Page 56 of A Christmas Bargain

She sighed, resting her head against mine. Our brows touched, but it was the rest of our closeness that really captured me. Feeling her sweet, warm breath on my cheek. Her hands placed on my chest, one lying over where my heart beat so fast for her.

“Okay.” She whispered it, but even this close, I felt her cheeks lift in a smile.

“Okay?”

She shrugged, leaning back to smile at me. “Yeah. Okay. You convinced me. I… I don’t look forward to leaving, either.”

I cupped her face and kissed her hard. She laughed, and it was, like every time she let it out, the music that soothed my soul.

Naomi cleared her throat. Claire jumped, but I wrapped my hand around her waist so she’d stay at my side.

“Am I interrupting?” she asked.

“No. I just asked if Claire would stay here, with us, until the new year.”

Naomi ran up to her and hugged her. “This is the best day ever!”

Claire and I smiled at each other over her head.

“You haven’t even heard about my plan for the rest of the day.”

She took Claire’s hand and led her to sit.

I slid their hot cocoas toward them and drew in a deep breath.

Here goes.

“After you’re done with your drinks, I thought about taking a trip to the animal shelter.”

Naomi squealed, getting off her stool to jump and spin in a celebratory victory dance.

Claire laughed at her antics, then joined her in an impromptu dance party.

“How many can we get?” Naomi asked when she calmed down a little.

“Get?” I opened my eyes wide and shook my head. “I thought we’d start by just looking.”

Claire made eye contact and laughed. “Oh, don’t look at me to be the voice of reason. I’ll want them all.”

“Yeah, all of them, Dad. No puppies or dogs want to be homeless for Christmas. We got lots of room here.”

Yeah, lots of land.

Sooner or later, I’d need to get over my guilt and tell Claire the truth.

I wanted her here, but not to make a deal including my property.

Just my heart. That was what I felt certain she already had claimed a piece of.

19

CLAIRE

“Hey, Dad,” I said as I came home.

“Hi, Claire.” He grinned as he looked up from the kitchen where he was trying to make… something. I couldn’t tell whether he was mixing a dough or a paste.

“What’s that?”

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