Page 27 of Capturing Hearts

“I wish our first Christmas here was a party. Surrounded by friends and family, you know?” She searches my face to see if I understand.

“I’m glad it’s just you and me, babe. But you’re right. That would be nice. My mom’s at Pajaro Dunes with her boyfriend. Mark and Nicole are…”

“I know,” she smiles, interrupting me by laying her hand on my chest in a sweet way. “I was just thinking aloud. I’m looking forward to our home filled with family. I don’t think I gave myself that when I was younger. Too angry, you know?”

I nod. “Still wearing all black, though.”

She blinks and looks down. “Just to work!”

“You picked a job where you could wear all black.”

She laughs and shrugs. “Can’t take the spots off the leopard. Decorating the tree tomorrow, yes?”

“Yes. Have a good night at work. If it slows down, come home early and let Manny close up.”

“Brendan...”

I sigh, my mouth tight. She rises on her tip-toes for a kiss. I encircle her with my arms and lay a good long, slow one on her.

She murmurs against my lips. “Mmm…maybe I could take these pants off for another second?”

“Manny knows you’re coming in late. Why not be a little later.” I brush her lips with mine, sending a shiver down her body. Just when I think she’s giving in, she smiles and pulls away, shaking her head like she’s trying to snap out of it.

“Oh, Brendan! What you do to me!”

I slap her ass on the way out.

Walking to the T.V. I flop down on the couch and grab the remote. CNN jumps on the screen, having been the last station I watched. Out of habit, I stare at the images of the terrorist group Isis flashing before me. It takes me a second to remember our deal, but as soon as I do, I change the channel, stopping at The Christmas Story, just as the kid sticks his tongue to the frozen pole, his schoolmates eagerly watching.

“I wonder if Joe is keeping up his end of the bargain,” I mutter, smiling as the kid finds out he’s stuck like that. Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I text him:

Watching the news?

No. You?

Christmas Story.

Me too. Hilarious stuff. Thanks for dinner.

Anytime.

Setting the phone down on the coffee table, my glance lands on our tree, naked and waiting for some love. “Don’t worry, buddy. You’ll get yours.”

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