Page 68 of Christmas Criminal

"No?"

I grimace.That didn't sound great. "I mean, I put up a bit of a shield at school or around town, you know? I make sure that if there's a kid around to hear or see, I don't do or say anything that I wouldn't want them telling their parents about. It's easier that way."

She nods. "That sounds like it could get a little lonely."

I shrug. "It can, but lonely is a hell of a lot better than having the wrong company."

She's quiet for a moment before she nods. "Yeah, I think I would have to agree with that."

I let out a long breath, shaking my head. "So, you should probably head out," I say, mock seriously.

She knocks my elbow, laughing, and I wrap her up in my arms again, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Please. You'resoexcited to be putting up your tree with me."

She leans away from me to see my face, and I take the opportunity to nod sincerely. "I really am."

She swallows, quiet for a moment.

"So, can I get you a drink?"

"Red wine?"

I nod, kissing her cheek as I twist her hips to one side so I can grab two glasses from the cabinet above our heads. I pour us each a glass and lead her into the living room.

"Wow, I think this room was made for Christmas," she says, her eyes wandering along the big bay window where I was planning on setting up the tree and the fireplace I lit a few minutes before she got here. With the Christmas music playing low in the background, itfeelslike a holiday in here.

"Yeah, that's kind of what I thought when I bought the place," I tell her, resting my wine on the coffee table in front of the leather couch. She does the same, following me as I round the Christmas tree box I pulled out of the attic earlier today. I pull open one of the flaps as Noelle kneels down next to it.

I pull out the stand and center it below the window. Noelle grabs the tree skirt and wraps it around the base, smiling up at me when she's done.

"Is that how you like it?" she asks, and the words send a jolt of fire right down my spine because I’ve imagined asking her that same thing in a situation involving much less clothing.

But I only nod, swallowing thickly. "That's perfect."

We attach the main pole to the stand and move slowly in a circle, matching each piece by color to its appropriate spot.

It's surprisingly easy with her. We work well together.

We take breaks for small sips of wine and little kisses that inspire thoughts that would definitely put me on the naughty list.

"So what made you decide to put up a tree this year, if you normally don't?"

I let out a long breath, shrugging because I might as well tell her the truth if we're here, doing it together.

"You."

She cocks her head to the side, her fingers pausing as her eyes find mine. "Me?"

I nod. "I never wanted to put up a Christmas tree on my own, but when I met you, I thought that I might like to do it with you."

She raises her eyebrows. "That's really sweet."

I shrug, my cheeks heating. I knew that was going to happen. "It's the truth." I press my lips together as I fan out another branch and connect it to the main one. I can feel Noelle's eyes on me, like her focus is branding my skin. "There was a point in my life where I thought all I really wanted was someone to, for lack of a better term, put the tree up with."

She sits cross-legged on the ground, abandoning her branch next to her and reaching for her wine.

"Over time, I think I realized that it's not aboutputting up the tree, per se, buthowyou put up the tree.Whoyou put up the treewith."

She bites her lip. "And you wanted to put up your tree with me."

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