Page 47 of A Christmas Spark
Vanessa was just putting the finishing touches on the t-shirt package when she heard the familiar sound of Jackson’s key in the front door. Her heart jumped into her throat, and she frantically tried to gather the wrapped packages behind her back.
“Vanessa? I’m a little early, hope that’s—” Jackson’s voice cut off abruptly as he rounded the corner into the living room and took in the scene before him. There was wrapping paper scattered everywhere, scissors and ribbon and tape in front of her, and since she’djusttold him the other day before she’d caved on his presents that she’d finished buying and wrapping everything…
“You’re early!” Vanessa exclaimed a little too loudly, thinking quickly about how to explain. More presents for Mabel, maybe?Although she hated the idea of continuing to hide things from Jackson, little white Christmas lies or no… “I thought you said seven!”
Jackson stood in the doorway, his dark hair slightly mussed from the wind and his cheeks flushed from the cold, wearing the charcoal gray sweater she’d bought him a month ago. His brown eyes were taking in the scattered wrapping supplies, the suspicious way she was sitting, and the definitely-not-well-hidden corner of a package peeking out from behind her hip.
“Dinner is at seven.” He raised an eyebrow. “Anyway, I’m notthatearly.” He scanned the disaster around her again. “What are you up to? I thought you said you finished all your wrapping.”
Vanessa bit her lip. She didn’t want to lie outright to him and say they were presents for someone else, but…
“It’s nothing,” she said quickly, which was possibly the least convincing denial in the history of denials. “I was just… organizing some things. Since I finished getting ready early.”
Jackson’s eyebrows rose higher as he took in her appearance. “You look like you’ve been ready for a while,” he said slowly, and Vanessa squirmed, which he didn’t fail to notice either. “Come on, what’s really going on?”
“I—” Vanessa felt heat creeping up her neck. Jackson knew her too well. “It’s really nothing important.”
“Uh-huh.” Jackson crossed his arms and gave her that look—the one that said he could wait all night if necessary. It was the same expression she’d seen him wear when he was trying to perfect a new recipe, patient, determined, and absolutely not giving up. “So if it’s nothing important, you won’t mind showing me what’s behind your back.”
Vanessa chewed on her lip, weighing her options. She could continue trying to hide the evidence, but Jackson was clearly not buying her innocent act. She could confess and face whatever consequences came with breaking their agreement. Or she coulddistract him with a kiss and hope he forgot about the suspicious view he’d walked in on.
The third option was tempting, but she’d never been good at deception, especially not with Jackson. She didn’twantto be good at it with Jackson.
“Okay, fine,” she said with a sigh. “I may have… purchased a few small items. But it’s not what you think!”
“Oh?” Jackson’s mouth was twitching like he was trying not to smile. “Small items for who?”
“Um.” Vanessa felt her cheeks burning, and she knew the jig was up. “Look, I couldn’t help myself!” she said quickly. “I ended up buying you a gift. It just… it all but fell in my lap, and…”
“Mm-hm.” Jackson crossed his arms over his chest, his mouth still twitching. She couldn’t tell if he was upset or amused. “So you bought me a Christmas present despite our very clear agreement not to exchange gifts this year?”
“Well, when you put it like that, it sounds much worse than it actually is,” Vanessa said weakly.
Jackson sat down on the couch across from her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Vanessa.”
The way he said her name—gently but with an undertone of fond exasperation—made her guilt double in an instant. “Iknowwe had an agreement,” she said in a rush. “I know we decided not to do gifts because it would take the pressure off and let us just enjoy the season together, and I completely intended to honor that agreement, I really did.”
Jackson nodded, waiting for her to continue.
“But then I kept seeing these things that were so perfect for you, and I told myself I would just look, not buy anything, but they were right there and they were so obviously meant for you that it felt wrong not to get you anything.” The words were tumbling out faster now, tripping over each other in her rush to explain. “And I know that probably makes things awkwardbecause now you’ll feel bad that you didn’t get me anything, but I promise I wasn’t trying to make you feel guilty or put pressure on you. I just couldn’t help myself…”
Before she could say another word, Jackson leaned down, his broad, callused hands on her cheeks as he stopped the flow of explanations with a kiss. Vanessa let out a soft sigh, leaning into his touch as she pressed her forehead against his. “Don’t be mad at me?” she asked weakly, when his lips pulled away from hers.
When he pulled back, his eyes were twinkling with amusement, she saw with relief. “I was just teasing you,” he said, his thumb brushing across her cheek. “It was incredibly thoughtful of you to think of me. Plus,” he added with a grin, “It’ll make sure you won’t be mad at me when you see this.”
“See what?” Vanessa asked, still a bit dazed from the whiplash of events, and Jackson chuckled as he reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small, wrapped box.
“I might have gotten you a gift too.”
Vanessa started to laugh, her shoulders shaking as she thought of how worried she’d been about Jackson’s reaction. And here he’d been, this whole time, with a gift for her too.
“Okay, now I feel better,” she said, still laughing. “We’re both terrible at this whole ‘no gifts’ thing, aren’t we?”
“The worst,” Jackson agreed cheerfully. “Now come on, let’s see what you couldn’t resist buying for me.”
Wiping away tears of laughter with one hand, Vanessa brought the three wrapped packages out from behind her back and held them out to Jackson. His eyes widened as he took in the full extent of her gift-buying spree.
“Three?” he asked, his eyes widening. “I thought you just bought me one.”
