Page 15 of We Wish You a Happily Ever After

Chapter Five

“It’s perfect!”Bella hung a glass ball on the branches of the tree she’d personally chosen and cut down with only a little bit of assistance from Jeremy, and stood back to admire her work.

“It is perfect,” Jeremy agreed. “As were the other dozen we found before you settled on this one.”

He smiled and shook his head, because he’d had no idea she was such a perfectionist. Especially when it came to Christmas trees. They must have looked at twenty of them. Their toes and fingers were numb before she’d finally chosen one.

“You picked a beautiful one, Bella.” Roy wrapped an arm around her and squeezed. “Thank you both for getting it. I can’t remember the last time I had a tree of my own.”

Bella turned and stared open-mouthed at her grandfather. “What? But you love Christmas.”

“It doesn’t mean I always got my own,” he answered matter-of-factly as he picked an ornament off the table, where Bella had laid them out. “It didn’t make a lot of sense to have a tree just for me.”

Jeremy didn’t miss the shadow that crossed Bella’s face at her grandfather’s admission.

“Well, I’m glad you have one now,” she said. “These ornaments are far too beautiful to be tucked away any longer.” She picked up a ceramic angel and admired it before placing it on the tree. “Are you going to help?” she asked Jeremy as she caught him leaning against the wall watching them.

He shook his head. “I was actually going to excuse myself.” Decorating a tree was a family affair. He’d had a lot of fun getting the tree, but he had no place in Roy’s living room with him and his granddaughter.

“What?”

“Nonsense.”

Roy and Bella both spoke at the same time and he laughed. “No, really. I should get going. You two enjoy yourselves.”

For a moment, it looked as if Bella would protest, but he really wished she wouldn’t. As much as he enjoyed spending time with her—and he did—he had his limits, and he was about to reach them.

Being around her without pulling her up tight against him so he could feel every inch of her through that thick sweater she was wearing was getting harder and harder. He needed to take his leave before he did anything X-rated in front of Roy.

“I’ll walk you out.”

He said his good-byes to Roy, promised to come back soon to admire the finished tree, and walked out the door to the porch. Bella pulled the door shut behind her and, without missing a beat, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.

“I’ve wanted to do that ever since we—” He shook his head. “Ever since we finished the last kiss.”

She bit her bottom lip, sucking it into her mouth a little, and he groaned.

He was definitely doing the right thing by leaving now while he still had a little self-control.

“Damn, Bella. I—”

She silenced him by pressing a finger to his lips. “Will I see you soon?”

He nodded.

Damn straight she would.

“Good.” She winked and, without another word, disappeared back into the warmth of the house.

Despite the wind that had definitely picked up and heralded a coming storm, Jeremy stood there for another few moments, not really feeling the cold before slowly exhaling.

When it came to Bella, he was in so much trouble.

He knew it. And he didn’t care a bit.

* * *

As much as she hadn’t wanted Jeremy to leave, Bella had to admit, it had been a good decision. Spending the time with her grandfather as they hung each ornament was special. She’d never before spent a holiday with him at his house, so she’d never seen any of the ornaments they carefully hung on the tree. Even more special was the way Papa told her about each one, where it came from and the meaning behind it.

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