Page 142 of All I Want For Christmas

“Theo?”

“Tell me about your childhood Christmases,” he said, his hand stroking up and down her back again.

It was so comforting and she felt so good that she just did as he asked. She started talking about Christmas memories from her childhood. Then they both shared about favorite Christmas gifts. Favorite Christmas movies. Traditions they loved. Traditions they didn’t—for her, sitting on Santa’s lap, and for him, waiting until Christmas morning to openanygifts.

Savannah felt her eyes getting heavy as they talked. Theo’s hand rested on her back now, not moving. Their voices were quieter. There were longer pauses between questions and answers.

And soon, they were asleep.

They woke up a little after nine the next morning.

That was easily the latest either of them had ever slept on a Christmas morning, even as adults.

They giggled about that as they got showered and dressed and made their way downstairs, holding hands.

They hadn’t had sex last night before falling asleep, but something aboutnotdoing that and simply holding her as they talked and shared and then slept wrapped up in one another made her even happier. That made this all seem like more than just a sexy fling because they had nothing better to do while snowed in together.

The entire first floor of the lodge smelled like cinnamon rolls and coffee and Theo’s mouth was already watering by the time they joined a few other late comers in the dining room.

Everyone seemed in great spirits in spite of the fact that they were all stuck with a bunch of strangers on Christmas Day.

Honestly, everyone had been friendly and making the best of their situation. They’d all found things to do to stay entertained and Lucy was a fantastic hostess.

Tonight everyone was planning to head back to the pub after dinner for another impromptu party. Evidently the Lost Ridge Ramblers had put on a great show last night.

Everyone was apart from their families and loved ones, but they were all doing their best to make things festive and jolly.

During the day there were movies in the great room along with more board games and card games.

Theo and Savannah took part in many of the activities, including a craft activity where they made their own ornaments.

Which they decided to exchange as Christmas gifts.

Savannah felt her eyes actually stinging as she studied the ornament Theo had made her.

He’d drawn a bayou cabin that looked an awful lot like his on the piece of cardstock. He'd colored it in with colored pencils and surrounded it with a popsicle stick frame painted green. On the back, he'd writtenTaggart's Bed-and-Breakfast. You have a standing reservation. xo Theo.

“Thank you, I love it.” She clutched it to her chest. “Do I need to have it with me when I come to check in?”

He gave her a wink. “I think the owner will remember you.”

The idea for her ornament had come to her easily, but now that it was time to give it to him, she was suddenly struck by nerves.

She did not want to come off as too needy.

"Come on. Hand it over, City Girl," Theo said, wiggling his fingers.

"It's not very good. I'm not a great artist."

"This isn't about artistic ability," he told her. "It's the thought that counts."

Yeah, that's what she was afraid of. She was afraid that he'd know exactly what her thought was—that she was crazy about him and wanted him for good, for always.

She needed to relax. She'd be visiting Autre from time to time like she always had. If they could continue to see each other on her visits to the bayou, have some fun sex, laugh, talk, hang out with their friends, maybe this would naturally evolve into more.

She could definitely invite him on a couple of trips with her, and see if that was just as fun and magical as North Carolina and the Merry Falls Lodge had been.

Giventime, they could figure this all out. She didn’t need to lay her heart on the line right now.

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