Page 64 of Christmas off Script
He indicated the bed where they were sitting. ‘You know…’
‘Your approach to changing your sheets and making your bed?’
Letting out a breath, he gave her a cocky grin. ‘That’s Bridget’s job.’
‘Leo!’
‘I kid! I kid!’ He leapt out of tickling range. ‘I make my own bed. Even though it’s a pain in the arse because it’s so big.’
‘And whose fault is that, then?’
‘Dad’s?’
Ella shook her head and went back to opening her gift. ‘This is definitely not regulation-sized.’
‘Nothing about me is regulation-sized,’ Leo replied proudly.
She snorted with laughter, even as her mind conjured up pictures she knew full well she shouldn’t be imagining. Quickly pulling the sides of the wrapping paper away, she saw what he’d done.
‘Oh my god, Leo! This is amazing!’
Inside a cardboard frame were numbered boxes for each day up to Christmas Eve, and he’d decorated every one with enough glitter and gold stars to stock a preschool stationary cupboard for a week.
Opening the box for the first of December, Ella pulled out a spiced plum liqueur miniature and two Baci chocolates.
She smiled at him, her heart full. ‘I love these!’
‘I know. Now go on, open them.’
Undoing the cap, she put the bottle to her nose. ‘It smells like Christmas!’
‘Try it.’
The liquid ran like fire into her belly. ‘That’s so good!’ She held the bottle and a chocolate out to Leo, but he didn’t take them. ‘Come on. Sharing is caring. And anyway, if you didn’t want one, you wouldn’t have given me two.’
‘Oh, go on then.’ He grinned and took them. ‘You’ve twisted my arm.’ Sipping from the bottle, he hummed with appreciation, then held his chocolate up. ‘Let’s see what message we have today.’
Unwrapping the foil, they each took out the slip of transparent paper, which held a quote about love.
Leo chuckled, then read his one out. ‘A true friend knows all there is to know about you, yet still likes you.’
‘Perfect! Now mine.’ Her hand pressed against her chest as she read the quote. ‘Oh, this is beautiful!’
‘What does it say?’
Her throat tightened, but she managed to speak. ‘With your kisses have I painted my starry sky.’
There was a beat as Leo gazed sympathetically at her, then opened his arms. ‘Hug?’
Nodding, she leaned towards him, resting her head on his shoulder, her nose pressed against the warm skin of his neck.
‘The official court hugger is here,’ he said, holding her close.
The sound of his voice was a deep rumble vibrating into her. Ella felt safe in his arms, but it wasn’t a wholly comfortable sensation. Leo smelled amazing, but she had the overwhelming desire to kiss his neck where his pulse touched her lips in time to the beat of his heart.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered, the movement of speech pressing her mouth against his skin.
His pulse sped up.
