Page 72 of Playing for Keeps
Justin stared out the windshield, struck silent by the call he’d never expected to receive.
“What is it?” Caroline whispered.
That pulled Justin out of his stupor. “Um. Thanks, Chuck. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you too, son.”
Caroline’s eyes widened, and Justin reached for her hand. He’d never gotten so much as a “Good morning” from Chuck before. Merry Christmas was completely unheard of until this moment.
“Thanks for calling. Mind if I stop by and pay you a visit this afternoon?”
Chuck let out a throaty hmph. “Sure, just don’t expect a Christmas present or anything.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Justin said.
Seconds later, Justin let the phone fall to his lap. “I can’t believe he called me.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” Caroline asked.
“I guess so. He said I could stop by later.”
Caroline squeezed his hand. “It’s Christmas, and your dad is starting to act like a decent human being. This is fantastic!”
“Fantastic is a stretch, but it’s definitely better than nothing.”
They rattled down a familiar path, the pole barn and the creek coming into view. He remembered the first time—the rain, the hidden whispers, the kiss that had been both salvation and the start of a long ache. Here, in daylight, the barn looked somber.
When Caroline parked and opened the truck bed, a light picnic waited in woven baskets with blankets, pillows, a chocolate cheesecake, and thermoses filled with steaming hot chocolate if he guessed right.
She grinned like a conspirator. “Like our first Christmas together. Do you remember?”
Justin let out a laugh. “I remember everything. I was with the woman of my dreams, and she was about to change my life.”
Caroline’s cheeks bloomed in a deep pink. “Stop it.”
“Never.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek, then moved to her jaw. “This is the perfect present.”
“It’s not perfect, but I brought chocolate cheesecake and hot chocolate. I couldn’t think of a single thing to get you. What do you get for the guy who could literally buy anything he wants?”
He lifted her into the back of the truck. “Like I said, it’s perfect.”
Still blushing, she handed him a paper plate with a whopping slice of cheesecake and a thermos of sweet hot chocolate before settling down with her own dessert.
“Best Christmas ever,” he said around cheesecake.
“It’s nothing.” She smiled over the rim of her thermos. “Want to make it a tradition?”
“More than anything. I hope I’m having Christmas picnics with you when we’re old and gray.”
Caroline brushed a hand into his hair. “You’ll be a handsome silver fox.”
He surprised himself after the bravado she’d built up in him. “I don’t want to wait.”
“Wait for what?” she asked, curious.
There wasn’t any use wondering over it now. The Lord had brought them here, to this moment, together at last, and he wouldn’t take a second for granted. He didn’t just love Caroline Taylor. He wasbuilding a future with her every day they spent together.
Brushing his nose against her cheek, he peppered kisses over her temple. “You’ll be a beautiful wife.”
