Page 12 of Christmas Hearts

"Of course. I've never seen a more beautiful woman than you, Ana Maria Gonzalez."

"What about your wife?"

"She was beautiful and unique. She had good qualities and bad ones. I'll always carry her in my heart."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that. Of course, you'll always love her."

He frowns and a weird look comes into his face. I reach out to ease his frown with my fingers, and he grabs my hand after a few seconds. He kisses my open palm, and I tremble with desire. Heleans forward, and I follow suit. When our lips are only a breath away from touching, there's a loud knock on the door.

We both jump, and he gets out of bed to see who is making such a ruckus. He looks into the peephole and groans.

"Here's the blanket you asked for." Someone says from outside the door.

"Yeah, thank you."

He closes the door and places a thick blanket on the foot of the bed.

"I forgot I asked for an extra blanket in case the temperature got too cold."

I nod and realize the moment has passed, and we're not getting it back. I lie back on my other side, so I'm giving him my back. It will take a while for me to calm my body down.

Pretty soon, I feel movement on the bed and hear the bedsheets rustle as he buries himself under them.

"Good night, gorgeous." He whispers.

I freeze at the endearment.

"Good night, Justin."

Chapter 5

Justin

New Years is almost here, and I know I want to spend it with Ana Maria. I called her over so she could help me, and we could strategize for my campaign to become mayor of Woodland Falls. When she arrives, Daisy pretty much monopolizes her for a full hour, and I start becoming a little bit jealous of my own daughter.

Once I get Ana to myself, I sit us down in my home office and we start sharing ideas. We've both gone ahead and Googled what needs to be done, but I don't have a big budget. Not if I don't want to take a bite into my daughter's college fund. Hell, no.

"I'm sorry that Daisy talked your ear off."

Ana Maria frowns, but there's a smile on her face.

"I love Daisy."

She seems surprised that she said the words and she lowers her face as if hiding from me.

"I mean…"

"It's okay, Ana. I know you both spend a lot of time together when she goes to the library. She's crazy about you, too. She can't stop telling us about your conversations when she returns home."

That makes her smile. I want to see that smile on her face all the time. If I knew how to do that, I would be the happiest man alive.

"She's so smart, Justin. You've got an amazing daughter. I try to encourage her curiosity and her reading habits as much as I can. She'll get far in life."

"Do you think about such things?"

"What things?"

"My daughter's future."

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