holding the words back?”

She met my grin. “It would seem so.”

“Will you be in a relationship with me, princess?”

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