Page 59 of Second Chance Christmas

“You guys don’t mind handling lights then? I can take care of the painting and putting in new curtains down here.” Why did she feel like the Ivy Effect was about to rear its ugly head? She had to protest. “You don’t have to do this.”

“It sounds fun. Plus, we can’t sit around all day. And we get to boss around the men for a few hours while drinking some wine.” Mrs. Wilber patted her husband’s hand and nodded as if the deal was done.

Well then. “Follow me. I’ll grab the lights and show you where the ladder is, then I’ll show you where all the extension cords and the like are located.”

Mr. Howard stepped up. “Mighty obliged, Ivy.”

She smiled and could easily see why his wife fell in love with the man. He made being Texan look downright charming.

Ivy wasn’t about to say no twice. She knew enough not to question any offered help too much.

Aspen rounded the corner, phone in hand this time instead of his radio as she turned to lead the way to the porch, her new crew in tow.

She came to a stop in front of him and laced her fingers to keep them from fixing an unruly curl that swooshed across his forehead. “It seems we’re hanging lights, after all.”

“See. Everything works out. Just have to have a little faith, baby.” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and she leaned into the warm weight of it for a brief second.

“You sound like Jon.”

“We were best friends for a reason, you know.”

“Yeah, lights.” Resounded the youngest again, bounding from one foot to the other between them, his energy as contagious as his holiday spirit. For once since Thanksgiving, she felt the magic that came with this time of year.

“Come on now. Outside. You wanted snow, well, there’s snow.” Mrs. Howard shuffled the kids along briefly, stopping to say, “You take a minute with your man, sweetie. We’ll go ahead and get started. Take your time.” She slipped out the front door without another word and frankly, Ivy was tired of telling everyone she and Aspen were not an item so she went with it.

“What was that all about?”

“Apparently everyone thinks you’re,” she threw up air quotes, “my man.”

“I was this morning,” Aspen said, raking a casual hand through his hair looking every bit as young as when that statement was true. He stepped closer and gathered her in his arms. Warm and protective. Reassuring. She may not be a fan of Christmas, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t take a few hours of light hanging if it meant he would stay. Admitting that to herself chipped away at her no-man-fly-zone resolve.

“This is reckless,” she muttered against his chest, yet still unwilling to step away.

“I know what you’re saying baby, but the longer I look at these kids the more I want to see you round with my baby. Babies.

Well damn.

That did have her head coming up.

She peered up his chest and his warm palm scooped her face between them. Their gazes locked. “And I mean every word. I’d take you again right here right now if you didn’t have guests. I still might steal you away though.

“You sure know how to sweep a girl off her feet, don’t you?”

“His hands slide down to her waist and using his thumbs he skims beneath the rim of her jeans, teasing the edge of her panties.

“Ms. Winters, are you coming?” one of the little ones called after her, giggling.

“I guess that’s our cue.”

“Well, pick back up on this topic after all the work,” he promised, his hands tightening around her. “Let’s do this and make a few kids happy. Then you and I can have a long talk.”

His expression turned passionate and she saw fire in his eyes. He might want to talk, but he also wanted to get her naked in the worst way.

“Deal.”

She could practically hear her heart pounding in her chest and she didn’t know what hanging lights made her so excited when yesterday she vowed to donate the huge ball of knots to Good Will.

Ivy didn’t know what came over her but as she tightened her fingers around his she felt more like herself than she had in a long time.

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